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UN RENEWS CRUCIAL HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERT MANDATE ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY

(Geneva, 7 July 2022) – The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) for three more years. In a critical vote, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 23 in favour, with 17 voting against and 7 abstaining.

1’256 non-governmental organisations from 149 States and territories in all regions supported a campaign to renew the mandate.

Today’s vote was the first time that the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution explicitly condemning legislation that criminalises consensual same-sex conducts and diverse gender identities, and called on States to amend discriminatory legislation and combat violence on the grounds on SOGI.

 

Votes on the resolution to renew the IESOGIO mandate

 

“Billions of people continue to live with laws and societal attitudes that put them in danger”, said Manisha Dhakal of Blue Diamond Society in Nepal, on behalf of a global coalition of civil society organisations. “Acknowledging that so much work remains to be done, the Council once again reaffirmed its commitment to combatting discrimination and violence on grounds of SOGI, reminding all States of their obligations towards these communities.”

“The existence of a specific UN human rights mechanism on violence and discrimination on the basis of SOGI is crucial for our communities to be heard at the global level,” added Carlos Idibouo of Fierté Afrique Francophone (FAF) from Cote d’Ivoire. “If the world is truly committed to leaving no one behind, it can’t shy away from addressing the violence and discrimination that we face. Laws criminalising our identities and actions are unjust and should no longer be tolerated”.

Created in 2016, and renewed for the first time in 2019, the Independent Expert has been supported by a growing number of States from all regions. The resolution to create and renew the mandate was presented by a Core Group of seven Latin American countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay –  and was cosponsored by 60 countries from all regions.

“Having secured a renewal for three more years, this mandate will now continue to support initiatives in countries around the world ensuring that LGBT and gender-diverse people live free of inequality , and to amplify their voices and testimonies in international human rights fora,” added Aleh Ordóñez Rodríguez of Ledeser in Mexico.

Not only did the renewal process successfully overcome 12 of 13 hostile amendments, the core of the resolution affirming the universal nature of international human rights law stands firm.

The Independent Expert assesses implementation of international human rights law, by talking to States, and working collaboratively with other UN and regional mechanisms to address violence and discrimination. Since 2016 the world has heard more about the impact of criminalisation of same-sex relations between consenting adults, the need to legally recognise a person’s gender, the barriers to social inclusion and the importance of collecting data related to LGBT lives, the harm caused by so-called ‘conversion therapy’, and more. The Expert has also cast a light on good practices to prevent discrimination, and recently conducted visits to Argentina, Georgia, Mozambique, Tunisia, and Ukraine.

“Once again, the main UN human rights body made it clear: violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity must be prevented,” said Gabriel Galil, Senior Programme Officer Senior on UN advocacy at ILGA World. “This historic resolution takes significant steps forward that were long claimed by our communities: it denounces the negative impacts of criminalisation of consensual same-sex conducts and diverse gender identities, and calls on UN member States to amend discriminatory legislation, take measures to combat violence, and to protect the civic space of organisations working on SOGI issues”.

We hope that all governments cooperate fully with the Independent Expert in this important work to bring about a world free from violence and discrimination for all people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

Delighted to learn that the @UN_HRC has just renewed the mandate of the #IESOGI; as humbled & honoured as the first day to continue serving persons, communities and peoples affected from discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.@free_equal pic.twitter.com/qAMvbNgAWQ

— IE SOGI, Victor Madrigal-Borloz (@victor_madrigal) July 7, 2022

 

Note to editors:

  1. The Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. The mandate was established in 2016 and has been held by Vitit Muntarbhorn (2016-2017) from Thailand, and Victor Madrigal-Borloz (2018-ongoing) from Costa Rica.
  2. The press release refers to “people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities” or to “LGBT” – instead of “LGBTI” – as the mandate is specifically tasked with addressing human rights violations on sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

ORGANISATIONS SIGNING THE STATEMENT

  1. APCOM Foundation
  2. Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
  3. Campaign for Change
  4. Canadian Labour Congress
  5. Centre for the Development of People
  6. COALIBOL LGBTI
  7. COC Nederland
  8. Coeur Arc-en-ciel
  9. Conurbanes por la Diversidad
  10. Council for Global Equality
  11. Cupe Ontario
  12. Dialogai
  13. Diverlex Diversidad e Igualdad a Través de la Ley
  14. Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality
  15. Edge Effect
  16. Egale Canada
  17. Equal Asia Foundation
  18. ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey
  19. F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa Trust
  20. Fierté Afrique Francophone
  21. FRI – The Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity
  22. Fundación Diversencia
  23. Fundación Igualdad
  24. Fundación Iguales
  25. GATE – Global Action for Trans Equality
  26. GENDERDOC-M Information Centre
  27. Human Rights Campaign
  28. Human Rights Watch
  29. ILGA Asia
  30. ILGA World, media (at) ilga.org
  31. ILGALAC- Asociación Internacional de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales, Trans e Intersex para América Latina y el Caribe
  32. International Commission of Jurists
  33. International Family Equality Day
  34. International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations
  35. Iranti-NPC
  36. ISHR
  37. Kasbah Tal’fin
  38. Las Reinas Chulas Cabaret y Derechos Humanos AC
  39. Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany LSVD
  40. LGBT Association ‘LIGA’
  41. MANODIVERSA
  42. MSI Reproductive Choices
  43. National LGBT* organization LGL
  44. OPSEU/SEFPO
  45. Organizando Trans Diversidades (Asociación OTD Chile)
  46. OutRight Action International
  47. Pacific Human Rights Initiative
  48. Pan Africa ILGA
  49. Pink human rights defender NGO
  50. Planet Ally
  51. Rainbow Community Kampuchea Organisation (RoCK)
  52. RAM Gender Diversity Movement Trust
  53. Red de Desarrollo Sostenible de Nicaragua
  54. Red de Litigantes LGBTI de las Américas
  55. Red Sin Violencia LGBTI
  56. RFSL
  57. RFSU
  58. Sex og Politikk (IPPF Norway)
  59. Swiss Rainbow Families Organisation
  60. The Global Interfaith Network (GIN-SSOGIE)
  61. The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights
  62. Transvanilla Transgender Association
  63. Uganda Key Populations Consortium – UKPC