LGBTQ Myanmar Stakeholder Report – Joint Submission

Myanmar is preparing for the third cycle of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) scheduled in November 2020 with the rescheduling in January 2021 due to the global coronavirus pandemic. The report recognizes the progress made by the Myanmar government, with a focus on LGBTQ rights; For example, the official recognition of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression (SOGIE) in the new policies, education curriculum and legislation.

Although the official recognition of SOGIE is enshrined in legislation such as Child Law (2019), youth policy (2018) and middle school curriculum (2019), the protection and promotion of the human rights of LGBTQ people are largely neglected in every level of Myanmar society. As protection and promotion of basic human rights remain a great concern in Myanmar, the civil society organizations (CSOs) prepare to raise their concerns through UPR process. Among these CSOs, LGBTQ rights organizations collectively prepared this stakeholders’ submission under the umbrella network of LGBT Rights Network that is comprised of twenty organizations across Myanmar.