Victory as UN LGBTIQ+ Rights Watchdog Renewed: Why It Matters

In a significant victory for LGBTIQ+ rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has voted to renew the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) for another three years.

The resolution to retain this vital role was passed on Monday in Geneva with 29 votes in favour, 15 against, and three abstentions.

Graeme Reid to Continue in the Role

The position, currently held by South African-born scholar Graeme Reid, is reviewed every three years. This latest vote followed an international campaign supported by 1,259 non-governmental organisations across 157 states and territories.

In a post on X, Reid said: “I would like to thank the UN Human Rights Council for the renewal of the #IESOGI mandate with 29 votes in favour, 15 against, and 3 abstentions. I look forward to continuing this important work together!”

Created in 2016 and previously renewed in 2019 and 2022, the SOGI Independent Expert is tasked with assessing how international human rights law is being implemented to combat violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

South Africa and Kenya were the only African countries to vote in favour of the renewal. Most of those that voted against the resolution were also from the continent, including Algeria, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Gambia, Malawi, Morocco, Sudan, and the Maldives.

Other nations that voted against the mandate included Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Kuwait, and Qatar. Benin, Ghana, and Kyrgyzstan abstained from voting.

A Spark of Hope in a Difficult Time

The decision to continue the SOGI mandate was welcomed by ILGA World, a global network of LGBTIQ organisations.

“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 at ILGA World.

“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,” she added.

Since its establishment, three mandate holders have served as the UN Independent Expert on SOGI. They have conducted official visits to 11 countries and produced 17 reports documenting widespread discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The role also provides guidance and assistance to governments, UN agencies, and regional bodies, supporting efforts to uphold the human rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals globally.