The CGLQ at the UN: ECOSOC status and defence of international LGBT rights
In brief: On July 24, 2007, the CGLQ obtained consultative status with ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) of the United Nations. This accreditation makes the CGLQ the only Quebec-based LGBT NGO with observer and rapporteur status at the UN. This status allows the CGLQ to report discrimination, violence and inequalities experienced by LGBT persons to international bodies.
The accreditation process
The CGLQ was selected, along with nine other organizations, to submit an accreditation application to ECOSOC as a consultative organization. This process is part of an international perspective of including sexual orientation as a human right according to the UN. Among the ten organizations selected, only five were able to submit their application, including the CGLQ.
We will simply say that the committee sent us very specific and very complex questions with very little time to respond. Some member states made inadmissible links between homosexuality and pedophilia. Of the three other LGBT applications, only the CGLQ was able to be heard by the committee. This hearing took place in early May 2006.
We would like to warmly thank the Canadian delegation to the UN for its unwavering support throughout the process.
Obtaining the status
On July 24, 2007, the CGLQ obtained this accreditation and is now a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This status positions the CGLQ as the only Quebec-based LGBT NGO with observer and rapporteur rights at ECOSOC assemblies.
For more information about ECOSOC: https://www.un.org/ecosoc/
The importance of this accreditation in 2026
Nearly twenty years after obtaining its consultative status, the CGLQ’s ECOSOC accreditation remains more crucial than ever. In 2026, approximately 80 countries still criminalize homosexuality, and about ten of them provide the death penalty as punishment.
Through this status, the CGLQ can:
- Report cases of discrimination, violence and inequality to UN bodies
- Submit reports and testimony to specialized UN organs
- Participate in ECOSOC sessions and contribute to debates
- Collaborate with a global network of organizations including ILGA and Amnesty International
- Mobilize expertise of Quebec, Canadian and international researchers
The CGLQ and the international community in 2026
The rise of conservative and populist movements in several countries has led to a rollback of acquired rights. In Sub-Saharan Africa, new laws criminalizing homosexuality have been adopted. In Eastern Europe, Russia designated the “international LGBT movement” as an “extremist” organization in 2023. In the Middle East, the situation remains precarious. The CGLQ uses its privileged access to UN bodies to document and denounce these systematic human rights violations.
The year 2026 marks nearly 20 years of continuous CGLQ presence at ECOSOC. This institutional longevity gives the organization credibility and expertise recognized by national delegations and other accredited NGOs.
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Frequently asked questions about the CGLQ at the UN
What is the United Nations ECOSOC?
ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. It coordinates the economic and social work of the UN. Accredited NGOs can participate in debates and submit reports.
When did the CGLQ obtain its ECOSOC accreditation?
The CGLQ obtained its accreditation with ECOSOC on July 24, 2007, after a candidacy and hearing process that began several years earlier.
Is the CGLQ the only Quebec LGBT NGO accredited at the UN?
Yes, the CGLQ is the sole Quebec-based LGBT NGO with observer and rapporteur status at ECOSOC of the United Nations.
How many countries still criminalize homosexuality?
In 2026, approximately 80 countries still criminalize homosexuality and about ten provide the death penalty as punishment.