ILGA gets status back

ILGA gets status back

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has returned consultative status to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) after a 17 year hiatus.

ILGA became the first global LGBTI organisation to receive ECOSOC consultative status in 1993, but lost that the following year when came to light that a small number of ILGA member organisations advocated the abolition of age of consent laws.

ILGA subsequently expelled those organisations but attempts to have its status reinstated in 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2009 all failed despite ILGA clarifying its constitution to explicitly state its opposition to child abuse.

30 countries including Australia voted in favour of ILGA regaining consultative status, while Iraq, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Egypt and Ghana voted against it and another six abstained.

ECOSOC consultative status allows non-government organisations to attend UN meetings, submit written reports, make oral statements, and host events in UN buildings.

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2 responses to “ILGA gets status back”

  1. Greg it is currently Simon Margan and Lyn Morgan who were the only two people to nominate when the positions were opened up for our area.

    Since then an additional regional director has been appointed from a non-western country I understand.

    I think they’re 2 year terms, so I presume a call for nomination will come again and if there is a greater number of nominations than positions then ILGA members will get to vote for their representatives.

  2. It’s significant for ILGA to regain ECOSOC recognition, however can someone, anyone, please explain who represents Australia on ILGA, who elects/points them, & when & how do they report back to the LGBT communities of Australia & New Zealand?