Vitit’s UN human rights role draws global praise
The appointment of renowned human rights expert and social commentator Vitit Muntarbhorn as the UN’s first independent expert to investigate violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity has won widespread approval around the world.
Mr Vitit, an international law professor at Chulalongkorn University who has had several previous roles in the United Nations, was involved in the initial steps to adopt the Yogyakarta Principles.
He said yesterday that support for him had come from a wide range of people and groups, including governments, civil society and the UN.
“I look forward to bridge-building with stakeholders and communities globally to counter violence and prejudice so that people will be respected and protected in the spirit of human rights and sexual diversity, and under the umbrella of international law,” he told the Bangkok Post Sunday.
“I will issue a more detailed statement concerning my mandate later when I go to the UN in Geneva to undertake this pro bono work.”
Mr Vitit has served on several UN bodies, including inquiries on Syria and as a special rapporteur on North Korea and child prostitution and pornography.
He co-chaired the 2006 meeting that led to the Yogyakarta Principles, a set of recommendations on applying international human rights law to fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).
Paisarn Likhitpreechakul of the Foundation for SOGI Rights and Justice, a Thai LGBT advocacy group, said he thought the appointment would draw attention to actual rather than perceived situations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Thais who face challenges in many areas of life.
“I hope it will also strengthen the human rights culture in Thailand, not only in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity, but also civil, political, social and economic rights which continue to be under threat today,” Mr Paisarn said.
National Human Rights commissioner Angkhana Neelapaijit said she was delighted to see Mr Vitit given the international position.
“The UN Human Rights Council has appointed the right person because Mr Vitit is one person who really knows and understands all dimensions of LGBTI. And he is a widely recognised law professor by both state and civil society sectors,” Ms Angkhana said.
She said the appointment of Mr Vitit will encourage positive change and social acceptance of LGBTI people in Thailand and around the world.
Ty Cobb, director of Human Rights Campaign Global, was quoted on washingtonblade.com as saying Mr Vitit’s appointment was “a huge step forward for LGBTI human rights worldwide”.
The UN agreed on the new role in June after the 47-member rights council overcame strong objections by Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries.
Human Rights Watch welcomed Friday’s appointment, saying the UN council “made history”.
“This critical mandate will bring muchneeded attention to human rights violations against LGBT people in all regions of the world,” John Fisher, the group’s director in Geneva, said in a statement.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association said the newly created role was critical to give justice to LGBTI people.