Table 13: LGBTI Health and the Right to Social Security

Table 13: LGBTI Health and the Right to Social Security

Examples of Human Rights Violations and failures to progressively realise the human right 

  • Health benefits and insurances are not made available to LGBTI individuals, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including funds for body modifications.
  • Parental benefits must be equal and accessible to homosexual couples without any discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Yogyakarta Principle

Principle 13: Everyone has the right to social security and other social protection measures, without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

States shall:

• Take all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to ensure equal access, without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, to social security and other social protection measures, including employment benefits, parental leave, unemployment benefits, health insurance or care or benefits (including for body modifications related to gender identity), other social insurance, family benefits, funeral benefits, pensions and benefits with regard to the loss of support for spouses or partners as the result of illness or death;

• Ensure that children are not subject to any form of discriminatory treatment within the social security system or in the provision of social or welfare benefits on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, or that of any member of their family;

• Take all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to ensure access to poverty reduction strategies and programmes, without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.