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20 Jul 2010

United Nations grants official status to US-based international LGBT rights group

The latest decision comes after a "no-action" vote last month by a bloc of anti-gay nations which stalled the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission's 3-year application process for consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

On July 19, 2010, the full United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) voted in favor of a US-led resolution to grant the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) consultative status. IGLHRC is only the tenth organization working primarily for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) human rights to gain such status at the United Nations. 

In a statement issued by the White House on Jul 19, 2010, US President Barack Obama said: "I welcome this important step forward for human rights, as the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission (ILGHRC) will take its rightful seat at the table of the United Nations. The UN was founded on the premise that only through mutual respect, diversity, and dialogue can the international community effectively pursue justice and equality. Today, with the more full inclusion of the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission, the United Nations is closer to the ideals on which it was founded, and to values of inclusion and equality to which the United States is deeply committed."

"Today's decision is an affirmation that the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have a place at the United Nations as part of a vital civil society community," said Cary Alan Johnson, IGLHRC Executive Director. "The clear message here is that these voices should not be silenced and that human rights cannot be denied on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity."

The resolution passed with 23 in favor, 13 against, 13 abstentions and 5 absences. 

This victory is particularly significant, coming as it does after a prolonged 3-year application process in the sub-committee that makes initial recommendations on status. Despite full compliance with all procedures IGLHRC faced deferrals, homophobic questioning, and procedural roadblocks in the ECOSOC NGO Committee. 

Today's decision overturned a "no-action" vote in the NGO-committee that threatened to establish a dangerous precedent and the possibility of organizations deemed controversial being continuously denied the opportunity to have their application put to a vote even after undergoing the required review. 

The vote also signals a recognition of the important role of a diverse and active civil society at the UN. In support of progress on IGLHRC's application, a group of over 200 NGOs from 59 countries endorsed a letter to all UN Member States, demanding fair and non-discriminatory treatment and supporting IGLHRC's goal of amplifying LGBT voices in the international arena. 

"As human rights defenders and LGBT people living in countries where homophobic discrimination is a daily reality, we celebrate the accreditation of IGLHRC at the UN," said Frank Mugisha, Chairperson of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), one of 13 NGOs from Uganda to publicly call for IGLHRC to be accredited. "IGLHRC's access to the UN means that we too will have greater access to international human-rights mechanisms that can prove invaluable to LGBT people's lives." 

The government of the United States stood strongly behind IGLHRC's application, calling for a vote in both the NGO Committee and ECOSOC. Ambassador Susan Rice, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, publicly supported IGLHRC's application. Additionally, 14 members of the US House of Representatives and 4 Senators sent letters of support for IGLHRC's application to all UN Member States. Among them were Senator John Kerry, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Congressman Howard Berman, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 

The victory continues the upward trajectory for LGBT rights at the UN. It allows IGLHRC to participate in a more formal way through attending meetings, submitting statements and collaborating with the UN and governments in the international human-rights arena. 

"We celebrate this decision," stated Toni Reis, president of the Brazilian LGBT group, Associação Brasileira de Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais, Travestis e Transexuais (ABGLT) - that in 2009 was the last LGBT organization to receive status. "It is crucial that LGBT NGOs have the opportunity to participate in the UN human rights debate - though in future, organizations should receive full and fair reviews before the NGO Committee itself." 

Despite the limited opportunities offered to non-accredited NGOs, IGLHRC has a long history of advocating at the UN for the rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. The organization advocated for sexual rights to be included in the official discussions at the 1995 UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing; spoke at the first UN General Assembly meeting on HIV and AIDS in 2001; and in recent years has been part of a collaboration between NGOs and supportive States that resulted in the groundbreaking 2008 UNGA Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, signed by 67 UN Member States.

The votes on this resolution granting IGLHRC special consultative status were as follows:

Vote For - 23
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malta, Norway, Peru, Poland, Rep. of Korea, Slovenia, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay

Votes Against - 13
Bangladesh, China, Comoros, Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Pakistan, Russian Fed., Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Zambia,

Abstaining - 13
Bahamas, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, India, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Philippines, Rep. of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Turkey, Ukraine

Absent - 5
Cameroon, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Saint Lucia

Reader's Comments

1. 2010-07-20 20:08  
This is absolutely spectacular!!!!!!!! Thanks to all who made it happen!

On another note, please check out "The Power To Be Strong" HIV Testing/Safer Sex Awareness Music Video embedded in my Fridae.com profile. There are two versions there, one subtitled in Thai, the other in Hindi. The song is in English.

"Get tested and live longer and be strong!"
2. 2010-07-21 00:34  
i dont know if this will affective inside the country that against gay people.
3. 2010-07-21 06:58  
Thanks for also providing the list of the places where I intend to spend my money and those backward places where I will choose to avoid. Too bad, I would have loved to go to Egypt.
4. 2010-07-21 14:00  
anyway watch My Werid and Wonderful Family in the BBC tonite, my friend Barrie and his husband have Five Kids now, awesome and strong gay dads rule

gay dads don't need anyone's help or any special interest group, we are quite capable and never needed any special interest group to help us, we can do everything

5. 2010-07-22 01:37  
@4-lagunabro- Your numerous unwashed sex toys are NOT considered as your imaginary children nor imaginary friends. Yes, you always like to broadcast that you are this and that and can do everything-namely; self proclaiming to be everything you are NOT, but that does not mean you can incessantly troll here and hijack serious important topics. Just cos Fridae does not moderate out low life losers like you does not mean you can flash your annoying C.U.N.T around. Like all the multiple fake profiles here I exposed before, why don't you stick with what you are best at-->>imagine those toys of yours are your actual living children and go screw them. Do something productive for a change! F.u.c.k.i.n.g Moron!

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