Jun 18, 2011

[Pink News] U.N. Council Passes Gay Rights Resolution

United NationsImage by Ashitakka via FlickrWell this is great news!

While it's not exactly a solution to our problems in itself, to have a policy body like the United Nations to pass a resolution about the importance of LGBT rights is a key step in our path to true equality.

Quoting from the CNN news report:

'It talks about the violence and discrimination that people of LGBT persuasion experience around the world,' she said, 'and that those issues ... need to be taken seriously. It calls for reporting on what's going on, where people are being discriminated against, the violence that is taking place, and it really puts the issue squarely on the U.N.'s agenda going forward.'

I especially like the focus on addressing LGBT discrimination and related violence. While many argue that existing laws generally cover these concerns, I still feel that specific legislation that acknowledges the challenges of the community remain a key focus point that needs to be continually addressed.

The resolution also will commission the first-ever U.N. report on the challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people face around the globe. Nossel said the Obama administration hopes it will 'open a broader international discussion on how to best promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons.'

This is also very important - you have to admit that there are far too many formal studies done on LGBT-related concerns and to have the UN work on such a report should prove to be important to future LGBT rights efforts. Plus it'll be a pretty interesting read to boot!

While I know we all laugh at the UN's lack of relevance at times when it comes to international affairs, every now and then they do manage to do the right thing. Now it's up to the individual member nations to follow suit - but that's a whole different ball game.
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