- The 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Councilan inter-governmental body within the United Nations which has the responsibility to promote and protect human rights. It is comprised of 47 member States, each elected to 3-year terms by the 193 member States of the United Nations. More takes place in Geneva, Switzerland between 7 September and 7 October 2026
- ILGA World will be present in the space with allied organisations, representing our LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. More communities worldwide
- Read this article to learn more about the resolution, dialogues, and spaces in which we will take the floor
At ILGA World, we care about every LGBTI person — and especially those whose equal worth, rights and dignity others challenge or deny.
The United Nations Human Rights Council is a key space to make this happen.
Its 63rd session begins on 7 September 2026 in Geneva, and we will be there!
The Intersex Superweek
During the session, ILGA World will host a group of intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. More activists from many regions of the world to meet State representatives and ensure they translate last year’s historic report into better lives for intersex people everywhere.
The reports by human rights experts
During this session, human rights experts will present reports on a number of issues. In their reports, human rights experts continue to address the challenges that LGBTI people face.
The Special Rapporteur reaffirms that water and sanitation facilities must be safe, available, accessible, affordable, socially and culturally acceptable, provide privacy and ensure dignity for all individuals, including transgender and gender-diverse persons, and that States must take targeted measures to ensure the dignity and privacy of transgender and gender-diverse persons in the realisation of the right to sanitation
“Making the human right to sanitation a reality for all”, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo Agudo
Violations of Indigenous women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights have often served broader objectives of controlling Indigenous Peoples, their lands, resources, identities and futures. As a result, the harms extend beyond individual victims and affect families, communities and the collective survival, cultural continuity and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples.
“Historical and contemporary forms of violations against the sexual and reproductive health and rights of Indigenous women and girls”, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert K. Barume
States must take action and do better by all the people they serve!
The statements
Together with partners and allies, we will support LGBTI human rights defenders to deliver statements on the rights of indigenous women and girls, the rights of older persons, and we will amplify the demands of LGBTI communities as countries adopt the outcomes of their Universal Periodic Review.
The resolutions
We will closely monitor resolutions focusing on the impact of technology on women and girls, human rights of youth, and on the need for everyone to access clean water and sanitation.
We will also take the floor during an important discussion on how genderrefers to a social construct which places cultural and social expectations on individuals based on their assigned sex. More stereotypes keep driving discriminationunequal or unfair treatment which can be based on a range of grounds - such as age, ethnic background, disability, and diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions or sex characteristics, amongst others. More and inequality.
We will follow these and more diplomatic dialogues, ensuring that any decision that States will take are in the best interest of the people affected by them, and follow their guidance.
Nothing about us without us!
Stay tuned to our website and social media pages for updates on this Human Rights Council: we will be there with you, our LGBTI communities worldwide, advancing liberation for everyone!