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

    Hindu Man In Pakistan Kills Wife Over Cup Of Tea

    Hindu Man In Pakistan Kills Wife Over Cup Of Tea
    A mother of two minor girls in Pakistan's Sindh province was axed to death by her husband on Thursday for allegedly delaying his tea.

    Hindu Man In Pakistan Kills Wife Over Cup Of Tea

    No NSG Consensus Over India's Membership Bid

    No NSG Consensus Over India's Membership Bid
    The Indian application for membership to the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group was taken up at a post-dinner special session in the South Korean capital where heads of delegation of NSG are holding a plenary, highly informed sources in Seoul told

    No NSG Consensus Over India's Membership Bid

    Germany Shooting: Several Wounded As Man 'Opens Fire In Cinema Complex' In Viernheim

    Germany Shooting: Several Wounded As Man 'Opens Fire In Cinema Complex' In Viernheim
    Police spokeswoman Christiane Kobus said she couldn't give further details of what was happening at the Kinopolis movie theater in the town of Viernheim.

    Germany Shooting: Several Wounded As Man 'Opens Fire In Cinema Complex' In Viernheim

    Projects Abroad launches Refugee Project in Italy

    Projects Abroad launches Refugee Project in Italy
    Volunteer organization partners with local NGOs, including Red Cross, to aid refugees and migrants

    Projects Abroad launches Refugee Project in Italy

    Donald Trump Moves To Turn Around His Presidential Campaign's Ugly Numbers

    Donald Trump Moves To Turn Around His Presidential Campaign's Ugly Numbers
    WASHINGTON — The early numbers from Donald Trump's general-election campaign are so ugly that not even the swirliest, most sophisticated comb-over could mask their historic hideousness.

    Donald Trump Moves To Turn Around His Presidential Campaign's Ugly Numbers

    Betting on Britain's high-stakes EU vote breaks record

    Betting on Britain's high-stakes EU vote breaks record
    LONDON — As if the stakes were not high enough in Britain's nail-biting vote this week, people are betting record amounts of money on its outcome.

    Betting on Britain's high-stakes EU vote breaks record