On December 4, 2017, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed Victor Madrigal-Borloz as the new Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to replace Vitit Muntarbhorn, who resigned for personal reasons. [OHCHR Press Release: Announcement] Madrigal-Borloz is expected to begin his term as the new Independent Expert on January 1, 2018. [OutRight International] The Human Rights Council first created this special procedure mandate in a resolution adopted in November 2016 after a controversial debate. [OHCHR Press Release: New Mandate] The mandate is up for renewal in 2019, at which time, assuming the mandate is renewed, Madrigal-Borloz will be able to serve an additional three years. [OutRight International] In addition to being the current Secretary General of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, Madrigal-Borloz has served on the Board of Directors of the International Justice Resource Center since 2011.
Madrigal-Borloz & Muntarbhorn
Madrigal-Borloz brings a variety of experience to the role, having previously worked at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, where he was the founding staff member for the unit on LGBTI persons’ rights. He has also previously served a term as a member of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), a UN human rights treaty body. See IJRC, Victor Madrigal-Borloz. As detailed in his application, with regard to the rights of LGBTI persons’, Madrigal-Borloz’s work has included serving as the SPT’s rapporteur on LGBTI matters in 2014 and 2015, during which time he spearheaded the SPT’s policy on this issue, and leading the Inter-American Commission’s preparation of a plan of action regarding the rights of LGBTI persons.
He was chosen out of an original list of 11 candidates who applied to replace Muntarbhorn.
Muntarbhorn was the first person to hold this mandate and assumed the position of Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in September 2016.