A contentious debate has erupted within the International Labour Organization (ILO) over the inclusion of references to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in its budget. The impasse, which has brought together mostly Western countries and African and Arab states, may impede or even hinder the approval of the ILO’s $885 million budget for 2024-2025, according to sources familiar with the matter. This standoff highlights the broader concerns surrounding LGBTQ rights at a time when progress in this area is being reversed in countries like Uganda.
The ILO, one of the oldest United Nations agencies dedicated to labor standards, is currently holding its annual meeting in Geneva. The organization brings together governments, employers, and workers to establish guidelines for labor practices. The present situation poses a challenging dilemma for Gilbert Houngbo, the ILO Director-General from Togo and the first African chief of the organization, who assumed office in October 2022 with a vision of promoting social justice.
At the heart of the dispute lies a controversial paragraph within the 112-page budget, which acknowledges the ILO’s commitment to supporting individuals “affected by discrimination and exclusion, including on the grounds of race, sexual orientation, and gender identity.” However, a draft motion supported by around 50 African and Arab countries seeks to reject the wording related to sexuality and gender, claiming that it employs “non-universally agreed language.” Concerns have been raised by Pakistan, representing the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, who argues that such a reference could have “misleading normative impact” and result in legal conflicts.
Western diplomats have expressed their concerns over removing the language, stating that doing so would essentially imply that LGBTQ individuals in those countries are left to struggle alone. The impasse is characterized as a diplomatic standoff, akin to a game of “diplomatic chicken,” with potential repercussions for other United Nations bodies, including the World Health Organization, where similar debates have taken place. Gurchaten Sandhu, the director of programs at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association, highlights the worry that differentiating the rights of LGBTQ people from other marginalized groups challenges international human rights law and politicizes the issue.
Confidential discussions within the ILO’s finance committee are ongoing, and a resolution may be sought through voting. The ILO conference, chaired by Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Qatar’s Labour Minister, will continue until June 16. As tensions escalate, the fate of LGBTQ rights inclusion in the ILO’s budget remains uncertain.