The United Nations grants consultative status to three LGBT NGOs

Front Line welcomes the long awaited decision by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), to grant consultative status to three lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) NGOs addressing human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender.

The three organizations include; the European section of the International Lesbian and Gay Association,the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians and the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany. This consultative status will provide the NGOs with access to UN meetings, delivery of oral and written reports, contact with country representatives, and allows the organization of events to facilitate understanding of the abuse and discrimination that LGBT people face around the world.

The granting of consultative status to these three NGOs is illustrative of the UN’s recognition for LGTB organizations. LGTB defenders are very often subjected to various forms of reprisals because of their work in favour of homosexuals’ and transexuals’ rights and they often face obstacles to their freedoms of association and peaceful assembly in many parts of the world.

Adrian Coman, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Program Manager, congratulated the UN’s newest consultants and stated, “Their addition to the UN NGO family gives more credibility to the United Nations itself. This decision paves the way for LGBT groups from Africa, Asia, and Latin America whom we hope, in the future, will be granted consultative status so that a more global representation of LGBT voices at the UN is ensured.