OHCHR | Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity

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Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity

Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

Purpose of the mandate

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, without distinction of any kind. Yet in all regions of the world, there are acts of violence and discrimination committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

To address this concern, the UN Human Rights Council created the mandate of Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (also referred to as the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, or the "IE SOGI").

About the mandate

Created through Human Rights Council resolution 32/2 in June 2016 for an initial period of three years, the mandate was renewed in June 2019 under resolution 41/18.

Learn more about the mandate.

Current mandate holder

Victor Madrigal-Borloz, UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. © UN Victor Madrigal-Borloz was appointed as UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity in late 2017. His initial three-year term started on 1 January 2018. He is the second Independent Expert to serve in this capacity.

A Costa Rican jurist, Mr. Madrigal-Borloz is a senior visiting researcher at Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program, in residence at Harvard Law School from July 2019 to December 2023. Read Victor Madrigal-Borloz’s full biography.

Key Documents

Work Plan 2021-2023
PDF: English

Reports on Gender: The law of inclusion & Practices of exclusion (2021)
PDF: English | Français (coming soon) | Español

Bodily Autonomy & Integrity
PDF: English | Français (coming soon) | Español
Comprehensive sexuality education
PDF: English | Français (coming soon) | Español

Impact of COVID-19 on LGBT persons – key findings (2020)
PDF: English | Français | Español | Portuguese Português

ASPIRE Guidelines on COVID-19
PDF: English | Français | Español | Portuguese Português

So-called conversion therapy practices – key findings (2020)
PDF: English | Français | Español | Portuguese Português

Socio-cultural and economic inclusion – key findings (2019)
PDF: English

Gender identity – key findings (2018)
PDF: English

Latest thematic reports

Reports on Gender: There has been a steep rise in the use of platforms to promote bigotry, dehumanize persons based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and foster stigma and intolerance. The reports on gender published in 2021 address this issue from two complementary angles. The first part, “The Law of Inclusion”, investigates how the concept of gender is enshrined in international human rights law. The second part, “Practices of Exclusion”, analyses backlash against the incorporation of gender frameworks in international human rights law and concludes that exclusionary narratives and actions related go gender and gender identity create risks for the rights of all women and contribute to the perpetuation of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. View report page | View reader-friendly summary | View document A/HRC/47/27 (The law of inclusion) and document A/76/152 (Practices of exclusion).

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the human rights of LGBT persons: Drawing on anecdotal input from over 1000 individuals from more than 100 countries, this report discusses the detrimental impact of the pandemic on LGBT populations worldwide. The Independent Expert urges States to create measures that ensure that pandemic responses are free from violence and discrimination against LGBT persons. View report page | View reader-friendly summary | View document A/75/258.

So-called conversion therapy: The Independent Expert examines these harmful practices, their human rights implications and their connection with violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. He concludes that conversion therapy practices lead to psychological and physical pain and suffering, and he calls for a global ban. View report page | View key findings | View document A/HRC/44/53.