First report from UN SOGI Expert Madrigal-Borloz published

The UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, has published his first report.

The report highlights that LGBTI people are particularly vulnerable to violence, ill-treatment and discrimination, many facing it every day, at the hands of state authorities, individuals, criminal gangs, and even their own families.

Legislation criminalising same-sex acts as well as legislation limiting the freedom of expression around this topic “fuel stigma, legitimise prejudice and expose people to family and institutional violence and further human rights abuses, such as hate crimes, death threats and torture”.

Furthermore, the report highlights entrenched gender norms and societal expectations of how things should be (such as notions of what constitutes male and female, masculine and feminine, binary and non-binary, family and relationships) and the consequent will of some to punish, destroy or fix those who are seen not to fit these norms by virtue of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

In particular, ILGA-Europe  welcome the intersectional approach this report takes, highlighting the multidimensionality of the experience of any given individual, and drawing particular attention to the experiences of trans and bisexual individuals. ILGA-Europe would, however, welcome more attention to the experiences of intersex people.

We look forward to working with Victor Madrigal-Borloz in the coming months and years to tackle the root causes of discrimination and violence against all members of the LGBTI communities. 

• Read Victor Madrigal-Borloz’s full report in full here.