Yogyakarta Principles

Yogyakarta Principles

The Yogyakarta Principles are a set of international principles that demonstrate how international human rights law can be applied in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Developed at an expert meeting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2006, the document contains 29 principles and recommendations to governments, regional intergovernmental institutions, civil society, and the United Nations, and details how international human rights law can be applied to SOGI issues, and provides argumentation for why and how States are obliged to protect and fulfil these rights for all. The principles did not create any new rights, instead they show how rights which are internationally agreed upon, and which States are legally bound to enforce, also protect the rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ people. For this reason the Yogyakarta Principles are an excellent advocacy tool which can help LGBTQIA+ activists hold their governments accountable to their international obligations.

In 2017 the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10 (YP+10) was adopted to add to the Yogyakarta Principles. The YP plus 10 emerged from the intersection of developments in international human rights laws and the understanding of violations suffered by persons on ground of sexual orientation and gender identity. The YP plus 10 furthermore recognize the distinct and intersectional grounds of gender expression and sex characteristics 

All young people worldwide should be able to explore, experience and express their sexualities in healthy, pleasurable and safe ways.