Statement by the UN LGBTI Core Group on Agenda Item 3
Delivered by FRANCISCA GALLEGOS, VICE MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILE.
April 21, 2025
Chairperson,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Member States of the UN LGBTI Core Group.[1] The group is co-chaired by Chile and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The UN LGBTI Core Group’s overarching goal is to work within the United Nations framework to ensure universal respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals without distinction, regardless of their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) persons. Our particular focus is on protecting LGBTI persons from violence and discrimination.
Chairperson,
Please allow me to refer to some of the challenges that require further efforts when addressing discrimination against Indigenous LGBTI persons:
First, despite empirical evidence suggesting that indigenous LGBTI persons are disproportionately affected by all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, stigma, and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, this issue is often absent from this Forum reports and recommendations. Therefore, we recommend to consider integrating the situation of Indigenous LGBTI persons’ rights into future reports and recommendations.
Second, meaningful participation is limited in the United Nations for Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, including Indigenous LGBTI persons, due to multiple structural barriers. In this regard, this group encourages Member states to support measures that will promote Indigenous LGBTI persons full, meaningful and effective participation in decision-making processes at all levels and in all areas.
Third, we encourage all relevant mechanisms to further include disaggregated data or references to the realities of LGBTI Indigenous persons. For this reason, we deem necessary to enhance the capacity of institutions and the UN System to improve data frameworks and to integrate intersectional analysis, in line with the 2030 Agenda and our joint commitment of leaving no one behind.
Chairperson,
We encourage the Permanent Forum to consider the importance of addressing the stigma faced by Indigenous LGBTI persons. As a group, we are fully committed to ensuring the visibility of LGBTI issues and ending the stigmatization of all LGBTI persons, through a constant call to Member States and the UN System to take effective and decisive measures in that regard.
Thank you.
[1] The group is co-chaired by Chile and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and includes Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Timor Leste, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, the European Union, as well as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the non-governmental organizations Human Rights Watch and Outright International.