The United Nations has once again affirmed its commitment to protecting individuals against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). In a decisive vote during the 59th session, the UN Human Rights Council renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert on SOGI, with 29 countries voting in favor, 15 against, and 3 abstentions.

This renewal marks the continuation of a crucial role established in 2016, aimed at addressing global discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. The mandate, held since 2023 by South African scholar Graeme Reid, underscores the enduring principle of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

The resolution's adoption comes at a critical time when various nations are witnessing a rollback on LGBTQ+ rights. Notably, under President Donald Trump's administration, the United States withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council and implemented policies adversely affecting transgender individuals, including restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender youth — a move recently upheld by the US Supreme Court.

In response to these challenges, the Independent Expert on SOGI has called for a “rights-based, person-centred approach” to gender-affirming care, emphasizing the necessity of upholding human dignity and rights in healthcare.

Ahead of the council’s session, Human Rights Watch and ILGA World, along with a coalition of 1,259 NGOs from 167 countries, vigorously campaigned for the renewal of the resolution. They highlighted the importance of specific, sustained, and systematic attention to combat human rights violations against LGBTQ+ people globally.

Julia Ehrt, Executive Director of ILGA World, expressed that the renewal is a "spark of hope" amidst efforts by reactionary powers to undermine the advances fought for by LGBTQ+ communities. The renewed mandate not only reinforces international commitment to combatting SOGI-based violence and discrimination but also serves as a beacon of support to LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide.

As nations around the globe grapple with the complexities of rights and freedoms, the continuation of this mandate is a clear statement: violence and discrimination against anyone, based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, will not be tolerated on the international stage.