Egale Canada has recently submitted a report to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council documenting key areas where Canada has failed to comply with its national and international obligations to LGBT rights.

Some of the highlights of the report include the lack of universal protection against discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression, as well as the continuing inequality in access to health care by trans people.

Biased decisions by some members of Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in denying LGBTQ persons the right to seek refuge from hostile governments on the grounds that their homosexuality and self-expression were choices, were also addressed.

The ongoing resistance from federal and provincial governments to collect data on the levels of homophobia and transphobia in Canada’s schools is impeding the right to education of many LGBTQ youth, who face bullying and verbal abuse on a daily basis.

“The governments lack of transparency in addressing the issues and their blatant lack of consultation with Canadian not-for-profits, could lead to Canada producing a National report that is one-sided, partial and slanted to the actual situation of LGBT human rights in Canada,” says Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada.