Tag: gay multinational

Message From UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon Affirming LGBT/SOGI Rights

Message to regional conference on the humna rights of LGBT people in Asia and Pacific Kathmandu, Nepal 22- 23 March 2013 Delivered by Mr. Nikolaus Schultz, Human Rights Officer, OHCHR, New York I am pleased to send greetings to all participants at this important meeting. In recent years, I have sounded the alarm about the… Read more »

New book shows human face of gay rights, anti-gay laws

In a new book, the writers of this blog portray in vividly human terms the toll of 76-plus countries’ anti-gay laws. The book, “From Wrongs to Gay Rights,” is currently available in exchange for a $25 donation to the St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, which supports activists in many of those 76 countries. Through… Read more »

UN chief Ban Ki-moon says gay activists are his ‘inspiration’

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hails ‘brave’ gay activists, says anti-gay abuse is a human rights violation and insists countries have a legal and moral duty to deal with it, whatever their culture UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has described LGBT activists as ‘brave’, ‘committed’ and an ‘inspiration’ to him. The comments from the UN… Read more »

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia marked globally

Governments, organisations and individuals around the world have been marking this year’s International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia today. IDAHO falls on 17 May each year on the anniversary of the World Health Organisation’s decision decategorise homosexuality as a mental disorder. The organisation points out that 1.5 billion people globally still live under regimes which… Read more »

UN High Commissioner speaks out against homophobia and transphobia

UN High Commissioner speaks out against homophobia and transphobia UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay speaks about the ‘human cost’ of prejudice in new video UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has spoken out in advance of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). Fighting prejudice against sexuality and gender identity… Read more »

European Parliament resolves to protect gay couples’ inheritance rights

The situation will be improved in most member statesThe situation will be improved in most member states The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on member states to ensure gay couples inheritance rights are respect around the EU. The report adopted by the Parliament says individual countries who do not recognise legal partnerships between… Read more »

Human Rights, sexual orientation at the UN Human Rights Council

High Commissioner on Human Rights Navy Pillay says: “Between tradition and human rights the balance must be struck in favour of the latter” Geneva – Some delegates of countries defending laws persecuting LGBTI people walked out of the room as the panel convened today by the Human Rights Council began its discussion on violence and… Read more »

Video: UN Human Rights Council discusses LGBT discrimination and violence

A panel discussion at the UN’s Human Rights Council on ending violence and discrimination against gay and trans people has been taking place for the first time today in Geneva. Ban-Ki Moon’s video address at the start of the discussion described violence against gays and transgender people as a “monumental tragedy” and a “stain upon… Read more »

UN secretary general: African governments must respect gay rights

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told African leaders that they must respect gay rights in an unusually outspoken declaration made at an African Union summit in Ethiopia. Mr Ban told delegates at the event held in Addis Ababa: “One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long… Read more »

184 MEPs support gay rights manifesto

184 MEPs, including the President of the European Parliament came together this week to sign a pledge in support of LGBT rights, following a two-day long awareness event. Martin Schulz MEP, president of the European Parliament, along with dozens of MEPs gathered over Tuesday and Wednesday to show support for LGBT rights, at an event… Read more »

Groundbreaking Global Report on LGBT Tourism Released Created Through UNWTO-IGLTA partnership

The United Nations World Tourism Organization unveiled its first report on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) tourism today during FITUR, Spain’s leading international tourism trade fair. Created in partnership with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, the inaugural 40-page “Global Report on LGBT Tourism” includes case studies and commentaries documenting the economic and… Read more »

The Crime of Being Gay (and Having to Hide It)

The dream of the AIDS-free generation will never be realized as long as there remain countries in the world that kill and imprison people for being gay. Same goes for countries that won’t even acknowledge homosexuality exists within their national boundaries and therefore fail to provide targeted HIV prevention and treatment services. Such are the… Read more »

The top international LGBT stories of 2011

2011 saw important decisions taken by states and international organisations (Photo: Steve Cadman)2011 saw important decisions taken by states and international organisations (Photo: Steve Cadman) As 2011 draws to a close, PinkNews.co.uk takes a look back at the most important stories of the last twelve months. This year saw real change around the world when… Read more »

Breaking dawn at the UN: Part 1

Hillary Clinton’s fine speech in Geneva on LGBT rights saw the US playing catch-up to initiatives of a dozen other Western countries. As activists, we welcome the US to the process. But dawn is not yet breaking everywhere. There are many time zones. Douglas Sanders contemplates the time lag for Asia. In the years since… Read more »

UN publishes first global report and recommendations to tackle gay rights abuses

The UN’s Human Rights Council has published for the first time a report detailing rights abuses against LGBT people around the world, through violence and discriminatory laws, and a set of recommendations all countries should adopt to protect their citizens. The document says global governments “have often overlooked violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation… Read more »

UN’s Navi Pillay Warns Nations To Stop Discriminating Against Gays

The United Nation’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has called on nations to abolish discriminatory laws against gay men and lesbians, the AP reported. Pillay’s plea came Thursday in a 25-page report to the 47-nation U.N. Human Rights Council. The report arrives on the heels of a memorandum signed by President Barack Obama… Read more »

Hillary Clinton: Being gay is not ‘a western invention, but a human reality’

Hillary Clinton has delivered a groundbreaking speech to a United Nations summit in Geneva following the US’ declaration that its agencies will challenge the criminalisation of gay acts and LGBT identity overseas. The Secretary of State said gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people were “human beings born free and bestowed equality and dignity, who have… Read more »

UN Report Tries Unsuccessfully to Create New LBGT Rights

A new UN report provides a window into the aspirations of LGBT rights advocates and sympathizers within the UN human rights machinery, aspirations that go well beyond mere tolerance. The report, issued by the UN High Commission for Human Rights, addresses “practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender… Read more »

Rights or righteousness?

Editor’s note: To the casual observer, Evangelical Christians, the Vatican, African Anglicans and Muslims in half the planet are united in a hard line approach to “deviant” behavior (men who have sex with men MSM, intravenous drug use and commercial sex work) that may lead to higher risk for HIV infection. The institutional response has… Read more »