Friday, December 19

USA: Rejects UN's Gay Rights Statement

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A joint statement addressing homophobia and LGBT rights for the first time at the United Nations was tabled today, without the backing of the United States.
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"We urge states to take all the necessary measures, in particular legislative or administrative, to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention," the draft document read.
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The unprecedented gay rights declaration was proposed by the French, and read by Argentinean ambassador Jorge Arguello.
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The non-binding statement is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stating that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."
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Sixty-six of the 192 member countries, including the full European Union, Central African Republic, Brazil, Cuba, Israel, and Japan urged the decriminalization of homosexuality on Thursday to fellow member countries.


In addition to the United States, China, Russia, and all of the Arab nations refused to back the statement.
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Source: The Advocate - 19/Dec/2008.

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