The UN and the Rights of LGBTI People

Concerns about human rights violations experienced by LGBTI people have been voiced by the United Nations Secretary-General and many other senior United Nations officials. The United Nations increasingly addresses priority issues facing LGBTI people. Specific actions have included:

• In March 2011, Colombia delivered a Joint Statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council on ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Submitted on behalf of more than 80 United Nations Member States, this statement publicly acknowledged the unacceptable treatment experienced by people in all regions of the world on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

• In June 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 17/19, which recognizes that acts of violence and discrimination are committed against LGBTI persons around the world. The Resolution requested the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a report on these issues. This report outlined the problems faced by LGBTI people and reiterated each State’s duty to protect the rights of all citizens. The report recommends that all States investigate serious acts of violence, repeal laws criminalizing homosexuality and enact legislation to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

• In July 2013, OHCHR launched the Free & Equal Campaign to raise awareness about violence, discrimination and other human rights violations affecting the LGBTI community and to promote equality for everyone regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

• In September 2015, 12 United Nations entities issued a Joint Statement calling on States to act urgently to end violence and discrimination against LGBTI adults, adolescents and children. The entities stated: “[W]e remain seriously concerned that around the world, millions of LGBTI individuals, those perceived as LGBTI and their families face widespread human rights violations. This is cause for alarm – and action."

  The Statement pointed out that failures to uphold the human rights of LGBTI people and protect them against violence and discrimination constitute serious violations of international human rights law. These failures bring additional negative outcomes, like fostering ill health, including HIV, as well as social and economic exclusion. The entities noted the negative impact of such exclusion on decent work, economic growth and progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  Furthermore, they emphasized that States bear the primary duty under international law to protect everyone from discrimination and violence. These violations therefore require an urgent response by governments, parliaments, judiciaries and national human rights institutions.

The Sustainable Development Goals and the pledge to leave no one behind

In September 2015, 193 Member States of the United Nations unanimously adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the global framework for efforts to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change by 2030. Central to this agenda is the pledge that no one should be left behind. Achieving these goals will be impossible if LGBTI people, like other marginalized people, are not included.

Achieving the SDGs requires good, solid data and evidence-based research to inform the legal, policy and programmatic frameworks needed to achieve results. Currently, however, there is a huge gap in the global data available on the inclusion of LGBTI people.

To fill this gap, and as a contribution to support the implementation of Agenda 2030, on 10 December 2015, UNDP announced its commitment to lead the development of an LGBTI Inclusion Index that can inform evidence-based development strategies to advance the inclusion of LGBTI people. Following extensive multisectoral and civil society consultations, the five priority dimensions that have been prioritized for measurement in the LGBTI Inclusion Index are: political and civic participation, economic well-being, personal security and violence, health and education.

- From the UNDP, LGBTI Inclusion Index Concept Note, June 2016.