UN expert on sexual orientation invited to visit Sri Lanka

A United Nations (UN) expert on sexual orientation has been invited to visit Sri Lanka on a fact-finding mission.

The UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity Victor Madrigal-Borloz has been invited to visit Sri Lanka.

?The Independent Expert has been invited for a country visit to Sri Lanka and is currently awaiting confirmation of the dates for his visit,? Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Special Procedures Branch Associate Human Rights Officer Alice Ochsenbein told The Sunday Morning.

The Independent Expert was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and has been invited to assess the implementation of existing international human rights instruments with regard to ways to overcome violence and discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and to identify and address the root causes of violence and discrimination.

His task includes engaging in dialogue and consulting with states and other relevant stakeholders including UN agencies, programmes and funds, regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, and academic institutions.

The expert also works in cooperation with states in order to foster the implementation of measures that contribute to the protection of all persons against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and also to address the multiple, intersecting, and aggravated forms of violence and discrimination faced by persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. (Colombo Gazette)