ISHR and ILGA World have updated their factsheets on different UN experts – check out the references to LGBTI persons and recommendations that these Special Procedures have made.
ISHR and ILGA World have examined the work of 40 UN Special Procedures over the last nine years to compile factsheets listing the references and recommendations made by these experts regarding LGBTI persons, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
Focusing on the Special Procedures that made the most regular and in-depth references to issues affecting LGBTI persons, the factsheets examine all thematic reports, reports arising from country visits, and communications sent to different States between January 2011 and 20 November 2020.
During this period, in relation to LGBTI topics, thematic Special Procedures sent 19 new communications, issued 28 reports on country visits and published 39 thematic reports.
The mandates that made the most regular references to SOGIESC issues were the Independent Expert on SOGI and the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. In welcome advances some mandates made their first communications covering LGBTI topics (disappearance, minority issues, older persons and mercenaries), and included SOGIESC issues in their reports of country visits for the first time (disabilities, terrorism).
While more than 50% of all thematic reports mentioned some LGBTI related topics, the level of detail and analysis, as well as which mandates regularly reference SOGIESC issues, indicate that opportunities remain for LGBTI defenders to strengthen this work, including in realtion to specific populations within LGBTI communities, such as LBQ women, trans or intersex persons.
All communications were made with the Independent Expert on SOGI, who since 2016, has played an essential role in adding to discussion of SOGI issues at the UN. According to information published on the OHCHR website, this mandate has conducted 6 country visits, sent 63 communications and prepared 8 thematic reports exclusively centered on violence and discrimination on the basis of SOGI.
Explore our fact sheets below.
Read this article to find out more about the trends seen over the last year in efforts of Special Procedures to push for better protection of the rights of LGBTI persons.
Contact: Tess McEvoy, [email protected]
Photo: Common Wikimedia Ludovic Bertron
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