Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
ADVT 
International

India Abstains As United Nations Creates LGBT Rights Watchdog

IANS, 01 Jul, 2016 12:24 PM
    India has abstained at the UN Human Rights Council voting in Geneva to appoint an independent expert to look into cases of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, a resolution which was passed by a narrow margin.
     
    In a 23-18 vote with six abstentions, the 47-member Human Rights Council yesterday called for the creation of a three-year position for an independent expert to look into wrongdoing against gays, lesbians and transgender people.
     
    Defending India's decision, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup in New Delhi said India took the decision considering the "legal" reality in the country.
     
    "The issue of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights in India is a matter being considered by the Supreme Court under a batch of curative petitions filed by various institutions and organisations. The SC is yet to pronounce on this issue," he said.
     
    "As such we had to take this into account in terms of our vote on the UN resolution to institutionalise the office of an independent expert to prevent discrimination against the LGBT persons," Mr Swarup told reporters.
     
    The expert is expected to be appointed at the next meeting of the Geneva-based body in September.
     
    The resolution was strongly supported by Latin America and the West, while many African and Middle Eastern countries joined China to vote against it.
     
    The expert's duties will include assessing international human rights laws, raising awareness of violence based on sexual orientation and engaging in dialogue with member states and other stakeholders.
     
    The decision to create the post comes weeks after Afghan-origin Omar Mateen massacred 49 people at a gay bar in Orlando, Florida.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Kathleen Wynne Insists Ontario Will Not Phase Out Use Of Natural Gas For Home Heating

    Kathleen Wynne Insists Ontario Will Not Phase Out Use Of Natural Gas For Home Heating
    EDMONTON — Premier Kathleen Wynne says Ontario will not ban the use of natural gas for home heating as part of its climate change action plan.

    Kathleen Wynne Insists Ontario Will Not Phase Out Use Of Natural Gas For Home Heating

    Obama: World Leaders Rightfully 'Rattled' By Trump

    President Barack Obama said Thursday that foreign leaders are "rattled" by Donald Trump and have good reason to feel that way, as he accused the presumptive Republican presidential nominee of ignorance about world affairs.

    Obama: World Leaders Rightfully 'Rattled' By Trump

    Donald Trump Reaches The Magic Number To Clinch Nomination

    Donald Trump Reaches The Magic Number To Clinch Nomination
    Donald Trump reached the number of delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination for president Thursday, completing an unlikely rise that has upended the political landscape and set the stage for a bitter fall campaign.

    Donald Trump Reaches The Magic Number To Clinch Nomination

    Justin Trudeau Touts Trade To G7 Leaders, Warns Of Protectionism

    Justin Trudeau Touts Trade To G7 Leaders, Warns Of Protectionism
    SHIMA, Japan — Justin Trudeau talked up trade and warned of creeping protectionism Thursday as he met powerful world leaders in a G7 setting for the first time.

    Justin Trudeau Touts Trade To G7 Leaders, Warns Of Protectionism

    Ontario Father Gets 10 Years In Prison After Pleading Guilty In Son's Death

    Ontario Father Gets 10 Years In Prison After Pleading Guilty In Son's Death
    Mario Wint pleaded guilty to manslaughter in April after originally being charged with second-degree murder in the January 2015 death of his two-year-old son, Ty.  

    Ontario Father Gets 10 Years In Prison After Pleading Guilty In Son's Death

    Japan's Prime Minister Puts Heat On Justin Trudeau Over TPP, South China Sea

    Japan's Prime Minister Puts Heat On Justin Trudeau Over TPP, South China Sea
    TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe upped the pressure Tuesday on Justin Trudeau by publicly suggesting his Canadian counterpart's positions had budged on a pair of prickly international files.

    Japan's Prime Minister Puts Heat On Justin Trudeau Over TPP, South China Sea