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:
- 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.
- 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
- APCOM Foundation
- Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Campaign for Change
- Canadian Labour Congress
- Centre for the Development of People
- COALIBOL LGBTI
- COC Nederland
- Coeur Arc-en-ciel
- Conurbanes por la Diversidad
- Council for Global Equality
- Cupe Ontario
- Dialogai
- Diverlex Diversidad e Igualdad a Través de la Ley
- Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality
- Edge Effect
- Egale Canada
- Equal Asia Foundation
- ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey
- F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa Trust
- Fierté Afrique Francophone
- FRI – The Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity
- Fundación Diversencia
- Fundación Igualdad
- Fundación Iguales
- GATE – Global Action for Trans Equality
- GENDERDOC-M Information Centre
- Human Rights Campaign
- Human Rights Watch
- ILGA Asia
- ILGA World, media (at) ilga.org
- ILGALAC- Asociación Internacional de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales, Trans e Intersex para América Latina y el Caribe
- International Commission of Jurists
- International Family Equality Day
- International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations
- Iranti-NPC
- ISHR
- Kasbah Tal’fin
- Las Reinas Chulas Cabaret y Derechos Humanos AC
- Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany LSVD
- LGBT Association ‘LIGA’
- MANODIVERSA
- MSI Reproductive Choices
- National LGBT* organization LGL
- OPSEU/SEFPO
- Organizando Trans Diversidades (Asociación OTD Chile)
- OutRight Action International
- Pacific Human Rights Initiative
- Pan Africa ILGA
- Pink human rights defender NGO
- Planet Ally
- Rainbow Community Kampuchea Organisation (RoCK)
- RAM Gender Diversity Movement Trust
- Red de Desarrollo Sostenible de Nicaragua
- Red de Litigantes LGBTI de las Américas
- Red Sin Violencia LGBTI
- RFSL
- RFSU
- Sex og Politikk (IPPF Norway)
- Swiss Rainbow Families Organisation
- The Global Interfaith Network (GIN-SSOGIE)
- The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights
- Transvanilla Transgender Association
- Uganda Key Populations Consortium – UKPC