3 Oct 2016

UN appoints first expert on LGBT issues

Thai professor, Vitit Muntarbhorn, has been appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council as the first independent expert to investigate anti-LGBT violence and discrimination.

 

Vitit Muntarbhorn, an international law professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, has been given a three year mandate to look into abuse that the LGBT community suffer.
John Fisher, the Geneva-based director of Human Rights Watch, said the appointment on Friday "made history'' and "will bring much-needed attention to human rights violations against LGBT people in all regions of the world.”
Executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) Renato Sabbadin told Pink News the move would help 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,” Sabbadin added.
Muntarbhorn has been a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria since 2012 and has served as special U.N. rapporteurs on North Korea and child prostitution and pornography.
He co-chaired a meeting in 2006 0f experts that adopted the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

Vitit Muntarbhorn, an international law professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, has been given a three year mandate to look into abuse that the LGBT community suffer.

John Fisher, the Geneva-based director of Human Rights Watch, said the appointment on Friday "made history'' and "will bring much-needed attention to human rights violations against LGBT people in all regions of the world.”

Executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) Renato Sabbadin told Pink News the move would help 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,” Sabbadin added.

Muntarbhorn has been a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria since 2012 and has served as special U.N. rapporteurs on North Korea and child prostitution and pornography.

He co-chaired a meeting in 2006 0f experts that adopted the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.