This week, the United Nations Human Rights Council issued a statement titled “Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. ”
In it, the 85 signatory countries call for greater attention to violence and human-rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Though the U.N. council has issued two previous similar statements, this latest statement garnered a greater number of signers than before: In 2006, 54 nations signed on; in 2008, 67 nations signed on.
This statement encourages LGBT issues to be reviewed in the Universal Periodic Review process and for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to address LGBT issues, and calls for countries to end criminal sanctions based on LGBT status.
The statement also references the secretary general’s statement earlier this year that “the Universal Declaration guarantees all human beings basic rights without exception, and when individuals are attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the international community has an obligation to respond.”
Specifically mentioned are “killings, rape, torture and criminal sanctions” of individuals based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
In her own statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated her assertion that “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights,” adding that the U.S. will “continue to promote human rights around the world for all people who are marginalized and discriminated against because of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Last week, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced an amendment to put pressure on countries that condone or allow violence and discrimination against LGBT individuals. Specifically, the amendment, which the Financial Services Committee approved, urges the Department of Treasury “to advocate that governments receiving assistance from the multilateral development institutions do not engage in gross violations of human rights, for example, the denial of freedom of religion, including the right to choose one’s own religion, and physical persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Though not explicitly stated, the amendment takes aim at Uganda and the attacks legislators there have made against the rights of gays and lesbians.
In the U.N. statement, the council noted some positive movement on behalf of various organizations. Specifically, it acknowledged the work of the Asia-Pacific Forum on National Human Rights Institutions to integrate LGBT issues with human-rights institutions in the region and the increasing attention the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights has given to LGBT issues.
While neither the U.N. council statement nor Frank’s amendment has any consequences per se, both serve to raise the issue in international settings and evoke dialogue around issues that need greater attention abroad — and at home.