Historic UN position dedicated to combatting violence and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people around the world has commenced with public consultations in Geneva.
Given how much effort was required to secure the creation of the new UN expert position – which even faced a last minute challenge during the last General Assembly session of 2016 – it was fantastic to have the opportunity to finally welcome Vitit Muntarbhorn to the role by hosting a reception for him with our friends at ILGA World.
The reception provided a relaxed and informal opportunity for civil society members and State representatives to meet and greet Professor Muntarbhorn ahead of the public consultation sessions he held in Geneva about his mandate.
Professor Muntarbhorn, a former ISHR board member, will be a dedicated advocate for LGBT rights, and will research and consult with communities, engage with governments, and provide technical assistance to develop tangible strategies for filling the gap in legal protections aimed at reducing violent hate.
Participants at the strategic workshop on the operationalisation of the Protection Mechanism for Defenders held on 24 and 25 April in Bamako, Mali, adopted an action plan to strengthen the national mechanism's capacity to protect defenders.
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination called on France to respect the demands of the Kali'ña Indigenous community in the village of Prospérité, who oppose construction of a power plant in a location that deprives them of access to their land.
Local authorities in Geneva have announced their intention to place a permanent public monument paying tribute to persecuted human rights defenders, including the late Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli. The move follows a civil society petition to have a bust made in honour of Cao placed in a prominent location in the city.
