On March 7 the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council held the first-ever formal UN inter-governmental debate on violence and discrimination against LGBT people after a historic resolution seeking equal rights for everyone was passed in June 2011.
A first-of-its-kind UN report released late last year by the UN's high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, identified "a clear pattern of targeted violence and discrimination directed at people because they are, or are perceived to be" lesbian, gay, bisexual. or transgender. The report cited reports of killings, rape, physical attacks, torture, arbitrary detention, the denial of right of assembly, and discrimination in employment, health, and education.
In a video message to council members on March 7, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon conceded that although himself and "many of (his) generation" did not grow up talking about sexual orientation and gender identity issues, he had "learned to speak out because lives are at stake."
He called the imprisonment, torture, and killing of persons based on their sexual orientation "a monumental tragedy for those affected and a stain on our collective conscience." "It is also a violation of international law," he said. "You, as members of the Human Rights Council, must respond."
"To those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, let me say: You are not alone. Your struggle for an end to violence and discrimination is a shared struggle. Any attack on you is an attack on the universal values the United Nations and I have sworn to defend and uphold."
According to media reports, Pakistan described homosexuality as "licentious behaviour" while African group leader Senegal said it was not covered by global human rights accords.
"Licentious behaviour promoted under the so-called concept of sexual orientation is against the fundamental teachings of various religions, including Islam," Saeed Sarwar of the Pakistani mission said. "From this perspective, legitimising homosexuality and other personal sexual behaviors in the name of sexual orientation is unacceptable."
Speaking on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Sarwar urged the council not take up the subject of gay rights again.
Later, most but not all Arab and African nations walked out of the debate.
Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Zamir Akram wrote on behalf of the government of Pakistan and all the member countries of the OIC of their decision not to participate in the debate. According to media reports, the letter asserted that LGBT rights have "nothing to do with fundamental human rights" and denounced same-sex relationships as "abnormal sexual behaviour;" adding that "the issue of sexual orientation is unacceptable to the OIC." Ambassador Akram's letter concludes by vowing that the OIC member countries "record their opposition to the holding of this panel and will not accept its considerations and recommendations."
Hina Jilani, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and former Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders, in a statement however expressed appreciation of the initiative to hold the panel and that it was of utmost importance to discuss the serious issues raised in the High Commissioner's report. She highlighted the Supreme Court of Pakistan's decision around transgendered persons concerning their right to identity, noting that solutions can emerge from countries where violations are still occurring.
For a detailed report of the session, visit www.ohchr.org.
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Reader's Comments
If humanity staged a meeting and representatives of "Islamic and African nations" didn't attend, would history really even notice? Honestly, what have these buffoons even contributed to the human race and its recorded history?
Be honest and forthright here. If you blotted these countries off a list of all the nations of the world, would humanity be any worse off?
You know in 2010 Iran MURDERED 600 gay men for being gay. Then in 2011 The President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said (at a university in the US): "There are no gays in Iran."
Ignorant people. I know some lovely Islamic people but fanatics are stupid and crazy.
have they ever checked the statistics with the people of our streets??
they wouldnt dare be exposed.
the truth is in their horny assed cocks..n their ever so obediently quite wives.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, with 57 member states, is the largest international organisation outside of the United Nations and has a collective population of roughly 1.5 billion people, thus somewhat difficult to simply ignore them. That's for the statistics.
More importantly and in direct relation to the The Human Rights Council's UN inter-governmental debate on violence and discrimination against LGBT people that too place (I listened to it for three hours +) the OIC created the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam. While proponents claim it is not an alternative to the UDHR, but rather complementary, Article 24 states, "All the rights and freedoms stipulated in this Declaration are subject to the Islamic Shari'ah." and Article 25 follows that with "The Islamic Shari'ah is the only source of reference for the explanation or clarification of any of the articles of this Declaration." Attempts to have it adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council have met increasing criticism, because of its contradiction of the UDHR, including from liberal Muslim groups. Critics of the CDHR state bluntly that it is “manipulation and hypocrisy,” “designed to dilute, if not altogether eliminate, civil and political rights protected by international law” and attempts to “circumvent these principles [of freedom and equality].”
(Human Rights Watch says that OIC has “fought doggedly” and successfully within the United Nations Human Rights Council to shield states from criticism, except when it comes to criticism of Israel.)
So one can only wonder and ponder why these states came to the debate in the first place since their own platform is evidently in collision course - being subject to the Islamic Shari'ah. Or is it -as in the case of the 'blasphemy law' issue- to try to enforce their views ?
As for adding to human civilisation, I would have a problem rejecting Egypt and Turkey and the long history of the Arabic sciences and mathematics (taken from and developed from the Greeks. mostly).
The fundamental problem is that as long as these nations -African included- do not understand that a 'wall of separation' between state and religion (Thomas Jefferson) ought to be for Man's evolution to exist and progress,ignorance,fear and tabous will persist
and with them any chance of a peaceful world.
Hypocrisy lives!
Ignorance will prevail, it always has and it always will. As chadm252 says, let them stew in their own ignorance they are no loss to humanity
Down with each and every patriarchal shithead who believes s/he (in 85% cases a he, but unfortunately in 15% cases also a she) who believe that they have ANY right to tell me how to live my life.
In moments like that I MOST SERIOUSLY consider getting a truckload of ammunition and gunning down any piece of shit that stands in my way and tries to control my life.
WHAT ABOUT THE EVERLASTING ABSURD PAPAL CRUSADE ?
VATICAN CITY, March 9 2012 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Friday denounced the "powerful political and cultural currents" seeking to legalise gay marriage in the United States, where Maryland has just become the eighth state to allow it.
The pope's latest comments in opposition to homosexual marriage came in an address to bishops from several Midwestern states on a regular visit to the Vatican.
"Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage," he said.
He added that the traditional family and marriage had to be "defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature" because, he said, whatever injured families injured society.
"In this regard, particular mention must be made of the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage (in the United States)," he added in a clear reference to gay marriage.
Benedict called on American bishops to continue their "defence of marriage as a natural institution consisting of a specific communion of persons, essentially rooted in the complementarity of the sexes and oriented to procreation".
“When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion”. (Robert M.Pirsig)
WHAT ABOUT THE EVERLASTING ABSURD PAPAL CRUSADE ?
VATICAN CITY, March 9 2012 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Friday denounced the "powerful political and cultural currents" seeking to legalise gay marriage in the United States, where Maryland has just become the eighth state to allow it.
The pope's latest comments in opposition to homosexual marriage came in an address to bishops from several Midwestern states on a regular visit to the Vatican.
"Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage," he said.
He added that the traditional family and marriage had to be "defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature" because, he said, whatever injured families injured society.
"In this regard, particular mention must be made of the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage (in the United States)," he added in a clear reference to gay marriage.
Benedict called on American bishops to continue their "defence of marriage as a natural institution consisting of a specific communion of persons, essentially rooted in the complementarity of the sexes and oriented to procreation".
“When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion”. (Robert M.Pirsig)
We're winning!
are there any more?
there probably is but im not sure as im a non religious gay man so do all those religions laws affect me too???
The world as a whole is far more conservative than the 1970's, I know I was there lol.
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