Amnesty International commends UN Member States for upholding the Human Rights Council’s work to protect individuals against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Today in the Third Committee of the General Assembly, 84 countries, voted in favour of an amendment to the resolution on the report of the Human Rights Council removing a paragraph which would defer implementation of Council resolution 32/2 on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity which, inter alia, establishes an Independent Expert on these issues. The amendment was introduced by Brazil on behalf of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico and Uruguay and was cosponsored by over 65 countries. Today’s vote sends a strong message of support to the Human Rights Council and the Independent Expert.
The right to be free from violence and discrimination on any ground is well established in international human rights law. It is hoped that, with the decision of the Third Committee, Mr Muntarbhorn, appointed by the Council as the Independent Expert in September 2016, can continue with his important work without obstruction.
Background
Botswana, on behalf of the African Group, tabled a draft resolution at the UN Third Committee of the General Assembly seeking to defer implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 32/2, adopted at the thirty-second session, establishing an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity to its seventy-second session.
The thirty-third session of the Council appointed Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn as the Independent Expert and he entered into function on 1 November 2016.