Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics at the Universal Periodic Review

This report provides an overview on how the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has shaped the protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) persons to date. It also addresses the challenges and the ways to try and turn the UPR into a greater mechanism to protect the rights of LGBTI persons on the ground.

While it may not be the best tool for immediate change, it can start the ongoing processes at the national level and open up new avenues for engaging governments on issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). Over its first two cycles, the UPR has positively evolved as a truly multi-stakeholder process. Both states and civil society have gone through a learning process in order to work not only with their respective peers, but also together.