United Nations Passes Historic Gay Rights Resolution

[Yves]

Great news. Historic moment at the Human Rights Council and within the UN system.

UN Human Rights Council passes gay rights resolution

Despite opposition from African and Arab nations, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution aimed at combating worldwide discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

On the final day of the United Nation Human Rights Council's latest 18-day session, a resolution was passed that seeks to combat acts of violence and discrimination around the world based on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

The resolution calls for a worldwide study to be conducted into discriminatory laws and practices based on sexual preferences and to look at how human rights law could be put to use to end related violence and human rights violations.

Despite opposition from Russia as well as several African and Arab countries, the resolution passed narrowly, with a final tally of 23 to 19, with three abstentions.

South Africa submitted the resolution to the Human Rights Council, and the country's delegate on the council, Jerry Matthews Matjila, presented the resolution before the vote.

"The resolution before us today does not seek to impose values on other states," Matjila said. "It seeks to initiate a dialogue which will contribute to us ending discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity."

(...)

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15170305,00.html

 

[Sigma-taylor-E]

Hmmm yeahhh, now if only if can be enforced..oh wait..it's the UN

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

they got spankin then?

pointin fingers at you

now can they go back 300 years ans Classified

here one fa united nations > some folk planet treat a alls thang what bunch of toon countrys got get point finger at you ta do

thankyou

 

[mbamike]

That is good news!

Baby steps.

 

[ChickenGuy]

Some of the ridiculous and ignorant statements made by those opposing it....

However, Matjila's views were not shared by other African countries, who accused South Africa of breaking ranks and siding with the West on a resolution that other African nations opposed.

"We are dealing with a matter that falls outside of human rights," said Nigeria's delegate to the Council, Ositadinma Anaedu, implying that issues of sexual orientation or gender identification were personal matters not specifically addressed in binding international human rights laws, and therefore should not concern the Human Rights Council.

Pakistan's Shafqat Ali Khan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, called for a vote on the matter and expressed his intent to vote no.

"We are seriously concerned at the attempt to introduce to the United Nations some notions that have no legal foundation in any international human rights instrument."

These are the sorts of attitudes that are very commonly expressed at these international bodies. It's the prevailing attitude in Africa, the Middle East, most of Eastern Europe, most of Asia, and most of Latin America.

I'd love to see a UN debate titled - "Homosexuality - punishable by death?" and I guarantee you, they'd be seriously considering approving that statement. Western countries would probably have to bargain for reducing the punishment to imprisonment.

It raises another rather thorny issue - that of moral superiority. I know it can be thought of as arrogant to think that the West is morally superior to the rest of the world, but the evidence is blatantly clear. If we were to leave it to numerical majority by number of countries, we'd soon find ourselves back in the Dark Ages.

If this vote went against us, would the UN have any objection, or seek to take the matter further? No.

It would be an improvement if the UN was even trying to drag these countries kicking and screaming into the modern world. Instead, their views are allowed to stand, and are given equal legitimacy.

That place is in serious need of reform. Human rights, not just for gays but for women and children in most of the non-Western world, are a complete joke.

 

[gavin89]

Hmmm yeahhh, now if only if can be enforced..oh wait..it's the UN

Unfortunately, that is very true... this is just gonna pass by like every other UN decision.... It won't be enforced by anyone other than the countries who voted for it, most of whom already have anti-discrimination laws.....


Still good news nevertheless.....

 

[frankfrank]

There's something wrong when St. Kitts and Nevis, Tonga, Djibouti, Nauru, etc. have the same "strong" vote as India, the USA, or China.

Enforced or not, this is one more entity (and a well known and major one, at that) saying that this is a good idea. At the very least, it adds something useful to the world's discourse.

 

[sokker]

This is great!

 

[quasar]

Not meaning to put a downer on it, but they're simply saying 'in principle most of us agree that this is a good idea, let's look at laws in different countries, present this information, have another discussion to see if we can change the opinions of the 22 countries that didn't agree with it, have a vote and then make it (an unenforcable) law (but only if countries want to add it to their legislation)."

And how many years will this take???

 

[goldenmoth]

Odd that Russia was against it. Usually they're not great with gay rights but they don't seem to support the other side either. They just don't talk about it.

I thought Russia, being a first world European country, would be okay with it.

Anyway, great news and well done.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

Not meaning to put a downer on it, but they're simply saying 'in principle most of us agree that this is a good idea, let's look at laws in different countries, present this information, have another discussion to see if we can change the opinions of the 22 countries that didn't agree with it, have a vote and then make it (an unenforcable) law (but only if countries want to add it to their legislation)."

And how many years will this take???

maybe some real cleva rich folk buy up all sex shops ans sexhang outs in world ans deliver um ta their doorsteps

ans point finger at um < dat important bit



or tell miss jenny at united nations she got da files on all da countrys masculine undys haa
' GIRRRRRRRRLSSSSSSS guess what?????? '

wonder if 22nd century they invent balls?


' reallllllyyyyy

 

[Telstra]

"Despite opposition from African and Arab nations"

I want a list of countries who oppose ...

 

[Kulindahr]

Some of the ridiculous and ignorant statements made by those opposing it....




