ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the impact of the legislation giving effect to the previously-mentioned fundamental principles of equality and non-discrimination. International human rights law is best viewed as a bundle of interdependent strands, a “living instrument”, which is constantly evolving and producing new rights and adjusting older ones as the organic body rebalances in response to changes in social context. There are a number of forums that exercise important international functions in relation to sexuality and gender issues. There are a number of important voluntary organisations which maintain a watching brief on human rights issues. The chapter examines how and to what extent international human rights law currently intersects with sexual orientation and gender identity-related issues. It concludes by examining the specific service provision issues arising at the intersect of the law relating to equality and non-discrimination with that relating to sexuality and gender.
