Introduction to the Guide
17
significant advances, it is nevertheless important to recall that their
adoption does not necessarily amount to adequate implementation
in practice, and that monitoring bodies have an important role to
play in examining and addressing gaps between policies and realities on the ground.
Other boxes reference relevant case law ( ) and detail practices
that either heighten the risks of mistreatment or amount to ill-treatment or even torture ( ). At the end of each section, a “monitoring
checklist” (
) summarizes - in the form of questions - key issues
that monitors should inquire into during their visits.
!
In order to ensure that the guide remains practical and user-friendly, sources are provided only when explicit reference is made to a
country situation or specific case law. A list of further readings is
provided at the end of the publication.
Key concepts and definitions4
Bisexual
A person who is physically, romantically and/
or emotionally attracted to people of two (or
more) sexes or genders.
Biphobia
Describes an irrational fear, hatred or aversion towards bisexual people.
Cisgender
Describes persons whose gender identity is
aligned with the sex assigned to them at birth.
Cisnormativity
Refers to the assumption that all persons are
cisgender, i.e. have a gender identity which
is aligned with the sex they were assigned
at birth.
4
Definitions are drawn mainly from the Yogyakarta Principles, UNHCR Guidelines on international protection N°9, and APT materials, unless otherwise specified. Specific vocabulary, including
associations and perceptions related to usage, are largely dependent on local contexts. As such,
what may be considered an appropriate term in a given country or region, may not also be the
case in others.