GENEVA, Switzerland— A row over references to discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation has upended the usually-smooth process of approving the UN labour agency’s programme and budget.
The unprecedented impasse, pitting African and Muslim countries against mainly Western nations, could potentially delay or even block the approval of the International Labour Organization’s $885-million two-year budget.
Countries on the finance committee of the agency’s annual decision-making conference “were not able to reach consensus on the ILO programme and budget for 2024 and 2025,” the organisation’s spokeswoman Rosalind Yarde told reporters Friday.
“The area of contention relates to the inclusion of wording in the section on gender equality, non-discrimination and inclusion,” she said.
The standoff — taking place during Pride Month — appears to be part of a broader and growing effort to remove references to sexual orientation and gender identity that had long gone uncontested in resolutions and texts across the United Nations system.
The World Health Organization has since last year seen attempts to remove such references from its strategy on infection prevention, while the Human Rights Council faces growing opposition to long-standing efforts to monitor for discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
‘Clear hostility’
Yarde said the African group and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation “did not want to include wording relating to sexual orientation and gender identity in the programme and budget document, specifically in relation to the work of the office in their countries”.
Observers pointed out that similar references had been included in previous ILO programme budgets without significant opposition.
Until now, the International Labour Conference’s approval of the programme and budget texts, proposed after prior consultations, has largely been a formality.
But this week, the African and Muslim countries proposed an amendment to remove mention of specific vulnerable groups covered by the ILO’s mandate to battle discrimination.
However, other countries, mainly from the Americas and Europe as well as parts of the Asia-Pacific region, pushed back.
“The persistence of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community is a reality, and attempts to roll back and reduce language on issues of gender and sexual orientation must be vigorously opposed,” one Western diplomatic source requesting anonymity told AFP.
“It is essential that the UN agencies continue to address this subject despite the clear hostility from some states.”
When the proposed amendment went to a vote, 63 countries voted in favour and 64 opposed, missing the two-thirds majority needed to pass.
As a result, the unamended programme and budget went to a vote — but while 75 countries voted in favour with 55 against, it still missed the two-thirds majority mark, Yarde said.
The finance committee was still negotiating Friday afternoon, but if it fails to reach agreement, the issue will go to the International Labour Conference plenary on Monday, where it could be put to another vote.
The ILO finds itself in uncharted territory, and it remains unclear what would happen if the budget is not approved
