ep ipina Komisyon ng Karapatang Pantao ng ‘AN URGENT APPEAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF LESBIANS, GAYS, BISEXUALS, AND TRANSGENDERS FROM EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS AND UNLAWFUL KILLINGS 21 December 2010 H.E, PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO Il Malacafiang Palace Manila, NCR Dear President Benigno Aquino Il: This is to urge the government to support and push for an initiative in the UN to recognize the need for States to protect lesbians, gays, bisexuals and fransgenders from grave human rights abuses, in particular extrajudicial kilings and other inhuman treatment. On November 16, 2010, an amendment in a UN resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions was approved fo remove a reference urging States to protect LGBIs from kilings and abuses committed for discriminatory reason. Seventy-nine States voted to remove the reference to sexual orientation, while seventy voted to retain it, and forty-three States, including the Philippines, abstained. The exclusion of LGBTs from this instrument is disappointing and disturbing. It ignores the fact that LGBIs all over the world, including overseas Filipino LGBTs, are exposed fo discrimination and abuse because of their sexual orientation ‘and gender identity. The UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions has reported numerous iricidents of extrajudicial kilings because of actual or perceived sexual orientation, especially in countries where same-sex consensual behavior is deemed criminal or unlawful, or where State actors or paramilitary groups torture individuals because of their sexual orientation. On Tuesday, December 21, 2010, the UN General Assembly will vote on a motion fo re-introduce sexual orientation in text of the above resolution. This is anopportunity for the Philippines to correct its mistake and stand up for human dignity and human rights. To abstain is to condone these killings. It negates our own efforts to stop all extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary kilings, and it goes against the principles of human fights that the government has committed to uphold, promote and protect. alll individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, should be accorded the dignity and human rights that they deserve. | strongly implore you fo inform, with due haste, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations to vote in favor of the restoration of the protection for LGBTs in the text of the resolution on extrajudicial, summary oF arbitrary killings. Thank you very much! Sincerely, lovetlr GFP Pesekes, Loretta Ann Rosales Chairperson