Late-night screaming matches and days of delays dogged the adoption of the budget of the International Labour Organization (ILO) this week after some Arab and African member states objected to a clause related to LGBTQ rights.

The single offending clause committed the body to support those “affected by discrimination and exclusion, including on the grounds of race, sexual orientation and gender identity” and to “implementing measures conducive to promoting equality of opportunity and treatment”.

While the clause was retained in the budget that was finally passed this week at the body’s plenary, the compromise involved the insertion of a note that recorded the differences on some issues, according to AFP, which also reported on the late-night drama and yelling matches.

The 2024/25 budget and programme of work was finally overwhelmingly passed by 477 votes, with 11 against and seven abstentions. The hold-out ‘no’ votes included Bahrain, Belarus, Egypt, Gabon, Maldives, Niger and Oman. Pakistan and Morocco had led the initial objections, but Pakistan voted in favour of the compromise while Morocco abstained.

Speaking after the adoption of the budget, Sweden’s Thomas Janson on behalf of the European Union, pointed out that LGBTI reference had been in the ILO’s programme of work and budget since 2018/19.

“The EU and its member states to reiterate our commitment to equality and non-discrimination and to the entitlement of all persons to enjoy the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” said Janson.

Canada’s Leslie Norton, speaking on behalf of 37 countries largely from Europe, Latin America and North America, said that the programme and budget document provides the framework for ILO staff to advance its work, and that “groups in the most vulnerable situations must be recognised and named”. 

“This includes those discriminated on the grounds of their sexual orientation and gender identity,” added Norton. 

“LGBTI persons disproportionately experience violence, harassment, discrimination, and exclusion throughout the employment cycle, from education to access to the labour market, conditions of work and security of employment,” she noted.

“The ILO is a UN organisation with social justice and rights at its centre, including the universally accepted fundamental principle on the Elimination of Discrimination in Employment, particularly for those who are historically or disproportionately discriminated against.”

The 37 countries would not accede to the removal of references to LGBTI people as this would be a “regression” that would “compromise on the key mandate of the ILO to promote the elimination of discrimination on any grounds, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity”, she added.

US representative Bathsheba Crocker noted that the ILO’s requested budget increase – the total ask is almost $885m – was “high in nominal terms and we appreciate the office’s efforts to identify additional budgetary efficiencies”.

Crocker also expressed the US government’s “unequivocal support for the ILO’s uncontested and universally agreed mandate to promote the elimination of discrimination in employment for all workers as a fundamental right and principle at work”, and that this mandate “is inclusive of any grounds for discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics”.

The ILO’s Director-General, Gilbert Houngbo from Togo, the first African to hold this position, thanked delegates for passing the budget, noting that despite “intense discussions”, delegates “did come together”.

Ironically, the budget was passed shortly before the start of the ILO’s World of Work Summit that is themed “social justice for all”.

Heightening global tension over LGBTQ rights

Many UN agencies have experienced deadlocked over LGBTQ issues in recent years. For example, at last year´s World Health Assembly (WHA), an unexpected and protracted standoff over references to “sexuality”, “sexual orientation” and “men who have sex with men” in a technical guideline on HIV and hepatitis – pushed member states into an overnight session, delaying the close of the entire event.

Last year, the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO), supported by key North African countries, led the charge, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Nigeria vociferous in their condemnation of behaviours they deemed antithetical to their cultures. The standoff resulted in an unprecedented vote on the guide.