Expert’s questions:
“Ms. PIMENTEL, expert from Brazil, asked what steps were being taken to ensure that a women’s sexual and reproductive rights were based on scientific evidence and not on religion. In many regions, access to transgender medical services was not possible. Did the State have a programme to overcome that difficulty?”

“RUTH HALPERIN-KADDARI, expert from Israel […] inquired about the rights of same-sex couples, since marriage was not available to them. Could they get access to fertility treatment? Specifically, were lesbian women eligible for artificial insemination treatments, and was adoption for same sex couples possible?”

“CORNELIS FLINTERMAN, expert from the Netherlands, questioned whether the federal law on refugees provided any provisions for women seeking asylum and if there were programmes organized for women subjected to gender persecution. He asked if legislation covered discrimination against lesbians and bisexual or transsexual women. There had been reports that those women had been subjected to violence.”

Russia’s response:
“To additional questions, another delegate said there was a separate national project to help rural areas develop education, health care, schools and infrastructure. […] Access to health care for transgender people was not part of the country’s mandatory social security provision. Only medication prescribed by doctors for various illnesses was covered by social security provisions.”

“To questions about sexual minorities, a delegate said that discrimination on any grounds, including against sexual minorities or transgender persons, was not allowed and there was no difference noted in any legislation. The delegation “took a special look” at several issues in that area, among others, pension insurance. There were no attempts to limit the activities of those groups or the rights of those citizens, regardless of change of gender. Medical and health services were provided to those who were “of an unconventional orientation”.

Read the whole text from the discussion here.