In this blog the author presents the main conclusions from his fully revised and updated article ‘Same-Sex Partnership, International Protection’ in the online Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public...Show moreIn this blog the author presents the main conclusions from his fully revised and updated article ‘Same-Sex Partnership, International Protection’ in the online Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law. Earlier versions of that article were published in 2009, 2012 and 2014. This July 2021 update of his article discusses all 50 rulings on the topic given by international judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, plus various decisions of other bodies of UN, EU and other international organizations. The article covers human rights law and international staff law, and touches on rules of free movement and private international law). His analysis of this growing body of international law, led the author to conclude that by 2021 six international legal norms that have emerged on the protection and recognition of same-sex partners. The article 'Same-Sex Partnership, International Protection' is available online (to subscribers only, but sometimes also to others) at: https://opil.ouplaw.com/view/10.1093/law:epil/9780199231690/law-9780199231690-e1739. Show less
This online article discusses all (almost 50) rulings given by international judicial and quasi-judicial bodies on the topic of same-sex partnership, plus relevant written and soft law from other... Show moreThis online article discusses all (almost 50) rulings given by international judicial and quasi-judicial bodies on the topic of same-sex partnership, plus relevant written and soft law from other bodies of international organisations such as the UN and the EU. The article covers human rights law and international staff law, and touches on rules of free movement and private international law. It includes paragraphs on state practice, parenting issues, same-sex marriage, informal cohabitation, registered partnership, international recognition of existing same-sex marriages, and international recognition of existing registered partnerships. Earlier versions of this article appeared online in 2009 and 2014 and in print in 2012. In light of the considerable legal developments since then, it now concludes as follows (in paragraphs 38-40): “International protection for same-sex partnership is a topic that has seen important developments recently (…). At least two ‘global’ norms have emerged:(1) a prohibition of discrimination between unmarried different-sex cohabitants and unmarried same-sex cohabitants; and(2) an obligation to recognize existing same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions (at least for some purposes).Two related ‘global’ norms seem to be emerging (…):(3) an obligation to respect existing marriages that are becoming ‘same-sex’ because one of the spouses is having a change of sex/gender; and(4) an obligation to recognize existing registered partnerships from other jurisdictions (at least for some purposes). (…)Authority for these four ‘global’ norms can be found in decisions of bodies of the UN, in decisions of European and Inter-American bodies, and also in the domestic law of countries in different parts of the world. (…)In two regions of the world (Europe and the Americas) two further norms are emerging. One of these regionally emerging norms is:(5) an obligation to give same-sex couples access to a legal framework for their relationship. In the Americas this emerging obligation ultimately requires the opening up of marriage, while in Europe it still leaves it to the countries themselves to decide whether this legal framework will be marriage or only a form of registered partnership (…). The other regionally emerging norm is:(6) an obligation to give same-sex couples access to rights and benefits derived from marriage. In the Americas this obligation seems to concern all rights that flow from marriage, while in Europe it so far seems limited to core or essential rights, such as the right to live in the same country as your partner (…). For these emerging regional norms there is not yet much authority in decisions of bodies of the UN, and even less from regional bodies outside Europe and the Americas. However, these norms do reflect developments in domestic law that have at least started on all continents. It seems likely that in both regions the international case law will crystalize further, and there seems scope for some convergence between the approaches of ECtHR and IACtHR. (…) (Also because) both courts have acknowledged both the controversial character and the dynamic nature of developments in the national and international protection of same-sex partnership. (…)”This article is available (to subscribers - and sometimes also to others) at: https://opil.ouplaw.com/view/10.1093/law:epil/9780199231690/law-9780199231690-e1739. A summary by Kees Waaldijk ('Six international legal norms on the protection of same-sex partnership have emerged') was published in the International and Comparative SOGIESC LawBlog (edited by Andreas R. Ziegler, University of Lausanne): https://sogiesc.law.blog/2021/12/20/six-international-legal-norms-on-the-protection-of-same-sex-partnership-have-emerged. Show less
The Leiden Overview on SOGIESC in International Law is a list of existing online introductory video/audio/reading materials about the international legal aspects of sexual orientation, gender... Show moreThe Leiden Overview on SOGIESC in International Law is a list of existing online introductory video/audio/reading materials about the international legal aspects of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or sex characteristics. One of its intended uses is as preparatory material for anyone (considering) taking part in Leiden University’s annual Summer School on SOGI in International Law. Also by others, it can also be used as an introduction to - or as course materials about - the growing field of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and/or sex characteristics in international law.The Leiden Overview consists of six paragraphs (Global law; United Nations; Areas of international law; Specific rights; Regional law; National state practice), each divided over three columns (Online introductory video & audio materials; Online introductory reading materials; Further online information).It is a work in progress that is being updated from time to time, with the latest version being available at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/summer-schools/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-in-international-law-human-rights-and-beyond/leiden-overview-on-sogiesc-in-international-lawShow less
Badgett, M.V.L.; Waaldijk, K.; Meulen Rodgers, Y. van der 2019
This study analyzes the relationship between social inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and economic development. It uses legal and economic data for 132 countries... Show moreThis study analyzes the relationship between social inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and economic development. It uses legal and economic data for 132 countries from 1966 to 2011. Previous studies and reports provide substantial evidence that LGBT people are limited in their human rights in ways that also create economic harms, such as lost labor time, lost productivity, underinvestment in human capital, and the inefficient allocation of human resources. This analysis uses a fixed effects regression approach and a newly-created dataset – Global Index on Legal Recognition of Homosexual Orientation (GILRHO) – to assess how these detriments are related to the macroeconomy. Our study finds that an additional point on the 8-point GILRHO scale of legal rights for LGB persons is associated with an increase in real GDP per capita of approximately $2000. A series of robustness checks confirm that this index continues to have a positive and statistically significant association with real GDP per capita after controlling for gender equality. In combination with the qualitative evidence from previous studies and reports, our quantitative results suggest that LGBT inclusion and economic development are mutually reinforcing. Also, a back-of-the-envelope estimate suggests that about 6% to 22% of the finding could reflect the costs to GDP of health and labor market stigmatization of LGB people. Results from this study can help to better understand how the fuller enjoyment of human rights by LGBT people can contribute to a country’s economic development.The dataset used for this article, including the 1966-2011 data of the Global Index on Legal Recognition of Homosexual Orientation (GILRHO) for 132 countries, is available in Appendix A to this article (under “Download Spreadsheet”). Show less
