The Protection of the Rights of Homosexuals Under the International Law of Human Rights: European Perspectives

Abstract

The Parliamentary Committee on Equality Rights heard a number of submissions from various groups urging the amendment of the Canadian Human Rights Act to include "sexual orientation" as a prohibited ground of discrimination, and amendment of the Charter itself to rectify the lack of specificity on the topic in the enumeration of equality rights contained in section 15. This article provides a comparative perspective by examining the rights of homosexuals under the international law of human rights. Particular attention is paid to the experience under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Keywords: Equality Rights, Canada, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadian Human Rights Act

JEL Classification: K10