UN Renews Crucial Mandate for Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 27 in favour, with 12 voting against and 7 abstentions.

The campaign calling on the Council to renew the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on SOGI was supported by 1,312 non-governmental organizations from 174 States and territories.

«This is another historic victory, not only for communities of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, but for humanity as a whole», said Paula Sebastiao of Arquivo de Identidade Angolano in Angola and Simran Shaikh, Asia coordinator of the Trans Respect v. Transphobia project, on behalf of 60 human rights groups worldwide. “Following the call from a record number of organizations from every region imaginable, the UN Human Rights Council has reaffirmed its commitment to combat discrimination and violence on grounds of SOGI and has reminded all states of their obligations towards these communities.”

Created in 2016, the UN Independent Expert on SOGI has been supported by an ever-growing number of States from all regions of the world. 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.

«The renewal of this mandate demonstrates how United Nations States» support for tackling violence and discrimination against people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities has grown tremendously», said UN Trans Advocacy Week campaigners. «The Independent Expert is crucial in bringing international attention to specific violations and challenges faced by trans and gender-diverse persons in all regions».

Although the renewal process had to overcome 10 hostile amendments, the core of the resolution in affirming the universal nature of international human rights law stands firm.

«The existence of a specific UN human rights mechanism looking at SOGI issues is crucial for our communities to be heard at the global level» added Ryan Silverio of ASEAN SOGIE Caucus from the Philippines. «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».

The UN Independent Expert on SOGI is tasked with assessing implementation of existing international human rights law, by talking to States, and working collaboratively with other UN and regional mechanisms to address violence and discrimination. Through the work of this mandate since 2016, the impact of criminalisation of same-sex relations and lack of legal gender recognition, the importance of data-collection specific to SOGI communities, and examples of good practices to prevent discrimination have been highlighted globally, with visits to Argentina, Georgia, Mozambique and Ukraine.

Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International said:

In far too many places around the world, violence and murder of people because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity remains a daily reality. Even in countries which have enjoyed significant progress in recognition of the human rights of LGBTIQ people, a backlash has been growing. We commend the Human Rights Council’s affirmation of the acute continuing need for the Independent Expert on the Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, as we face quite the battle ahead before we can live free to be who we are, love whom we choose, free from fear of violence, hate and persecution.

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