A United Nations panel’s decision to remove sexual orientation from an anti-execution resolution is “shameful” and may encourage murders of LGBT people, gay rights campaigners say.
The body voted this week on the amendment, which was passed 79-70. The vast majority of countries in support of the change were African or Arabic.
Veteran gay rights activist Peter Tatchell said the move was a “shameful day in United Nations history” and would give a “de facto green light to the on-going murder of LGBT people by homophobic regimes, death squads and vigilantes”.
Gay rights group Stonewall also criticised the move and said the government should “lead from the front foot” to end homophobic persecution.
Chief executive Ben Summerskill said: “The vote by a UN panel to remove sexual orientation from this significant resolution is deeply disturbing. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people face violence, abuse and in some states, execution, because of their sexual orientation.
“This is a worrying and regressive step. We call on the UK government to lead from the front foot to end the persecution of gay people in other countries.’
The resolution, which the UN votes on every two years, has contained a reference to lesbian and gay people since 1999. It condemns extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions and other killings.
It still includes references to a variety of other groups, such as human rights defenders, religious and ethnic minorities and street children.
Introduced by Morocco and Mali, the amendment called for the words “sexual orientation” to be replaced with “discriminatory reasons on any basis”.
Mr Tatchell said homophobic countries would “take comfort from the fact that the UN does not endorse the protection of LGBT people against hate-motivated murder”.
He added: “The UN vote is in direct defiance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees equal treatment, non-discrimination and the right to life. What is the point of the UN if it refuses to uphold its own humanitarian values and declarations?
“Many of the nations that voted for this amendment want to ensure that their anti-gay policies are not scrutinised or condemned by the UN. Even if they don’t directly sanction the killing of LGBT people, they have lined up alongside nations that do.”
Mr Tatchell also criticised South Africa and Cuba, who voted in favour of the amendment.
“Presidents Raul Castro and Jacob Zuma should hang their heads in shame. They’ve betrayed the liberation ideals that they profess to uphold,” he said.
Earlier this week, Cary Alan Johnson, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, said the vote was a “dangerous and disturbing development” for gay people.
Search
Archives
-
▼
2010
(3446)
-
▼
November
(250)
- Debby Qwawa (劉光馨) from Taipei, Taiwan - Lenglui #123
- 17 year-old Imani Bentham was crowned as the new M...
- More photos from the Miss and Mister Luxembourg 20...
- Ai Shinozaki in blue jean
- Photos of Miss Texas USA 2011 Ana Rodriguez at Mis...
- More photos of Miss Minnesota USA 2011 Brittany Th...
- New photos of Miss North Carolina USA 2011 Brittan...
- New Photos of Miss Venezuela 2010 Vanessa Goncalves
- Mister Bolivia, Jorge Langenbacher, was the winner...
- Belo Ann Francisco is the winner of Miss Amazing P...
- Joyana Meyer of Cook Islands is the newly crowned ...
- Bianka Dezsanyi was crowned Miss Teen Hungary 2010...
- Crystal Woo from Johor Bahru, Malaysia - Lenglui #122
- The 64th Miss France pageant (Miss France 2011) wi...
- Alexis Macillwaine is the winner of Miss Maine Tee...
- Brian Brown Is Ever So Pissed About NOM Being Labe...
- Quote Of The Day - Tony Perkins
- Quote Of The Day - Tony Perkins
- Brian Brown Is Ever So Pissed About NOM Being Labe...
- Pope Benedict: Even If God Did Make You Gay, You S...
- Quote Of The Day - Matt Barber
- Quote Of The Day - Matt Barber
- Pope Benedict: Even If God Did Make You Gay, You S...
- Nico Lai Siyun (賴思澐) from Taiwan - Lenglui #121
- US judge says lesbians can be ‘cured’ by male sold...
- US judge says lesbians can be ‘cured’ by male sold...
- Five arrested in Met raids for anti-gay and transp...
- Five arrested in Met raids for anti-gay and transp...
