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View Full Version : UN removes sexual orietation from resolution condeming arbitrary executions.



mlgb
20th November 2010, 21:32
...because being gay clearly is something that it should be ok to execute people for.


The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and ARC International are deeply disappointed with yesterday’s vote in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly to remove a reference to sexual orientation from a resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The resolution urges States to protect the right to life of all people, including by calling on states to investigate killings based on discriminatory grounds. For the past 10 years, the resolution has included sexual orientation in the list of discriminatory grounds on which killings are often based.
The removed reference was originally contained in a non-exhaustive list in the resolution highlighting the many groups of people that are particularly targeted by killings - including persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, persons acting as human rights defenders (such as lawyers, journalists or demonstrators) as well as street children and members of indigenous communities. Mentioning sexual orientation as a basis on which people are targeted for killing highlights a situation in which particular vigilance is required in order for all people to be afforded equal protection.
The amendment removing the reference to sexual orientation was sponsored by Benin on behalf of the African Group in the UN General Assembly and was adopted with 79 votes in favor, 70 against, 17 abstentions and 26 absent.
http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/pressroom/pressrelease/1257.html


oh, and:

In favor 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

Stand Your Ground
20th November 2010, 22:01
Cuba?? Wtf??? What a fucking shame. I am disappointed with that. Who the fuck made that call?

DragonQuestWes
28th November 2010, 20:34
What a disgrace. Something tells me that these countries are playing into Western hands which is something I do not want to see.

At least Venezuela isn't on the list, so I've still got faith in them.

synthesis
29th November 2010, 05:14
Actually, I hate to say it, but this really seems like an initiative of African governments and/or states with Islamic majorities. It's not just the fact that the amendment was sponsored by Benin - look at list of supporting votes. From personal experience, many of these cultures are still deeply homophobic, although I was surprised to see South Africa on the list of supporting votes.

Die Neue Zeit
29th November 2010, 05:54
Clarification from another poster in another board: http://www.rabble.ca/babble/lgbtq/general-assembly-votes-drop-sexual-orientation-right-life-resolution


Cuba has all sorts of voting alliances with African and Arab countries in the UN. It leads to things like voting in favour of a UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution praising the government of Sri Lanka for "the promotion and protection of human rights", as they did last year.

They may be making deals in order to secure votes on matters that are favourable to themselves - like the annual resolution to condemn the US economic embargo.

One thing is for sure: the Cubans have no intention of carrying out extrajudicial killings of gays and lesbians, or anyone else.

Jazzratt
29th November 2010, 14:27
I'm really not sure why people are so surprised or outraged that Cuba is on that list. Just because they've called themselves "socialist" for the last few decades doesn't mean they aren't involved in all sorts of reactionary politics.

red cat
29th November 2010, 14:54
China, Vietnam, DPRK. :D