Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on UN member states Thursday to renew the mandate of the independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), emphasizing that the mandate remains a vital mechanism for protecting universal human rights.

As the UN Human Rights Council prepares to vote on whether to renew the mandate of the independent expert, international human rights organizations are sounding alarms about rising global hostility toward LGBTQ+ communities.

Created in 2016, the SOGI mandate equips states with concrete tools to combat anti-LGBTQ+ violence and discrimination, and it reinforces the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ founding principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The mandate applies established international standards to communities that continue to face widespread marginalization.

The urgency of the vote is reflected in a wave of recent crackdowns and rights abuses. Meanwhile, in Russia, authorities escalated a sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ campaign by initiating criminal proceedings against activist Yaroslav Sirotkin for allegedly participating in an “extremist organization,” a label now applied to the entire LGBTQ+ movement. Sirotkin, now in exile, was previously declared a “foreign agent” and placed on a wanted list.

In the European Union, Hungary faces legal challenges over its 2021 law banning LGBTQ+ content. Last month, the advocate general of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), Tamara Ćapeta, condemned the legislation as a violation of EU values and multiple legal guarantees, including the freedoms of expression and information as well as the right to non-discrimination. EU member states also issued a joint declaration condemning Hungary’s actions, which were used to justify banning a Pride-related march in Budapest last month.

In Colombia, where the government has made notable legislative progress in LGBT rights, UN Independent Expert Graeme Reid concluded a fact-finding mission in May with a stark warning: the legal gains are not translating into lived safety. Reid stated, “Many LGBT people continue to experience discrimination and violence in their daily lives,” pointing to the heightened risks for trans women and individuals facing intersecting marginalization. He also noted the broader context of violence in Colombia, where activists are regularly targeted.

Despite opposition from some states that claim LGBTQ+ rights are foreign to their culture, HRW stresses that the mandate applies existing human rights norms to all people without exception.