- London gay charity hopes to keep premises
- London gay charity hopes to keep premises
- David Cameron tells gay men ‘get tested for HIV’
- David Cameron tells gay men ‘get tested for HIV’
- New Tory head in Europe accused of ‘trying to bloc...
- New Tory head in Europe accused of ‘trying to bloc...
- Russian gay activists hold first legal demonstration
- Russian gay activists hold first legal demonstration
- Anti-gay groups upset at being called ‘hateful’
- Anti-gay groups upset at being called ‘hateful’
- Niki Ji Jia Xi (季佳熙) from Beijing, China - Lenglui...
- Pentagon: No gay soldiers fired this month
- Peter Mandelson won’t rule out a return to politics
- Peter Mandelson won’t rule out a return to politics
- Trans woman’s killer sentenced for rape
- Trans woman’s killer sentenced for rape
- Android Girl Lee Yong Hae from South Korea - Lengl...
- Gene Robinson: Archbishop of Canterbury ‘abducted ...
- Gene Robinson: Archbishop of Canterbury ‘abducted ...
- Tory councillor suspended after being accused of h...
- Tory councillor suspended after being accused of h...
- Featherstone says government is ‘committed’ to tac...
- Featherstone says government is ‘committed’ to tac...
- Video: Prime minister David Cameron tells bullied ...
- Two soldiers held over shooting at Rio de Janeiro ...
- Two soldiers held over shooting at Rio de Janeiro ...
- Gay man wins £13,000 after being bullied at work
- Gay man wins £13,000 after being bullied at work
- Ray Collins and Michael Bishop to become peers
- Ray Collins and Michael Bishop to become peers
- ‘Shameful’ UN vote ‘may lead to more gay executions’
- ‘Shameful’ UN vote ‘may lead to more gay executions’
- Islamic schools ‘teaching pupils that gays should ...
- Islamic schools ‘teaching pupils that gays should ...
- Pope says male prostitutes could use condoms as fi...
- Pope says male prostitutes could use condoms as fi...
- Tory councillor accused of homophobia to meet gay ...
- Tory councillor accused of homophobia to meet gay ...
- Apple Girl Kim Yeo Hee (김여희) from Seoul, South Kor...
- Sun Qian Ying (孙倩颖) from Beijing, China - Lenglui ...
- Film chronicles Israel’s gay revolution
- Film chronicles Israel’s gay revolution
- Gay Metro proposal – he said yes!
- Gay Metro proposal – he said yes!
- Sarah Palin’s daughter in anti-gay row
- Sarah Palin’s daughter in anti-gay row
- Campaign for Homosexual Equality secretary Griffit...
- Campaign for Homosexual Equality secretary Griffit...
- Rugby League begins gay equality campaign in parli...
- Rugby League begins gay equality campaign in parli...
- US county elects first transgender judge
- US county elects first transgender judge
- Christian doctor loses gay adoption case
- Christian doctor loses gay adoption case
- May scraps ‘ridiculous’ equality duty but promises...
- May scraps ‘ridiculous’ equality duty but promises...
- Aya Hirano in cute colorful dress
- Bristol Palin says sorry for sister’s anti-gay com...
- Bristol Palin says sorry for sister’s anti-gay com...
- Australian MPs to canvass voters on gay marriage
- Interview: Shadow equality minister Fiona Mactaggart
- kon pous heng korng ( snake king's child ) part 1 ...
- Neang MaDa Jar Part 2
- Xiao Yue (小玥 / 七七月月) from Guangdong, China - Lengl...
- Poll finds gay people are coming out at a younger age
- Poll finds gay people are coming out at a younger age
- Glasses Girl Ju Da Ha
- Elton John to guest-edit The Independent
- Mumbai multiplexes ban gay film
- Mumbai multiplexes ban gay film
- Elton John to guest-edit The Independent
- Japanese hosts do “Abracadabra” for Brown Eyed Gir...
-
▼
November
(250)