Close X
Saturday, November 30, 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

    Quebec Bill 74 Would Force Internet Firms To Block Access To Online Gaming Sites

    Quebec Bill 74 Would Force Internet Firms To Block Access To Online Gaming Sites
    Bill 74 includes a provision that seeks to force Internet service providers to block Quebecers' access to online gambling sites that aren't approved by the government.

    Quebec Bill 74 Would Force Internet Firms To Block Access To Online Gaming Sites

    Suspected MH 370 Debris Found On Mauritius Coast

    Suspected MH 370 Debris Found On Mauritius Coast
    A piece of debris thought to be from the Malaysian airliner that went missing more than two years ago over the Indian Ocean has been found in the island nation of Mauritius, media reported on Sunday.

    Suspected MH 370 Debris Found On Mauritius Coast

    India, Saudi Arabia To Strengthen Anti-Terror Cooperation

    India, Saudi Arabia To Strengthen Anti-Terror Cooperation
    Modi was also conferred with the Gulf kingdom's highest civilian honour, the King Abdulaziz Sash.

    India, Saudi Arabia To Strengthen Anti-Terror Cooperation

    Canada Will Offer $42 Million To Help Protect Nuclear Material From Terrorists: PM Trudeau

    Canada Will Offer $42 Million To Help Protect Nuclear Material From Terrorists: PM Trudeau
    World leaders watched a video of a hypothetical nuclear terrorist plot Friday as they closed out a two-day summit dedicated to ensuring such a calamity never comes to pass.

    Canada Will Offer $42 Million To Help Protect Nuclear Material From Terrorists: PM Trudeau

    India failed to provide evidence about Pathankot attack: Pakistan

    New Delhi failed to provide evidence to Islamabad's Joint Investigation Team, visiting India to probe the Pathankot attack, to prove their allegation that Pakistan based militants stormed the Air Force base, sources close to the team said.

    India failed to provide evidence about Pathankot attack: Pakistan

    India, Canada Made For Each Other: PM Modi Tells Justin Trudeau

    India, Canada Made For Each Other: PM Modi Tells Justin Trudeau
    Modi and Trudeau met on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit.

    India, Canada Made For Each Other: PM Modi Tells Justin Trudeau