by Kseniya Kirichenko for ILGA

The United Nations Treaty Bodies are an authoritative source of international law, and have steadily contributed to protecting the human rights of LGBTI persons. A review of their activities in 2017 and 2018, released today by ILGA World, shows that references to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) made by the committees have hit an all-time high.

In 2014, ILGA World started compiling and analysing how UN committees address the multi-faceted realities LGBTI people live in across the globe. Now five years into our research, we are able to identify sustained and fundamental progress: not only SOGIESC references and recommendations have grown significantly in numbers, but they have also become more impactful, more specific and increasingly aware of cultural diversities.

Thanks to the fundamental input of grassroots human rights defenders, this body of work is constantly feeding into rules and norms that shape international law, and continues to guide states towards better standards of protection for people of diverse SOGIESC on the ground. Read more via ILGA