85 nations sign UN statement defending LGBT people
04-01-2011, 07:14 AM
The Bay Area Reporter Online | 85 nations sign UN statement defending LGBT people
Russia and China were not on the list.
Quote:85 nations sign UN statement defending LGBT people
NEWS
Published 03/31/2011
by Rex Wockner
In what LGBT advocates described as "a stunning development for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," 85 nations signed a pro-gay statement that was read out by Colombia's representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 22.
The statement "express(es) concern at continued evidence in every region of acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity" and "call(s) on states to take steps to end acts of violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violations committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called the statement "historic."
"As the United States continues our important work in the Human Rights Council this week, we are proud to recognize a historic statement, signed by a record 85 nations, reaffirming the rights of all people – regardless of who they are and whom they love," Rice said in a statement.
LGBT and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, and Human Rights Watch, hailed the action.
"Today's statement enjoyed the support of the largest group of countries to date on the topic of sexual orientation, gender identity and human rights," said the advocacy groups in a joint media release. "It builds on a similar statement delivered by Norway at the Human Rights Council in 2006 (on behalf of 54 states) and a joint statement delivered by Argentina at the General Assembly in 2008 (on behalf of 66 states). It is clear that every time these issues are addressed there is measurable increase in state support."
Nigeria's representative spoke against the statement, purportedly on behalf of the council's Africa Group. The representative said the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" are undefined, talked about God, and said it takes a man and a woman to make a baby. At the end, however, he said that laws that criminalize sexual orientation should be expunged.
Pakistan also spoke against the statement on behalf of an official bloc of 57 majority-Muslim nations. Russia opposed the statement, as well, saying it rejects discrimination and violence against LGBT people but should be allowed to limit rights for reasons of public morality. The representative reportedly said that "these people" should not be granted "special rights."
In a separate U.S. statement, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said: "The [Obama] administration has laudably reaffirmed its commitment to the philosophy that LGBT rights are human rights by joining today's statement before the U.N. Human Rights Council. With over 80 nations jointly participating in the statement, the message is clear that hate violence against LGBT people should not be tolerated by any government."
ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, called the statement "a very significant step forward towards international consensus on LGBTI people's rights."
"The strength of this statement makes the defense of discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexual, trans and intersex people on the basis of a mistaken sense of 'tradition' or 'natural order' more untenable than ever," said the group's co-secretary general, Renato Sabbadini. "Homophobia and transphobia are more and more acknowledged for what they truly are: the last crumbling pillars of a patriarchal order which belong with other dark pages of our past, like slavery and the Inquisition."
ILGA noted that more nations of the Southern Hemisphere signed this year's statement, and it highlighted the signatures of Dominica, Honduras, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Seychelles.
A statement from the White House said, in part: "Over the past months our diplomats have been engaged in frank, and at times difficult, conversations about the human rights of LGBT persons with governments from around the world. This morning, at the United Nations Human Rights Council, some 85 countries joined the United States in reaffirming our joint commitment to end acts of violence and human rights abuses on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The president is proud of the work we have done to build international consensus on this critical issue and is committed to continuing our determined efforts to advance the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
The U.S. State Department said, "This statement adds new references not seen in previous LGBT statements at the U.N., including: welcoming attention to LGBT issues as a part of the Universal Periodic Review process, noting the increased attention to LGBT issues in regional human rights fora, encouraging the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue addressing LGBT issues, and calls for states to end criminal sanctions based on LGBT status."
The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 states that aims to strengthen and protect human rights worldwide.
The nations that signed the statement are Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Barcelona Mayor Jordi Hereu unveiled a monument March 20 to gay and transgender people persecuted throughout history.
The large marble triangle is located in Ciudadela Park, next to the Catalon
Barcelona Mayor Jordi Hereu unveiled a monument March 20 to gay and transgender people persecuted throughout history.
ian Parliament.
