On 21 December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor to restore “sexual orientation” on extra judicial executions resolution, by a margin of 109-41 and 35 abstentions. The resolution including the reference to sexual orientation has been passed successfully for the past ten years, however, just last month, Benin on behalf of African States proposed an amendment at the Third Committee to remove the reference to sexual orientation. Shockingly, this amendment passed: 79 States voted to remove the reference to sexual orientation, 70 supported its retention, and 43 States abstained or did not vote. This was felt as a defeat for LGBT rights at the United Nations possibly subjecting to homophobia and religious and cultural extremism millions of LGBTI persons worldwide. Fortunately, the General Assembly in Plenary has taken the stand in favor of human rights that could have been expected from the Third Committee and voted to restore the reference, which is now included in the Resolution passed yesterday.
No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) welcome this important victory and thank the UN members states that voted against the amendment at the Third Committee and at the General Assembly to restore the reference to “sexual orientation”. This is an important stand in support of all vulnerable people around the world and an important tool for their protection from violence, imprisonment and arbitrary executions.
NPWJ and the NRPTT also acknowledge with great thanks the efforts made by international civil society organisations and LGBTI human rights activists around the world who have strongly opposed the amendment, and have been working on a daily basis, often at great risk to themselves, to restore the prohibition of violent targeting and extrajudicial killing of LGBTI people.
NPWJ and the NRPTT call on all UN member States, international civil society organisations and human rights activists to oppose this homophobic campaign orchestrated at national and international level, and strongly and unequivocally express in all possible circumstances their clear and strong support for the respect of fundamental human rights of LGBTI persons worldwide.
For further information, please contact Elio Polizzotto (NPWJ), email: epolizzotto@npwj.org, phone: +32 2 548 39 21. Check also the website: http://www.npwj.org