STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 59th Session.
Item 3 - Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. JST Colombia.
20.06.2025
Mr. President,
This is a Joint Statement on behalf of members of the Group of Friends of the Mandate of the Independent Expert on SOGI.
We welcome the thematic report presented to the Council, which highlights how broader drivers of forced displacement, such as armed conflicts and natural disasters might intersect with violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, placing LGBT and gender diverse persons in disproportionate risk of forced displacement.
Beyond being drivers of forced displacement, of violence and discrimination based on SOGI is often also present during transit, both within their country of origin and elsewhere, as showed in the report. LGBT individuals who are forcibly displaced continue facing significant barriers in accessing support systems, including legal assistance.
We welcome the recommendations of the report as well as the good practices identified by the Expert on how States can address drivers of forced displacement of LGBT individuals and how to protect their human rights when they are displaced.
Mr. President,
This report brings evidence that violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, remains an urgent issue to that requires the attention of the Human Rights Council.
As members of the Group of Friends of the Mandate, we call on all the members of the Human Rights Council to support the resolution to renew of the SOGI Mandate, presented at the current session, and keep upholding the commitment of a world free from violence and discrimination to everyone.