Via Therion, we learn that Peter Tatchell has the latest on the United Nations “declaration,” now to be called a “statement,” on the universal decriminalization of homosexuality. Tatchell reminds us, ”The U.S. government is one of the only western democratic nations that has declined to support a United Nations declaration calling for the global decriminalization of homosexuality.”
From Peter Tatchell’s blog:
UN statement on decriminalising homosexuality and supporting LGBT human rights
There are a number of new developments:
The UN “declaration” is being called a “statement” and technically (in UN terms) is it a statement not a declaration, so it is best to call it a statement in any publicity or media coverage.
The statement is finalised, so the US and other countries cannot claim that it is not finalised and use this as an excuse to explain their non-signature (a copy of the UN statement follows below).Â
There will not be a vote. The statement will be merely presented and read to the UN General Assembly – nonetheless a significant milestone.
The recommendations in the UN statement include more than the decriminalisation of homosexuality:
As well as seeking the decriminalisation of same-sex acts, the statement also condemns all human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, urges countries to protect the human rights of LGBT people and to bring to justice those who violate these rights, and calls for human rights defenders who oppose homophobic and transphobic victimisation to be allowed to carry out their advocacy and humanitarian work unimpeded.
A list of supporting countries (as of now) is below.
Contrary to earlier reports, Australia and Venezuela have signed. Â
France may not now present the statement to the UN General Assembly. It might instead be presented by an African country (in part, to show that the statement has broad international support and is not a purely western initiative).
CONFIRMED SIGNATORIES SO FAR – MORE PENDING
According to Human Rights Watch, these countries have signed so far:
Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela.
(emphasis: mine)
The full and final text of the statement can be found at Peter Tatchell’s site.
UK Gay News reminds us:
Indications are that the United Nations statement on sexual orientation and gender identity will be read at the General Assembly in New York tomorrow (December 18). There is no word yet on the timing, but it could be around lunchtime EST.
Note: For more posts on the topic and information about what you can do to support the UN statement on the decriminalization of homosexuality, scroll up and click on the blue UN flag in the upper right-hand column.
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