These are the sorts of attitudes that are very commonly expressed at these international bodies. It's the prevailing attitude in Africa, the Middle East, most of Eastern Europe, most of Asia, and most of Latin America.

I'd love to see a UN debate titled - "Homosexuality - punishable by death?" and I guarantee you, they'd be seriously considering approving that statement. Western countries would probably have to bargain for reducing the punishment to imprisonment.

It raises another rather thorny issue - that of moral superiority. I know it can be thought of as arrogant to think that the West is morally superior to the rest of the world, but the evidence is blatantly clear. If we were to leave it to numerical majority by number of countries, we'd soon find ourselves back in the Dark Ages.

If this vote went against us, would the UN have any objection, or seek to take the matter further? No.

It would be an improvement if the UN was even trying to drag these countries kicking and screaming into the modern world. Instead, their views are allowed to stand, and are given equal legitimacy.

That place is in serious need of reform. Human rights, not just for gays but for women and children in most of the non-Western world, are a complete joke.

The US should bar diplomats from countries which demonstrably do not follow the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from entering the US. Then we might see civilization arrive at the UN.

Barring that, we should start an international organization where you can't be a member if you don't adhere to human rights. Then place heavy tariffs on everything from non-members to finance both the organization and human rights campaigns in targeted non-member countries.

 

[Telstra]

Malaysia and Russian Federation is disappointing.
I thought they have modern views but obviously not.


About Russia, maybe it is a political decision to oppose so they can get closer to the Arabs ?

 

[Speeds]

Odd that Russia was against it. Usually they're not great with gay rights but they don't seem to support the other side either. They just don't talk about it.

I thought Russia, being a first world European country, would be okay with it.

Anyway, great news and well done.

Russia isn't a first world country though.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

The resolution calls for a worldwide study to be conducted into discriminatory laws and practices based on sexual preferences and to look at how human rights law could be put to use to end related violence and human rights violations.

study?

united nations!!!! waves!!!!! Ya got folk in lot countrys already know stuff fa eons!!!!!! not got pay um nothin too!!!

how long take cultures screw in light bulb?
' ma big toe say 50000 years '
why dat?
' cause they keep make studys then lots drop dead ans forget cuase humans is recycalings ans stuff ans then oh yeah then '
okay me got it
' oh yeah give lot professions what got nothin ta do cause no idea do anythin useful in comfort ans joy '
ooh ya sneek dat in ya did
' is badddddddddddd '
here ya carrot
' dat sweet '
yeah it organic



if 30thcentury read this how planet earthy doin?

 

[frankfrank]

Here's a rundown of which countries voted which way:

Backed the resolution

Argentina

Belgium

Brazil

Chile

Cuba

Ecuador

France

Guatemala

Hungary

Japan

Mauritius

Mexico

Norway

Poland

South Korea

Slovakia

Spain

Switzerland

Thailand

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United States

Uruguay

Opposed the resolution

Angola

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Cameroon

Djibouti

Gabon

Ghana

Jordan

Malaysia

Maldives

Mauritania

Nigeria

Pakistan

Qatar

Republic of Moldova

Russian Federation

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Uganda

Abstained

Burkina Faso

China

Zambia

[NOT!]Uganda voted no??!! Wow, would'a never guessed that.[/NOT!]

Other than Cuba, where are the Caribbean nations? It seems strange there aren't others in the YES/NO/ABSTAIN list, because there's quite a few Caribbean nations and I think most or all are in the UN.

 

[Kulindahr]

The resolution calls for a worldwide study to be conducted into discriminatory laws and practices based on sexual preferences and to look at how human rights law could be put to use to end related violence and human rights violations.

study?

united nations!!!! waves!!!!! Ya got folk in lot countrys already know stuff fa eons!!!!!! not got pay um nothin too!!!

how long take cultures screw in light bulb?
' ma big toe say 50000 years '
why dat?
' cause they keep make studys then lots drop dead ans forget cuase humans is recycalings ans stuff ans then oh yeah then '
okay me got it
' oh yeah give lot professions what got nothin ta do cause no idea do anythin useful in comfort ans joy '
ooh ya sneek dat in ya did
' is badddddddddddd '
here ya carrot
' dat sweet '
yeah it organic



if 30thcentury read this how planet earthy doin?

Of course -- this is modern era, got to study everything before do it. First study how to have study!
How much study cost? Find out -- have study!
Who should do study? Oh, forgot -- do study, find out who best to do study to find cost of study to do study on....

What were we going to do?

 

[Yves]

Here's a rundown of which countries voted which way:

Thanks for the info!

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

Of course -- this is modern era, got to study everything before do it. First study how to have study!
How much study cost? Find out -- have study!
Who should do study? Oh, forgot -- do study, find out who best to do study to find cost of study to do study on....

What were we going to do?

build life boats unless populations do polite thang ans die early cause it polite

' yeah we bit over stock on population '
@ what can do? @
' here da options '
@ urmmmm how about no 2? @
' da da take away menu this da document of great top secret '
@ ooh can we order first? @
' sure best thinks ons fulls stomach '

what century this watch carefuls is gonna move hands real slow