El Presidente de los Estados Unidos, Joe Biden aboga por los derechos humanos de las personas lgbt+ Aquí les dejamos el texto original del Memorando expedido el 06 de febrero de 2021.
Joe Biden, quien prometió confeccionar una política exterior que represente los “valores democráticos” de Estados Unidos, ha hecho de la defensa de las minorías sexuales en el mundo una de sus prioridades, más que cualquiera que sus predecesores, y en clara ruptura con Donald Trump.
El mandatario demócrata retomó una iniciativa lanzada en el 2011 por Barack Obama para “promover los derechos humanos de las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgénero, queer e intersexos (LGBTQI) a través del mundo”.
En su primer discurso sobre política exterior, Biden pidió el jueves a las agencias estadounidenses presentes en el extranjero que redacten un plan de acción en los próximos 180 días para convertirlo en eje destacado de sus intervenciones.
“Todos los seres humanos deben ser tratados con respeto y dignidad y deben poder vivir sin miedo, sin importar quiénes son y a quién aman”, escribió en un documento presidencial publicado el mismo día.
Al anunciar un fuerte aumento en la cantidad de refugiados que serán acogidos en Estados Unidos, un giro drástico frente a la era Trump, Biden prometió especialmente “proteger a los demandantes de asilo LGBTQ”.
El nuevo mandatario pidió también el combate de las leyes discriminatorias en el extranjero.
Emisario especial
Un emisario especial será nombrado para “reforzar aún más la atención sobre estas cuestiones”, declaró un alto responsable del Departamento de Estado.
Más allá de las intenciones, la diplomacia estadounidense versión Biden ya comenzó a enviar sus primeras advertencias. El Departamento de Estado -a través de Ned Price, su primer portavoz abiertamente gay- criticó duramente a Turquía tras los ataques verbales del presidente Recep Tayyip Erdogan contra las minorías sexuales.
Y los militantes LGBT, de su lado, celebran el cambio. “Que el presidente Biden publique ese memorando presidencial tan completo, al comienzo de su mandato, muestra claramente que se trata de una prioridad política para él”, estimó Jessica Stern, del grupo de presión OutRight Action International.
Stern dice esperar que Estados Unidos, al igual que varios países europeos, aumente su financiación para las organizaciones no gubernamentales. Pero advierte que para obtener resultados ese apoyo deberá hacerse en ocasiones discretamente.
“Una de las formas más eficaces y constantes para desacreditar a las personas LGBTQI y a nuestro movimiento es acusarlas de ser producto de la colonización, de la imposición occidental, apuntando contra la financiación por donantes extranjeros”, advierte Stern.
“Nuestra consigna es siempre escuchar a los militantes sobre el terreno y trabajar con ellos sobre esos temas para tener su opinión sobre cómo avanzar”, respondió el alto responsable del Departamento de Estado, prometiendo un estudio caso por caso.
Pompeo, ultraconservador
Las lecciones de los años de Obama pueden ser útiles para la administración de Biden.
El expresidente demócrata cortó la ayuda o anuló el estatus comercial preferente de Uganda y Gambia en respuesta a sus leyes que castigaban la homosexualidad con penas de prisión. Esta línea dura, sin embargo, empujó también a otros países, como Nigeria, a adoptar sus propias normas draconianas.
Pese a todo, los progresos son considerables, aunque lentos. Las relaciones homosexuales son ahora legales en casi dos tercios de los países, y 28 de ellos autorizan el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo, según la International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.
Phillip Ayoub, profesor del Occidental College, en California, estima que hay que dejar a los militantes locales decidir cómo librar su combate.
“Algunos dirán que es demasiado pronto para salir totalmente de las sombras, ya que eso implica el riesgo de aumentar la violencia hacia su comunidad”, explica el investigador. “Este tipo de política exterior no puede ser impuesta desde arriba. Eso debe hacerse con precaución, en conjunto con la sociedad civil de cada país”.
Donald Trump dio marcha atrás sobre varios derechos adquiridos para las personas trans en Estados Unidos.
Su secretario de Estado, Mike Pompeo -un ferviente cristiano evangélico que nunca escondió su oposición al matrimonio homosexual y a quien sus detractores reprocharon antiguas declaraciones en las que asimiló la homosexualidad a una “perversión”- limitó los visados para entrar en Estados Unidos a las parejas de diplomáticos extranjeros homosexuales y prohibió a los embajadores estadounidenses que portaran la bandera arco iris los días del Orgullo Gay.
Agencias AFP
Biden Memorandum on Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons
Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World
FEBRUARY 04, 2021 • PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
This memorandum reaffirms and supplements the principles established in the Presidential Memorandum of December 6, 2011 (International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons). That memorandum, for the first time, directed executive departments and agencies (agencies) engaged abroad to ensure that United States diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons everywhere. This memorandum builds upon that historic legacy and updates the 2011 memorandum.
