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UN appoints first expert on LGBT violence and discrimination
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Chairperson of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria Paulo Pinheiro, right, speaks during the launch of 12th report of the commission on Syria of the Human Rights Council at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sept. 6, 2016. Sitting at left is Vitit Muntarbhorn, member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria. (Keystone via AP/Magali Girardin)
T
he Human Rights Council has appointed international human rights expert Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand as the first U.N. independent expert charged with investigating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
John Fisher, Geneva director of Human Rights Watch, said his appointment on Friday "made history" and "will bring much-needed attention to human rights violations against LGBT people in all regions of the world."
Muntarbhorn, a law professor, has been on the council's Commission of Inquiry on Syria and previously served as U.N. special investigator on North Korea and on child prostitution and child pornography.
He co-chaired a meeting of experts that adopted the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. (ags)
