Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand has been appointed the first United Nations expert on anti-LGBT violence and discrimination. Photo: United Nations

Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand has been appointed the first United Nations expert on anti-LGBT violence and discrimination. Photo: United Nations

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Human Rights Council has appointed international human rights expert Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand as the first U.N. independent expert charged with investigating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

John Fisher, Geneva director of Human Rights Watch, said his appointment on Friday “made history” and “will bring much-needed attention to human rights violations against LGBT people in all regions of the world.”

Muntarbhorn, a law professor, has been on the council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria and previously served as U.N. special investigator on North Korea and on child prostitution and child pornography.

He co-chaired a meeting of experts that adopted the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

© 2016, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.