All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love. Around the globe, including here at home, brave lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) activists are fighting for equal protection under the law, freedom from violence, and recognition of their fundamental human rights. The United States belongs at the forefront of this struggle — speaking out and standing strong for our most dearly held values. It shall be the policy of the United States to pursue an end to violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, and to lead by the power of our example in the cause of advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world.
Through this memorandum, I am directing all agencies engaged abroad to ensure that United States diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons. Specifically, I direct the following actions, consistent with applicable law:
Section 1. Combating Criminalization of LGBTQI+ Status or Conduct Abroad. Agencies engaged abroad are directed to strengthen existing efforts to combat the criminalization by foreign governments of LGBTQI+ status or conduct and expand efforts to combat discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and intolerance on the basis of LGBTQI+ status or conduct. The Department of State shall, on an annual basis and as part of the annual report submitted to the Congress pursuant to sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)), report on human rights abuses experienced by LGBTQI+ persons globally. This reporting shall include anti-LGBTQI+ laws as well as violence and discrimination committed by both state and nonstate actors against LGBTQI+ persons.
Sec. 2. Protecting Vulnerable LGBTQI+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers. LGBTQI+ persons who seek refuge from violence and persecution face daunting challenges. In order to improve protection for LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers at all stages of displacement, the Departments of State and Homeland Security shall enhance their ongoing efforts to ensure that LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers have equal access to protection and assistance, particularly in countries of first asylum. In addition, the Departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security shall ensure appropriate training is in place so that relevant Federal Government personnel and key partners can effectively identify and respond to the particular needs of LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers, including by providing to them adequate assistance and ensuring that the Federal Government takes all appropriate steps, such as potential increased use of Embassy Priority-1 referrals, to identify and expedite resettlement of highly vulnerable persons with urgent protection needs.
Sec. 3. Foreign Assistance to Protect Human Rights and Advance Nondiscrimination. Agencies involved with foreign aid, assistance, and development programs shall expand their ongoing efforts to ensure regular Federal Government engagement with governments, citizens, civil society, and the private sector to promote respect for the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons and combat discrimination. Agencies involved with foreign aid, assistance, and development programs should consider the impact of programs funded by the Federal Government on human rights, including the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, when making funding decisions, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.
Sec. 4. Swift and Meaningful United States Responses to Human Rights Abuses of LGBTQI+ Persons Abroad. The Department of State shall lead a standing group, with appropriate interagency representation, to help ensure the Federal Government’s swift and meaningful response to serious incidents that threaten the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons abroad. When foreign governments move to restrict the rights of LGBTQI+ persons or fail to enforce legal protections in place, thereby contributing to a climate of intolerance, agencies engaged abroad shall consider appropriate responses, including using the full range of diplomatic and assistance tools and, as appropriate, financial sanctions, visa restrictions, and other actions.
Sec. 5. Building Coalitions of Like-Minded Nations and Engaging International Organizations in the Fight Against LGBTQI+ Discrimination. Bilateral relationships with allies and partners, as well as multilateral fora and international organizations, are key vehicles to promote respect for and protection of the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons and to bring global attention to these goals. Agencies engaged abroad should strengthen the work they have done and initiate additional efforts with other nations, bilaterally and within multilateral fora and international organizations, to: counter discrimination on the basis of LGBTQI+ status or conduct; broaden the number of countries willing to support and defend the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons; strengthen the role, including in multilateral fora, of civil society advocates on behalf of the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons; and strengthen the policies and programming of multilateral institutions, including with respect to protecting vulnerable LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers.
Sec. 6. Rescinding Inconsistent Policies and Reporting on Progress. Within 100 days of the date of this memorandum or as soon as possible thereafter, all agencies engaged abroad shall review and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, take steps to rescind any directives, orders, regulations, policies, or guidance inconsistent with this memorandum, including those issued from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021, to the extent that they are inconsistent with this memorandum. The heads of such agencies shall also, within 100 days of the date of this memorandum, report to the President on their progress in implementing this memorandum and recommend additional opportunities and actions to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world. Agencies engaged abroad shall each prepare a report within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, and annually thereafter, on their progress toward advancing these initiatives. All such agencies shall submit these reports to the Department of State, which will compile a report on the Federal Government’s progress in advancing these initiatives for transmittal to the President. The Department of State shall make a version of the compiled annual report available to the Congress and the public.
Sec. 7. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this memorandum, agencies engaged abroad include the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and such other agencies as the President may designate.
(b) For the purposes of this memorandum, agencies involved with foreign aid, assistance, and development programs include the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, USAID, DFC, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and such other agencies as the President may designate.
Sec. 8. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
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