A/HRC/35/36 issue strongly into its decent work programme, while the World Bank has helped to examine the cost of homophobia as well as to generate data on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender exclusion. The World Bank has now a focal point on sexual orientation and gender identity and this provides an important opportunity to address violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, especially with lowincome countries. A range of other United Nations agencies and programmes, enhanced by United Nations country teams, are progressively integrating the issue of sexual orientation and gender identity into country programming. 49. The role of civil society and non-governmental organizations and of concerned communities and individuals is critical for action against violence and discrimination. Their dedicated efforts and inputs were instrumental in helping to set up this mandate, and there is a wealth of information emanating from their work which inspires the work of the Independent Expert. They are part and parcel of much-needed cooperation at both the national and international levels and act as human rights defenders in the most sensitive situations. Assistance and protection for their work are at the heart of this mandate, which is impelled by the quest for an all-inclusive approach that is respectful of public participation in countering violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, worldwide. Indeed, this is living democracy in regard to sexual and gender diversity. 50. Parallel to this, the role of community leaders, including in the political, cultural and religious fields, needs to be tapped more strongly. Also, the business sector has the potential to integrate sexual orientation and gender identity into the workplace and in the commercial/financial/investment/developmental field. These are also avenues for promoting the generation of more disaggregated data, linked with various indicators, to provide incentives for exemplary performance, consonant with human rights. On a related front, the Sustainable Development Goals framework provides more opportunities for various kinds of cooperation and support — particularly under Goal 17, which opens up space for more multilateral, regional and bilateral cooperation. There is the welcome vista of more South-South cooperation, as well as triangular cooperation — such as activities between States, civil society and the business sector; neither should the power of various forms of media and their reach be forgotten. VI. Underpinnings 51. Various elements interrelate closely with the root causes and environment behind the violence and discrimination. On that matter, the underpinnings outlined in the following paragraphs will be dealt with progressively by the Independent Expert as part of a workplan and mapping exercise, in the coming years. They are discussed succinctly in the present report, as a precursor to other more detailed reports that will follow in the future. A. Decriminalization of consensual same-sex relations 52. Laws and policies that criminalize consensual same-sex relations are part of the background environment that leads to violence and discrimination. Some 70 countries criminalize same-sex relations, with a particular impact on men who have sex with men. 28 Some 40 countries criminalize same-sex relations in regard to women who have sex with women.29 The death penalty awaits in some countries. There are other laws and policies of a more indirect nature, which might also be negatively applied against certain groups and persons in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity. They include laws based on public decency, public health and security, at times in the guise of local criminal laws and regulations. There are equally challenging implications from various religious laws when applied strictly. Some countries also criminalize cross-dressing, such as where men dress 28 29 Living Free and Equal, p. 54. Ibid. 15