UN Makes History on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity

The United Nations Human Rights Council, in a defining vote, adopted a resolution on June 30, 2016, on "Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, and gender identity," to mandate the appointment of an independent expert on the subject. It is a historic victory for the human rights of anyone at risk of discrimination and violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, a coalition of human rights groups said today. This resolution builds upon two previous resolutions, adopted by the Council in 2011 and 2014.

The Core Group of seven Latin American countries - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Uruguay - and 41 additional countries jointly presented the text.

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 23 in favor, 18 against and six abstentions.

"This is truly momentous," said Micah Grzywnowicz, of the Swedish Federation for LGBTQ Rights (RFSL). "This is our opportunity to bring international attention to specific violations and challenges faced by transgender and gender non-conforming persons in all regions. It's time for the international community to take responsibility to ensure that persons at risk of violence and discrimination because of gender identity are not left behind."

"It's a historic resolution," said Josefina Valencia, of the International LGBTI Association for Latin America and the Caribbean, ILGA LAC. "Latin America has played a very important role to build a common course for the advancement of our human rights. We are proud of the international solidarity and the commitment shown by States for equality."

The positive vote responds to a joint campaign of a record 628 nongovernmental organizations from 151 countries calling on the Human Rights Council to adopt the resolution and create the independent expert.

"It is important to note that around 70 percent of the organizations are from the global south," said Yahia Zaidi of MantiQitna Network. "This is a powerful cross-regional message of strength to the UN to protect the rights of LGBTI persons. The independent expert will be a focal point for all violations based on SOGI and hence help grassroots organizations to better utilize the otherwise complex labyrinth of the UN system."

The expert will be tasked with assessing implementation of existing international human rights law, identifying best practices and gaps, raising awareness of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, engaging in dialogue and consultation with states and other stakeholders, and facilitating provision of advisory services, technical assistance, capacity-building, and cooperation to help address violence and discrimination on these grounds.

"To have an independent expert can be a 'game-changer' in counteracting violence which fuels the HIV epidemic in key populations and more specifically in LGBT communities," said Alain Kra of Espace Confiance.

"It will ease the work of all human rights defenders and it is essential for our governments and people to have the knowledge on how to protect LGBT communities from any violence and discrimination they face," added Joleen Mataele of the Tonga Leiti's Association.

Although a number of hostile amendments seeking to introduce notions of cultural relativism were adopted into the text by vote, the core of the resolution affirming the universal nature of international human rights law stood firm.

"Today, the UN took a historic step forward," said John Fisher, Geneva director at Human Rights Watch. "By creating a UN expert, the Human Rights Council has given official voice to those facing violations because of their sexual orientation or gender identity the world over. There can be no turning back, and we look forward to working with civil society colleagues and the new UN expert toward a world free from violence and discrimination for all people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity."

Results of the vote

Voting in favor of the resolution

Albania, Belgium, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Macedonia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam

Voting against the resolution

Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, China, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Togo, United Arab Emirates

Abstaining on the resolution

Botswana, Ghana, India, Namibia, Philippines, South Africa

Supporting organizations

Access Chapter

AIDES France

Amnesty International

ARC International

Clóset de Sor Juana AC

Egale Canada Human Rights Trust

Espacio de Mujeres Lesbianas Salvadoreñas por la Diversidad (ESMULES)

Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie van Homoseksualiteit - COC Nederland

Foundation for SOGI Rights and Justice (FORSOGI)

FRI, the Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity

GALANG Philippines

Human Rights Law Centre

Human Rights Watch

Iranti-org

International Commission of Jurists

ILGA LAC, Asociación Internacional de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales, Trans e Intersexuales para América Latina y el Caribe

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)

Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO)

LGBT Denmark - the National Organization for Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgendered People

MantiQitna Network

OutRight Action International

Pacific Sexual Diversity Network

Pan Africa ILGA

Proyecto Arcoiris, colectivo anticapitalista e independiente

Samoa Faafafine Association

Swedish Federation for LGBTQ Rights (RFSL)

TLF Share Collective - Philippines

Tonga Leitis Association