Historic UN debate on sexual orientation and gender identity

During the debate in the Human Rights Council, a report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was discussed. It maps massive and systematic violations of human rights on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. It was South Africa that chaired the debate.

“Many countries expressed a wish to share their experience of efforts to combat discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transpersons. It is a major step forward that this experience is being shared in the UN. It gives us a strong departure point for taking action,” said Mr Støre.

Norway will seek to ensure that discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation remains on the UN agenda, for example through its support – both political and financial – for the High Commissioner’s work in the field.

We also support the High Commissioner’s recommendations to member states on combating impunity for killings and other serious abuses, as well as systematic registration of such crimes, and information and awareness-raising campaigns targeted at the police, the judiciary and the education sector. Our efforts to combat discrimination in Norway are based on the Government’s action plan on improving quality of life among lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transpersons.

Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim commented, “Norway supports many brave people all over the world in their work for fundamental rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transpersons. This is a matter of life and death for many of those concerned, and it is our duty to support their work.”