A United Nations committee overseeing human-rights issues approved a draft resolution that, for the first time, acknowledges the need to protect individuals from executions on the basis of their gender identity, Advocate.com reported.

The Third Committee of the General Assembly passed the resolution by a vote of 108-1, with 65 abstentions and 18 absences; Iran was the only country to oppose the resolution.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission stated in a press release that "The States' decision ... to support the inclusion of 'sexual orientation' and introduce 'gender identity' into the resolution is one more in a series of positive developments the UN and in regional human rights systems where there is increasingly recognition of the need for protection from discrimination regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"The successful expansion of the resolution to include 'gender identity' on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day dedicated to those murdered as a result of their gender identity or expression, was particularly significant."