UN Security Council Addresses LGBTQ Rights in Colombia
Historic Briefing on LGBTQ Security Issues
For the first time in its 78-year history, the United Nations Security Council has hosted a comprehensive briefing during a regular session on security challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals in conflict zones. Marcela Sánchez, a committed advocate for lesbian rights and the Executive Director of Colombia Diversa—an organization dedicated to the human rights of LGBTQ individuals in Bogotá—presented on the inclusion of LGBTQ people in the Colombian peace process.
Advocacy for Equality and Safety
During her speech, Sánchez urged an immediate cessation of violence against LGBTQ individuals in Colombia and emphasized the necessity for their full, equal, and safe involvement in executing Colombia’s peace agreement. She highlighted the ongoing violence against LGBTQ communities, stating, “Every attack against an LGBTQ person, every human rights defender killed, and every murder left uninvestigated sends the message that our lives are dispensable. I hope that today, this Council can send a powerful signal to the LGBTQ population in Colombia that their lives matter and that you will stand by your commitment to protect their rights.”
Global Recognition of LGBTQ Issues in Conflict
Maria Sjödin, Executive Director of Outright International, also spoke, criticizing the Security Council’s historical neglect of LGBTQ individuals in conflict settings. She argued that security and peacebuilding efforts that exclude marginalized groups cannot achieve lasting peace. “Today’s briefing is a concrete step towards mainstreaming the experiences of LGBTQ people across the Security Council’s mandate and deepening the Council’s understanding of gender persecution in conflict settings,” Sjödin remarked.
International Support and Sponsorship
The briefing was initiated by an invitation from the government of Malta, with Sánchez’s participation facilitated by the Women, Peace & Security NGO working group and supported by Outright International, highlighting a growing international acknowledgment of and support for LGBTQ rights within global conflict resolution frameworks.
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