A/HRC/43/48 B. Gender-based violence and discrimination by private actors with religious motivations 32. In many States, religious communities and institutions are assuming an increasingly important role in the social, political and economic affairs of those countries; some are playing a critical part in the promotion and realization of human rights – including the right to freedom religion or belief – while others are advancing protections for their religious commitments at the expense of the human rights of others both within and outside their communities. Critically in some societies, some religious institutions promote and perpetuate interpretations of religious tenets to promote gender-based violence and discrimination against women, girls and LGBT+ persons, including physical, sexual and psychological harm. 33. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned by numerous reports he has received, and by information provided to other United Nations human rights mechanisms, alleging that religious interest groups are engaged in campaigns characterizing rights advocates working to combat gender-based discrimination as “immoral” actors, seeking to undermine society by espousing “a gender ideology” that is harmful to children, families, tradition and religion. Invoking religious tenets, as well as pseudoscience, such actors argue for the defence of traditional values rooted in interpretations of religious teachings about the social roles for men and women in accordance with their alleged naturally different physical and mental capacities, often calling upon Governments to enact discriminatory policies. Other special procedures and participants in consultations across regions have also documented the activities of increasingly well-coordinated groups that are reportedly misusing freedom of religion or belief across continents in the media, through litigation and political campaigns to counter human rights in the name of religion or belief (A/HRC/34/56; A/74/181, paras. 34–35; A/HRC/38/46, paras. 30–35; and A/HRC/21/42, para. 65). 34. Consultations in Europe highlighted a campaign by interest groups in Poland against “gender ideology” that has characterized advocates for gender equality as “anti-family” and intimidated and stigmatized women human rights defenders. In three States, religious interest groups have attempted to change the constitution to define “the family” according to religiously grounded heterosexual norms. Interest groups are also reportedly misusing freedom of religion or belief to oppose self-determination rights for gender-diverse persons (A/73/152, para. 21). 35. Participants in the consultations on Latin America reported that reproductive and sexual health education programmes had been curtailed in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay following pressure from religious groups. In addition, there has been a campaign by religious groups against the Inter-American Court of Human Rights advisory opinion on gender identity, equality and non-discrimination of same-sex couples, 21 characterizing “gender ideology” as “against human nature” and explicitly encouraging discrimination against LGBT+ individuals.22 36. At the consultations that took place in South Africa, focused on countries in subSaharan Africa, participants provided information about the role of religious groups based in the United States of America in providing training and funding to Ugandan religious leaders who successfully mobilized communities to support the adoption by the Government of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2014.23 In countries that do not criminalize homosexuality, some religious groups have successfully campaigned against the introduction of schoolbooks on sex education by arguing that the books promoted homosexuality. Regionally, some States are advocating for hegemonic interpretations of “African values” within the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in order to exclude LGBT+ and abortion rights. 21 22 23 8 Advisory opinion OC-24/17 of 24 November 2017. See www.efe.com/efe/english/life/panamanian-church-leaders-unite-against-gay-marriage/500002633509097. See also www.hrw.org/news/2018/12/10/breaking-buzzword-fighting-gender-ideologymyth. See www.awid.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/feminists_on_the_frontline__christian_fundamentalisms_and_womens_rights_in_the_african_context.pdf.