ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the status of sexual and gender minorities in current international human rights law and analyzes the polarization of United Nations (UN) member states on issues of concern to sexual and gender minorities. Few nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) representing sexual and gender minorities have received consultative status to enable them to advocate for change inside the UN system. The chapter examines the access of LGBTIQ-focused NGOs to the UN system. It argues that a litigation strategy based on current law alone will not succeed at the global level because the 'universal' human rights instruments create necessary but not sufficient conditions for success in challenging de jure systemic bias. In the face of rigidifying polarization, UN human rights agencies continue to articulate norms and to recommend policies and practices to address violence and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities. The chapter concludes with a series of recommendations for LGBTIQ advocacy groups and public officials.
