HRC 63 session – ILGA World’s engagement (September – October 2026)

On this page, you can find information about ILGA World’s work during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council and how the session addressed the human rights of LGBTI people worldwide.

Read our introductory article about the session: With our global LGBTI communities at the 63rd UN Human Rights Council

This page will be updated as the session unfolds

Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on Older Persons

A lifetime of criminalisation, discrimination, and family rejection can shape who remains around a person in older age.
LGBTI older persons may lack access to informal care, remain socially isolated, and decide to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity in healthcare settings. This has profound consequences when, and if, cognitive impairment develops.

During the Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on Older Persons, we reaffirmed that personhood, identity and human agency remain intact even as cognitive impairment develops.

Follow this link to read the statement in full, and watch the video

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Water and Sanitation

Real access to sanitation means more than having a toilet. For LGBTI people, that toilet can exist and still put them at risk — of harassment, violence, humiliation, forced outing or arrest — every time they use it.

At the Human Rights Council, we called on States to make sanitation facilities free, safe, accessible and dignified for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.

Follow this link to read the joint statement with GATE in full, and watch the video

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples

Neo-colonialism is reinforcing strict binary and heteronormative understandings of gender and sexual identity, and contributes to the suppression of culturally specific identities and roles.

At the 63rd United Nations Human Rights Council, we pointed out how colonial control over Indigenous bodies, reproduction, family relations, and knowledge systems continues to drive contemporary human rights violations.

Follow this link to read the statement in full, and watch the video

Annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms

Gender stereotypes are not merely social attitudes: they can become embedded in laws, policies, and institutions, and produce structural discrimination.

Deeply-rooted gender stereotypes can outlive legal progress. This is why we took the floor at the Human Rights Council, arguing that protecting people as they exercise their rights must include preventing political shifts from eroding the dignity, equality and safety of those most affected.

Follow this link to read the statement in full, delivered by COC Nederland and joined by ILGA World, and watch the video.

From resolution to reality: Ending harmful health care practices against intersex persons

Bodily integrity concerns us all. Yet, intersex people continue to experience widespread human rights violations within health care systems.

The Human Rights Council Resolution 55/14 marked an important step forward, but implementing it will require legal and policy reform, as well as changes in medical education, clinical guidelines, professional standards, accountability mechanisms and approaches to informed consent.

During this side event, States, UN agencies, health professionals, and intersex human rights defenders discussed how to move from recognition to implementation — from commitments on paper to changes that intersex people can experience in their lives.

Paraguay

During the adoption of its latest Universal Periodic Review outcomes at the United Nations, Paraguay took note of all recommendations relating to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, which address discrimination, violence, hate speech, freedom of association and the recognition of same-sex couples.

“We call for recognition and equal protection,” said civil society organisations.

Follow this link to read the statement by ILGA World, prepared in collaboration with REPAR+, and watch the video

Namibia

During the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review outcomes of Namibia, the country supported four recommendations on protection against discrimination and violence, the explicit inclusion of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics in anti-discrimination legislation, and legal gender recognition.

However, Namibia noted 17 other recommendations, and the Government’s appeal against the High Court’s 2024 decriminalisation judgment remains a concern.

Follow this link to read the statement by ILGA World, prepared in consultation with Equal Namibia, and watch the video.

Mozambique

During the adoption of its UPR outcomes, Mozambique noted all recommendations on equality, non-discrimination, protection from violence, legal safeguards and freedom of association.

However, Article 52 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of association, and yet LGBTI organisations remain unregistered, despite the Constitutional Council’s 2017 decision that the morality requirement previously used to deny registration was unconstitutional.

We urge Mozambique to register LGBTI organisations and adopt effective protections against discrimination and violence against our communities.

Follow this link to read the statement by ILGA World, prepared with civil society organisations across Mozambique, and watch the video.