[JURIST] Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community are experiencing a “vortex of violence and discrimination” on a global level, including hate speech and rampant social media attacks, according to a statement [text] made Tuesday by a UN human rights expert. Newly-appointed UN Independent Expert on the Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Vitit Muntarbhorn named five key areas for change: decriminalizing same-sex relationships, no longer treating LGBTI people as though they have a disorder, recognizing people’s status, clarifying misinterpretations and teaching empathy and integrating gender/sexual diversity beginning in childhood. He stated:

Stereotyping, stigmatization and ostracism are often the result of a non-liberal mind and non-peaceful behavior … which fuels the antagonism steeped in homophobia, transphobia and (even) humanrightsphobia. … Thus future actions to overcome violence and discrimination should aim for decriminalization, depathologization, status recognition, cultural liberalization, and empathization through a human rights sensitive educational and socialization process from childhood onwards, on the basis that prevention is better than cure.

The comments were made while addressing the European Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network, intended to protect the rights of LGBTI youth.

The rights of LGBTI persons remains a controversial topic throughout the world. A group of UN human rights experts expressed concern [JURIST report] earlier this week over countries attempting to retroactively block a mandate of an independent expert to investigate sexual orientation and gender identity-based rights abuses. The Human Rights Council voted in July in favor of appointing [JURIST report] an independent expert to report on and investigate worldwide violence and discrimination against the LGBTI community. The resolution [text] was approved by the member states of the Human Rights Council in June. Last Month France removed a sterilization requirement [JURIST report] for transgender individuals. Not all movements towards LGBTI rights are being met happily, as shown in September when thousands marched [JURIST report] in Mexico against same-sex marriage. In August the Belize Supreme Court struck down [JURIST report] an anti-gay law.