By Brody Levesque | GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -- In his videotaped message Wednesday, to the UN Human Rights Council on violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon told the gathered delegates;
"We see a pattern of violence and discrimination directed at people just because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender."
The Secretary general's remarks prompted a massive walk-out by delegates from Muslim and African countries who comprise the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Delegates exited the chamber in protest claiming that LGBTQ equality was was not covered by global human rights accords. One diplomat delegate from Pakistan described homosexuality as "licentious behaviour."
"This is a monumental tragedy for those affected – and a stain on our collective conscience. It is also a violation of international law. You, as members of the Human Rights Council, must respond," Secretary-General Moon told the assembly. The UN's human rights high commissioner, Navi Pillay, told the gathered diplomats that LGBTQ persons should be protected by all governments.
Islamic nations and most of the African countries have long kept discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity along with LGBT equality off the Council's agenda, but an effort by the United States and South Africa brought it onto the agenda last year.
Mauritania, speaking on behalf of Arab nations- all of whose members are also in the OIC- said attempts to impose "the controversial topic of sexual orientation" would undermine open and frank productive discussions in council regarding other human rights issues.
The human rights high commissioner, who was once herself a South African supreme court judge, told the assembled remaining diplomats that her life under South Africa's infamous apartheid system taught her that "ignorance and bigotry" could only be overcome by education and frank discussion among people with different views.
Commissioner Pillay detailed how homophobia has led to abuse, often fatal, around the globe, ranging from mob killing for males, multiple rape of lesbians "to cure them" and torture in public and private jails.
A recently released UN report said 76 countries among the UN's 192 members had laws criminalising homosexual behaviour. At least five – in particular Iran – implement the death penalty, while efforts are under way in Uganda to introduce the same punishment.
"I know some will resist what we are saying," said Pillay, who earlier this week was accused by Egypt of promoting homosexuality by pressing on with the report despite the objections of Islamic countries.
In a clear reference to Islamic and African countries, she said some states would argue that homosexuality or bisexuality "conflict with local cultural or traditional values, or with religious teachings, or run counter to public opinion".
She said that they were free to hold their opinions, however, "That is as far as it goes. The balance between tradition and culture, on the one hand, and universal human rights on the other, must be struck in favour of rights."
WATCH UN Secretary-General Moon's remarks:
Posts
2 comments:
Medieval countries need to grow up, it seems
Tim, I truly think it's not so much a case of "growing up" but rather the need for a total change in the paradigm that governs their societies as a whole; these Third World countries (and yes, the middle-east could well, and should be, be considered Third World at best) are principally Patriarchies which allow for no variance in their business model; you either toe the line or you're cut dead, largely figuratively, but in recent times, quite literally.
Education has no effect on these societies; only revolution does; the problem with the latter is that, often-times as not, the incoming r'egime is as repressive as that of the one outgoing.
What to do?
Unfortunately the World is running out of time; it cannot afford the luxury of the forty-years or so it takes to adjust societal mores through the balancing act of enlightened education and modal immigration policies such as wee enjoyed here in Canada beginning in the mid 1960's; and we're not done yet, with likely another 10-years or more needing to pass before we can truly say we've licked the problem within our own borders.
Warren C. E. Austin
The Gay Deceiver
Toronto, Canada
Post a Comment