85 Countries in the UN commit to LGBT Rights
A new pact supporting LGBT rights has been signed by 85 countries at the United Nations Human Rights Council, as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirms: “Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.”
The resolution is titled “Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based On Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity,” and was signed by 20 countries who had avoided similar LGBT-specific statements in the past. Naturally, Australia and New Zealand were among the proud signatories.
The statement includes a promise to include LGBT issues as a part of the Universal Periodic Review process, noting the increased attention to LGBT issues in regional human rights fora, encouraging the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue addressing LGBT issues, and calls for states to end criminal sanctions based on LGBT status.
The statement garnered support from every region of the world, including 21 signatories from the Western Hemisphere, 43 from Europe, 5 from Africa, and 16 from the Asia/Pacific region.
Clinton added: “We will continue to promote human rights around the world for all people who are marginalized and discriminated against because of sexual orientation or gender identity.
“And we will not rest until every man, woman and child is able to live up to his or her potential free from persecution or discrimination of any kind.”
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