The UN Human Rights Council appointed its first independent investigator to help protect homosexual and transgender people worldwide from violence and discrimination. The United Nations expert Vitit Muntarbhorn will have a three-year mandate to investigate abuses against LGBTI people.

Muntarbhorn is an international law professor at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, and has served on several UN bodies, including inquiries on Syria and as a special rapporteur on North Korea.

The UN agreed on the new role in June, after the 47-member council overcame strong objections by some Muslim countries to adopt a Western-backed resolution by a vote of 23 states in favor and 18 against with six abstentions. With the appointment, representatives from Saudi Arabia, speaking for the states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (excluding Albania), and Russia noted that they opposed the appointment of the Independent Expert, and their countries would not cooperate with the position.

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) said the newly created role was critical to give justice to LGBTI people who have been attacked, abused or discriminated against.

“Never has there been a more urgent need to safeguard the human rights of LGBTI persons around the world,” said executive director of ILGA, Renato Sabbadini. Read more via Huffington Post