Reacting to the news that the UN has voted to uphold the position of its first independent LGBT expert, Vitat Muntarbhorn, Sarah Champion MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, said:

“I’m immensely relieved that the damaging motion to suspend the UN’s first independent LGBT expert has fallen.

"The role of the independent expert is important in protecting the rights of some of the most vulnerable people worldwide and I am glad that Vitat Muntarbhorn will be able to carry on his work.

"At least 76 countries retain laws used to criminalise and harass people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. This includes fines, torture, hard labour, forced ‘conversion’ therapy, life-long prison sentences, and the death penalty.

"We must unite behind the independent expert’s work to ensure that these barbaric practices against LGBT people are stamped out worldwide once and for all.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

1)      The UN voted on a motion brought by the African Group to suspend its first independent expert today. UN member states voted 84 to 77 to uphold the appointment of the expert, Vitat Muntarbhorn

2)      UN Human Rights Council Report: Discrimination and violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Discrimination/LGBT/A_HRC_29_23_One_pager_en.pdf

3)      Sarah Champion wrote to the Foreign Secretary last week outlining her concerns. The full letter can be read on: https://www.facebook.com/sarahforrotherham/posts/1820187808259022