Vitit Muntarbhorn

Vitit Muntarbhorn
KBE
วิทิต มันตาภรณ์
Muntarbhorn in 2011
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children
In office
1991–1994
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byOfelia Calcetas-Santos
United Nations Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity
In office
August 2016 – October 2017
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byVictor Madrigal-Borloz
United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 2021
Preceded byRhona Smith
Personal details
BornNovember 1952 (age 72)
NationalityThai
Alma mater

Vitit Muntarbhorn (born 1952) (Thai: วิทิต มันตาภรณ์, RTGS: Withit Mantaphon) is an international human rights expert and professor of law at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.[1][2] Muntarbhorn was designated in September 2016 as the first UN Independent Expert on violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity by the Human Rights Council before succeeded by Victor Madrigal-Borloz in 2018.

Biography

Muntarbhorn, born in November 1952, was educated at Oxford and Free University of Brussels, and was called 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 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography from 1990–1994. In 1994, he coedited with C. Taylor a paper on human rights in Thailand.[3] In 2004, he was awarded the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education.[2][4]

Muntarbhorn was nominated to the position of United 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 the International Labour Organization, and has served as an expert or consultant with the OHCHR, UNHCR, UNDP, FAO, UNICEF, UNESCO, the WHO and the United Nations University.[2] He was involved in the elaboration of the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBT 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 the Order 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]

References

  1. ^ a b Profiles of our Distinguished Academic Members, Chulalongkorn University, 2009, retrieved 2010-01-21
  2. ^ a b c Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand), ILO biographical note (PDF), ILO, 2009, retrieved 2011-10-02
  3. ^ Vitit Mintarbhorn, Taylor, C: Road to Democracy: Human Rights and Human Devepolment in Thailand, 1994
  4. ^ Vitit Muntarbhorn wins the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education, UNESCO, 2004-12-11, archived from the original on 2005-03-24, retrieved 2010-01-21
  5. ^ Yoo, Jee-ho (2010-01-16), "UN official on Pyongyang leaving empty-handed", Joongang Ilbo, retrieved 2010-01-21
  6. ^ "Bonham Centre Awards Gala 2018". Archived from the original on 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  7. ^ "Honorary British Awards to Foreign Nationals – 2018". 6 February 2019.
  8. ^ "OHCHR | Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia".