United Nations Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity

United Nations Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity
Emblem of the United Nations
Incumbent
Graeme Reid
since November 2023
Inaugural holderVitit Muntarbhorn
Websitewww.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/ie-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity

The United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (shortened to (U.N.) Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity[1] and abbreviated as IE SOGI[1]) is a United Nations Independent Expert appointed by the body's Human Rights Council under its special procedures mechanism. The Independent Expert's Mandate is to examine, monitor, advise, and publicly report on matters related to human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.[1][2][3]

The Mandate was established by Human Rights Council resolution 32/2 (30 June 2016), by a vote of 23 to 18, with 6 abstentions.[4] In June 2019, during the 41st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Mandate was renewed for a three-year period in a resolution adopted by a vote of 27 to 12, with 7 abstentions.[5][6] In July 2022, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to extend the term of the IE SOGI for another three years by a vote of 23 to 17, with 7 abstentions.[7]

The current Mandate holder is Graeme Reid, who has occupied the position since November 2023. [8] His predecessors were Vitit Muntarbhorn, who held the Mandate from August 2016 to October 2017, and Victor Madrigal-Borloz who held the Mandate from November 2017 to October 2023.[9][10][11]

  1. ^ a b c "OHCHR | Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity". www.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  2. ^ Morello, Carol (2016-06-30). "U.N. council creates watchdog for LGBT rights". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  3. ^ "The creation of a UN SOGI mandate". Sexuality Policy Watch. 2016-07-05. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  4. ^ "UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity | ILGA-Europe". www.ilga-europe.org. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  5. ^ Campaign, Human Rights. "U.N. Human Rights Council Votes in Favor of Independent Expert". Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  6. ^ "– UN renews mandate of Independent Expert on SOGI". Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  7. ^ "UN renews crucial human rights expert mandate on SOGI". ISHR. 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  8. ^ "Civil Society Welcomes the Appointment of Graeme Reid as the Third UN Independent Expert on SOGI". ILGA World. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  9. ^ "UN appoints first expert to protect LGBT people from violence". The Independent. 2016-09-30. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  10. ^ "Resignation of Vitit Muntarbhorn as Independent Expert on SOGI – for Health & Family Reasons". ILGA. 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  11. ^ Kwatra, Rashima (2017-12-02). "Victor Madrigal-Borloz Appointed as New UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity". Global LGBT Human Rights. Retrieved 2019-10-16.