Colombia Extends Benefits to Same-Sex Couples

In an important victory in the struggle for equal rights for same-sex couples, Colombia's Constitutional Court extended health and pension benefits to same-sex partners in an April 17 ruling. At the request of local rights groups, Human Rights Watch submitted an amicus brief in the case, supporting the applicant's claim that laws that deny benefits for same-sex couples are unconstitutional and in violation of international law. Human Rights Watch's brief called on Colombia to adhere to international standards for protecting the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people, as articulated in the Yogyakarta Principles, which outline international human rights law as it relates to sexual orientation and gender identity. The Court's ruling creates a broader legal framework to guarantee equal rights for same-sex partnerships, and sets a precedent for drawing on the Yogyakarta Principles in domestic litigation.