UN expert to assess violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Argentina

GENEVA / BUENOS AIRES (24 February 2017) – United Nations human rights expert Vitit Muntarbhorn is to make the first visit of its kind to Argentina to assess progress made towards eliminating violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the country. 

Mr. Muntarbhorn, the first Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity designated by the UN Human Rights Council, will investigate different forms of violence and discrimination.

“I am particularly interested in legislative reforms and policies that have been implemented in Argentina to protect people targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and to create an inclusive environment,” he said.

The expert will arrive in Buenos Aires on 1 March for his ten-day visit and will meet with representatives of both federal and at provincial governments, as well as individuals and civil society organisations working on issues related to the rights of LGBT people in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Mendoza.

“The visit will allow me to identify not only good practices but also issues for which I will provide concrete recommendations to fight violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” Mr. Muntarbhorn said.

A news conference to share the expert’s preliminary findings will be held on Friday 10 March at 12:30 at the UN Information Center, Junín 1940, first floor, 1113 Buenos Aires. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

Mr Muntarbhorn will also present his findings at a future session of the Human Rights Council.

ENDS

Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand), Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, is the first UN Independent Expert on the protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). He took up the mandate on 1 November 2016.

The Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights country page: Argentina

For further information and media requests, please contact:

In Geneva (before and after the visit): Catherine de Preux De Baets (+41 22 917 9327 / cdepreuxdebaets@ohchr.org) or write to ie-sogi@ohchr.org

In Buenos Aires (during the visit): Gustavo Poch (+ 54 011 4803 7671 / Gustavo.poch@unic.org) or Catherine de Preux De Baets (+54 911 6938 2099 / cdepreuxdebaets@ohchr.org).

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Bryan Wilson, OHCHR Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9826 /mediaconsultant1@ohchr.org)

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