Most of you will have noticed that on 17 June 2011 the UN Human Rights Council (on the last day of its session) adopted a exceptional resolution dedicated to advancing the basic and fundamental human rights of LGBT persons (stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered). This historic vote marked a major victory for defenders of human rights, not just the gay movement. It sent a clear message that abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity must end. And for the first time ever, it commissioned a UN report to investigate the challenges that LGBT persons face. The vote marks the beginningsof universal recognition that LGBT persons are endowed with the same inalienable rights as all human beings and entitled to the same protections as all human beings, but it will be a long struggle especially if one sees how small margin of the ‘victory’ in the UN was: despite opposition from Russia as well as many African and Arab countries, the resolution passed narrowly, with a final tally of 23 to 19, with three abstentions. South Africa was the country that submitted the resolution to the Human Rights Council, and the country’s delegate, Jerry Matthews Matjila, presented the resolution saying: “The resolution before us today does not seek to impose values on other states” …”It seeks to initiate a dialogue which will contribute to us ending discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Only one month before, in May, the UN NGO Committee voted to deny UN accreditation to the Belgium-based International Lesbian and Gay Association. ECOSOC this July could overturn that decision overturn.
MEA 2011 Laureate Kasha – a Lesbian Human Rights Defender from Uganda – and her colleagues around the world still have a hard long road ahead of them.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
June 29, 2011 at 12:43
Well, there is an expression that says “the beginning is half the whole”!
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