Vitit Muntarbhorn | |
|---|---|
วิทิต มันตาภรณ์ | |
.jpg) Muntarbhorn in 2011 | |
| United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children | |
| In office 1991–1994 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Ofelia Calcetas-Santos |
| United Nations Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity | |
| In office August 2016 – October 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Victor Madrigal-Borloz |
| United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia | |
| Assumed office March 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Rhona Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1952 (age 72) |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Alma mater | |
Vitit Muntarbhorn (born 1952) (Thai:วิทิต มันตาภรณ์,RTGS: Withit Mantaphon) is aninternational human rights expert and professor of law atChulalongkorn University inBangkok,Thailand.[1][2] Muntarbhorn was designated in September 2016 as the firstUN Independent Expert on violence and discrimination based onsexual orientation andgender identity by the Human Rights Council before succeeded byVictor Madrigal-Borloz in 2018.
Muntarbhorn, born in November 1952, was educated atOxford andFree University of Brussels, and wascalled to the Bar in England before going on to lecture in law at various universities in Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Switzerland and Thailand. He served as theUnited NationsSpecial Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography from 1990–1994. In 1994, he coedited withC. Taylor a paper on human rights in Thailand.[3] In 2004, he was awarded theUNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education.[2][4]
Muntarbhorn was nominated to the position ofUnited Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) in 2004.[1] His term ended in June 2010. During his six years of service, North Korea repeatedly rejected his requests for meetings.[5]
Muntarbhorn remains involved in various UN activities, principally as a member of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations of theInternational Labour Organization, and has served as an expert or consultant with theOHCHR,UNHCR,UNDP,FAO,UNICEF,UNESCO, theWHO and theUnited Nations University.[2] He was involved in the elaboration of theYogyakarta Principles onLGBT rights.
In 2018, he was recipient of the Bonham Centre Award from the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies.[6] He also was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of theOrder of the British Empire.[7]
Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia in March 2021.[8]
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