Thank you, Mr. President,

The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the EU statement and thanks the Independent Expert for this important and timely report. This excellent, yet deeply troubling, report highlights the often invisible violence and discrimination faced by lesbian, bisexual and queer women, especially transgender LBQ women.

We are deeply concerned by the documented patterns of violence, discrimination, exclusion and harassment that LBQ women face in public spaces, workplaces, medical settings, protection services and within their own families. We also share the Independent Expert’s concern about the lack of disaggregated data, which contributes to the “structural invisibility” of LBQ women in public policy.

The Netherlands remains strongly committed to advancing universal human rights, and recognizes that this requires addressing the intersecting discrimination that LBQ women face. We are particularly committed to addressing sexual and gender-based violence, countering disinformation, and  supporting LGBTIQ+ human rights defenders. We will continue to integrate these perspectives into our foreign policy and efforts to promote and protect the rights, equality and dignity of all.

Independent Expert,

In contexts where violence and discrimination persist, how can data be safely collected and used to raise awareness on the issues faced by LBQ women to ensure accountability, inclusion, and safe access to services?