There has been an increased focus on the issue of LGBTQ+ rights globally. This has led to a growing interest in understanding the role that international organizations play in shaping discourses about these issues. International organizations have become increasingly influential in setting global norms and standards for human rights, including those related to LGBTQ+ rights.
Their impact is not always straightforward or uniform across different contexts. This paper explores how international organizations influence the framing of LGBTQ+ rights, how this interacts with local cultural and political narratives, and the implications for advocacy efforts.
To understand the interaction between international organizations and local cultural and political narratives, it is important to consider the ways in which power operates within these spheres. In many countries around the world, traditional belief systems and social norms continue to shape attitudes towards sexuality and gender identity. These belief systems often prioritize heterosexuality, masculinity, and femininity as the ideal way of being, and view nonconforming identities as deviant or immoral. This can create significant challenges for LGBTQ+ individuals who seek recognition, protection, and support from the state. At the same time, international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union have played an important role in promoting LGBTQ+ rights by setting international standards and providing funding for advocacy work.
The effectiveness of these organizations' work depends on how they frame LGBTQ+ issues.
Some argue that the UN's emphasis on "universal" human rights may obscure local realities and fail to account for differences in cultural and religious values (Hutchinson & Kempadoo, 2014). Others suggest that the EU's focus on "European values" may reinforce a Western-centric approach to LGBTQ+ rights (Kilkey, 2020). In addition, the language used by international organizations to discuss LGBTQ+ issues can be controversial and divisive, particularly when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Despite these challenges, international organizations remain an important source of support for LGBTQ+ activists working to advance their cause. They provide resources and expertise that can help build alliances across different countries and regions, as well as raise awareness about the issue at the global level.
Success will ultimately depend on the ability of local actors to engage with diverse stakeholders and find common ground on which to base their advocacy efforts.
This paper has examined how international organizations influence the discursive framing of LGBTQ+ rights and how this interacts with local cultural and political narratives. It argues that while international organizations play a crucial role in shaping global norms and standards, their impact is not uniform or straightforward. Advocates must navigate complex power dynamics within and between different spheres to achieve lasting change.
To what extent do international organizations influence the discursive framing of LGBTQ rights, and how does this interact with local cultural and political narratives?
International organizations have had an increasingly significant role in shaping the global agenda for LGBTQ rights through their advocacy efforts, campaigns, and funding programs. The most prominent examples include the United Nations, which has been leading the way in addressing these issues since 1984 when it established the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.