New Delhi [India], Sep 6 (NT): The United Nations in India hailed the landmark verdict by the Supreme Court of India on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code .UN hoped that the ruling will be the first step towards securing full range of fundamental rights to LGBTQI persons.

The SC on Thursday nullified a key component of IPC Section 377 which criminalized specific sexual acts between adults.  Section 377 is a law dating back to British colonial rule that has beset in particular lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals and communities.

In a statement, UN in India stated sexual orientation and gender expression shape an essential part of an individual's identity the world over, and violence, stigma and discrimination based on these attributes constitute an egregious violation of human rights. It added that LGBTI persons across the world continue to be the targets of cruel attacks and are affected by several and intersecting forms of bias based on age, gender, ethnicity, disability and social status.

"The UN in India sincerely hopes that the court's ruling will be the first step towards guaranteeing the full range of fundamental rights to LGBTI persons. We also hope that the judgment will boost efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against LGBTI persons in all areas of social, economic, cultural and political activity, thereby ensuring a truly inclusive society. The focus must now be on ensuring access to justice, including remedy; effective investigations of acts of violence and discrimination; and effective access to economic, social and cultural rights," the world organisation said.

However, the Supreme Court said other aspects of Section 377 dealing with unnatural sex with animals and children remain in force.