"This is a necessary monument to remember the discrimination, repression, humiliation, persecution, attacks and assassinations that the LGTB community suffered for centuries and very especially during the Franco dictatorship," said Antonio Guirado, secretary general of the Catalonian LGBT umbrella group Gay Lesbian Coordinator. "We are honored as citizens to see recognized the persecution suffered, and above all the still-unmet challenge for social normalization."
Gay Lesbian Coordinator honorary President Jordi Petit added: "This is the fourth monument erected in Europe in memory of homophobic and transphobic barbarism – following in the footsteps of Amsterdam, Berlin, and the Nazi extermination camp Mauthausen in Austria. It is the only one in the south of the continent and is very suitable for the city that is the seat of the Mediterranean Union."
During a visit to Brazil on March 19, President Barack Obama joined with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to call for establishment of an LGBT rights "special rapporteur" (or special representative) at the Organization of American States.
In a statement issued three days later, the White House added: "President Obama believes that advancing the human rights of minorities and the marginalized is a fundamental American value. The president was pleased to announce during his trip to Brazil that he and President Rousseff agreed to promote respect for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals through the establishment of a special rapporteur on LGBT issues at the Organization of American States. This special rapporteur will be the first of its kind in the international system."
The OAS, which dates to 1948, comprises the 35 independent states of the Americas and is the principal political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the hemisphere, according to its website. The OAS charter says the organization promotes peace, justice, solidarity and collaboration as well as members' sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
Nations pledge movement on LGBT issues at UN panel
As the UN Human Rights Council continued its periodic review sessions on various nations, several developments took place this month.
Mongolia's representatives accepted recommendations that the nation address issues of violence against LGBT people.
Panama accepted a recommendation to synchronize its national laws with the norms of the "Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity," which were drawn up at a 2006 meeting in Indonesia by human rights experts from around the world.
Honduras agreed to review its national laws to ensure that LGBT human rights are not abridged.
And Jamaica agreed to provide enforcement officials with sensitivity training on matters of sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV.
At the same time, representatives of four nations – Lebanon, Malawi, Maldives and Mauritania – rejected recommendations that they decriminalize gay sex.
The Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review officially analyzes the human rights record of each of the 192 U.N. member nations on a rotating basis once every four years, and urges reviewed nations to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Spanish students arrested over chapel protest
Four students at Spain's Madrid Complutense University were arrested March 18 by national police on charges of desecrating a place of worship.
Displaying slogans on their bare torsos, the four students and others entered the university's Somosaguas Chapel and read out a manifesto against recent homophobic and macho statements made by Roman Catholic bishops and the pope.
Local reports said at least one female couple allegedly made out near the altar. The church reportedly was empty at the time but for two girls, one woman, and the chaplain.
If convicted, the protesters could spend up to a year in jail.
Sixty professors at the university have signed a manifesto supporting the protesters and secularism at the university but not "the manner in which [the protest] developed."
Madrid's archbishop later staged a "healing mass" at the chapel that was attended by about 1,000 people.
Austrian Constitutional Court rejects gay case
Austria's Constitutional Court has rejected a case aimed at including gays and lesbians under laws that protect against incitement to hatred and against discrimination in non-workplace settings.
The court was asked to strike down Criminal Code Article 283, "Incitement to Hatred," and sections of the Federal Equal Treatment Act because they exclude gays and lesbians.
According to the group Rechtskomitee Lambda, Austria's government defended the status quo, arguing that incitement to hatred against gays and lesbians differs from incitement targeting religious or racial groups because the former lacks "dangerous close-range and long-range effects."
The court determined that because homosexuals are purportedly not directly affected by the lack of protection, the application for legal relief was inadmissible, the group said.
Kurt Krickler, secretary general of Homosexual Initiative Vienna, said he wasn't surprised at the outcome because "these are political and not so much legal issues."
He said measures to address the two problems had been introduced in Parliament, where one measure failed and the other may still see a vote.
Rechtskomitee Lambda said it hopes to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
"Hatemongers are still allowed to incite to hatred against lesbians and gays, and now even with the consent of the Constitutional Court," said the group's president, Helmut Graupner.
Russia and China were not on the list.
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...I appreciate the info. The duplicity makes sense now.
