United Nations Human Rights Council Passes Resolution Authorizing New Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Washington, D.C. – Human Rights First today praised the passage of a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution creating of the position of Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI). The U.N. Human Rights Council passed the resolution today during its 32nd session in Geneva.

“We welcome this historic step and we believe the creation of this position will help ensure that the struggle for the human rights of LGBTI people remains a prominent issue within the human rights movement. We look forward to engaging with the Independent Expert once that person is named,” said Human Rights First’s Shawn Gaylord.

Earlier this week, the organization offered its support for this position along with the renewal of the mandate of the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus in a letter to the U.S. Representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council Ambassador Keith Harper, emphasizing the importance of both positions to advancing equal human rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.