The United Nations Human Rights Council renewed the mandate of an LGBTQ+ rights expert, even after President Donald Trump’s administration rolled back U.S. support.
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This means the UN will continue to obligate nation-states to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI).
South African scholar Graeme Reid currently serves the UN as its Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. He was appointed to the position for three years beginning in November 2023. The vote allows another three-year extension of the work.
"I am deeply grateful for the overwhelming support of 1,259 civil society organisations from 157 countries who rallied for the mandate’s renewal," Reid said in a LinkedIn post. Thanks to your advocacy, the Human Rights Council has once again affirmed that protecting hashtag#LGBT persons from violence and discrimination is not optional. It is a human rights obligation."
He added: "This vote is not just a decision—it’s a message of hope."
The mandate was first implemented in 2016, then renewed in 2019 and 2022. The core group of countries on the Human Rights Council — Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay — all supported renewing the mandate, which was also sponsored by 50 countries, hailing from every region of the globe.
Since the launch of the mandate, the UN has conducted 11 official visits to nations and issued 17 reports documenting discrimination against LGBTQ+ populations. The work includes spotlighting the criminalization in many nations of same-sex relationships, failure to legally recognize gender, and the displacement of LGBTQ individuals based on their identity or orientation.
The U.N. in 2023 urged the veto of laws in Uganda imposing the death penalty for anyone who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Last year, the international body spotlighted the impact of HIV and the need for social acceptance of LGBTQ people in India.
UN communications have documented discrimination in 171 international states. And just in February, it criticized the US for cuts to the global AIDS response.
The Trump administration has rolled back long-supported LGBTQ+ protections on the global stage, and has also issued executive orders in conflict with the UN mandate, including government recognition of gender identity.
ILGA World cheered the move.
“The renewal of this mandate is a spark of hope in a time when reactionary powers worldwide are trying to dismantle progress that our communities fought so hard to achieve,” said Julia Ehrt, executive director for ILGA World, in a statement.
“No matter where we come from, the colour of our skin, or the faith that keeps us going, we can all agree on a simple truth: no human being should face violence and discrimination — and there is simply no exception to that. With this vote, States showed they can live up to their commitment to leave no one behind. We will continue working with the Independent Expert on SOGI to ensure they turn their pledge into concrete actions.”
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