Rights groups condemn “sexual orientation” removal at UN

International Human Rights groups have denounced the removal of “sexual orientation” from a UN resolution urging states to protect the right to life of all people. For the past decade, the resolution, which calls on states to investigate killings based on
discrimination, has
included sexual orientation on the list of factors that can lead to such killings.

The amendment was condemned by ARC International and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC):

“This vote is a dangerous and disturbing development,” said Cary Alan

Advertisement

Johnson, executive director of IGLHRC. “It essentially removes the
important recognition of the particular vulnerability faced by lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people — a recognition that is crucial at
a time when 76 countries around the world criminalize homosexuality,
five consider it a capital crime, and countries like Uganda are
considering adding the death penalty to their laws criminalizing
homosexuality.”

The reference was removed from a list including persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities, persons acting as human rights defenders, street children
and members of indigenous communities.

The amendment was adopted with 79 votes in favour, 70 against, 17
abstentions and 26 absent.

In favour of the amendment to remove
sexual orientation from the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions (79):

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola,
Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Botswana,
Brunei Dar-Sala, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Comoros,
Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique,
Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian
Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South
Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan,
Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania,
Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Opposed to the amendment to remove sexual
orientation from the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions (70):

Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,
Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico,
Micronesia (FS), Monaco, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand,

Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea,
Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States,
Uruguay, Venezuela