Walk-out of UN discussion on gay rights

Muslim and African countries yesterday walked out of a UN Human Rights Council panel discussion on LGBTI rights.

Earlier this week an Islamic bloc of nations, led by Pakistan, declared their opposition to the UNHRC discussion saying homosexuality is “abnormal sexual behaviour.”

Nigeria, who joined the walk-out, claimed none of its citizens risked violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Reuters reports not all countries in the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or African nations, joined in the protest.

During the meeting, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay presented findings of a UN study which found at least 76 countries still criminalize homosexuality.

“I am conscious of the divergent view both within and outside the Council on the rights of individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” Pillay said.

“However, I am certain that none among you will be willing to tolerate serious, systematic violations of human rights against them.

“What emerges from all of the material we gathered is a clear pattern of targeted violence and discrimination directed at people because they are, or are perceived to be LGBT. It is a pattern too-long overlooked by many states, and one that this Council has a duty to address.”

In June last year the UNHRC adopted a resolution opposing violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

“We have reports of gay men attacked by assailants shouting homophobic insults, left for dead in the street,” Pillay said.

“Lesbians subjected to gang rape, sometimes characterized as so-called ‘corrective rape’.

“Transgender persons sexually assaulted and stoned to death, their bodies so disfigured as to be rendered virtually unrecognisable… they constitute a grave human rights challenge to which this Council has a responsibility to respond.”