Today, Victor Madrigal-Borloz was appointed the new United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (IE SOGI). The Human Rights Council formally confirmed his position as the IE SOGI in a plenary. Victor Madrigal-Borloz follows Thai human rights expert Vitit Muntarbhorn in the position, as Professor…
NEW YORK — Today, all 193 United Nations Member States adopted the Olympic Truce Resolution maintaining language protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The resolution, which passed by consensus, included the contested reference to non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the Olympic Charter. The non-discrimination clause is housed in Principle 6 and prohibits…
Today, 17 professional athletes came out against attempts by Egypt and Russia to thwart non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation in the United Nations Olympic Truce Resolution. The letter, endorsed by respected athletes such as Billie Jean King, Greg Louganis and Martina Navratilova, is part of the #OlympicSpirit campaign spearheaded by OutRight Action International and…
GENEVA — The United States has voted against a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution condemning the use of the death penalty against those convicted of consensual same-sex sexual relations. The resolution passed by a 27-13 vote margin. Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador,…
GENEVA — A 5-member UN human rights committee announced that a Thai law professor is its choice to be the UN’s first monitor against anti-gay violence, yet an Egyptian diplomat on the panel is boycotting the mandate. In a report circulated by the president of the UN human rights council (UNHRC), its Consultative Group—comprised of…
An attempt by Russia to deny benefits to same-sex partners of United Nations (UN) staff has been pushed back in an overwhelming vote affirming the right of the UN to set its own internal policies, writes Jean Freedberg on the HRC Blog. Last June, LGBT advocates hailed the policy announcement by Secretary General Ban ki-Moon…
In an announcement that has been roundly denounced by the United States, Uganda’s foreign minister Sam Kutesa has been voted in by acclamation to serve as the next United Nations General Assembly president, replacing outgoing – and widely respected – John W. Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said: “It would…
MANILA — A UN-sponsored study has confirmed that gay people in the Philippines continue to face discrimination despite pockets of increased tolerance for the LGBT community by Filipino society, reports GayAsiaNews.com. “Cultural and social attitudes toward LGBT people are complex, with signs of acceptance, particularly among the young,” said the study funded by the UN…
The United Nations Free & Equal campaign has released the first-ever Bollywood music video for gay rights, featuring Bollywood star and Miss India winner Celina Jaitly. With a glamorous set and lively tunes, the video showcases how important family acceptance is in India, and Asia in general, and how mindsets are changing all across the…
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM — Brunei has adopted a new penal code that calls for death by stoning for same-sex relations which will come into effect April 22, reports GayAsiaNews.com. Same-sex relations have long been a crime in Brunei, but the maximum punishment till now has been a 10-year prison sentence. The United Nations human rights office…
