Introduction <p>The inclusion of sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC) concepts at the United Nations (UN) is a recent but expanding phenomenon. It has not been uniform across UN institutions, showing little consensus on the matter. This scoping review aims to better understand how UN institutions address SOGIESC issues to create a portrait of the current situation, gaps and debates in the scientific community. That portrait is a necessary tool to further normalise SOGIESC into global governance.</p> Methods <p>This scoping review was conducted (01/03/2022) and updated (13/08/2024) through six databases. It included 57 identified documents that were thematically and chronologically analysed.</p> Results <p>The Human Rights Council has been central in addressing SOGIESC diversity. Attempts to address SOGIESC faced resistance due to political and cultural opposition. The establishment of the Independent Expert on SOGI in 2016 is a milestone for SOGIESC inclusion, through the multiplication of reports and insights within the UN. It initiated an important incremental change, from general framing (e.g., violence and discrimination) to a more intersectional approach (e.g., intersex children, queer families).</p> Conclusions <p>The role of individual norm entrepreneurs is key in the normalisation of SOGIESC at the UN. Normalisation is however hindered by the individualisation of SOGIESC concepts, which are highly associated to criminalisation and pathologisation of individual characteristics and behaviours.</p> Policy Implications <p>The lack of institutional engagement and more positive representations of SOGIESC helps maintain SOGIESC diversity at the margin of global governance. Based on evidence, actions should be taken to depathologise diverse SOGIESC and building bridges between proponents and opponents of diverse SOGIESC inclusion.</p>