UN Human Rights Council passes 'historic' gay rights resolution

UN Human Rights Council passes ‘historic’ gay rights resolution

The UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution that gives the UN’s first official backing to efforts to combat homophobia worldwide. The resolution, introduced by South Africa, establishes a panel that will examine LGBT people’s human rights; it was backed by 23 countries including EU states and the US, along with a number of Latin American countries. Nineteen countries voted against it and three abstained.

Amnesty International‘s UN representative, Peter Splinter, had earlier welcomed the resolution, saying it would be ‘historic’.

‘It will be very significant to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in their struggle towards the full enjoyment of their human rights that such violations of their human rights are recognised at this high level,’ he said.

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Andy Wasley

Andy Wasley is So So Gay's Executive Editor, and was its Editor-in-Chief from January to November 2011. He is an avid culture vulture, gin-loving wino, injury-prone rugby player, political obsessive and charming geek. He writes for a number of publications, some too boring to mention and often under other people's names. Grr. You can read his inane outpourings on Twitter @andywasley