Australia should ‘stop gay killing’
An Australian GLBTI rights activist says Australia should take a leading role to encourage neighbouring countries to amend a UN resolution which removed a reference to sexual orientation from calls to end extra judicial executions.
In November, 79 countries voted to remove a reference to sexual orientation in the resolution, while 70 countries, including Australia, voted to support its retention. A further 43 countries abstained or did not vote.
Among those who abstained from the vote include Fiji, Papau New Guinea, the Philippines, and Singapore.
Australian International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) representative Simon Margan told the Star Observer Australia should take a pro-active role to convince neighboring countries to support human rights for all.
“Australia needs to be actively advocating that those countries that have not taken a stance on this issue vote to include sexuality in this international instrument’s protections,” he said.
“Passive United Nations advocacy is not what is needed at this time. Australia should be calling on the friendly relationship it has with Pacific Island countries to actively encourage the countries which abstained on this vote to take a stance in support of LGBTI rights.”
Margan, who this week returned from an ILGA World conference in Brazil, said the UN resolution showed the importance of an international GLBTI human rights body like ILGA.
He said Australia to put a renewed focus on human rights abuses in the Asia Pa region when it comes to GBLTI people.
“The islands in the Pacific have always been a concern to ILGA,” Margan said.
“With all the governmental persecution in Africa and the Middle East region, it is easy to forget that the Pacific region also has a number of countries with anti-sodomy laws.
“While there have been notable advancements in LGBTI rights, like the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Fiji, there are still a number of Pacific Island countries that have significant sanctions against homosexuality.”
Amid an outcry that the resolution effectively sanctions violence against gays and lesbians across the globe, last week the US announced it would lead an amendment to overturn the extra judicial execution resolution.
The motion will be voted on by the United Nations General Assembly today, December 20. It currently does not include a reference to gender identity.
Margan said ILGA is urging the public to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to call on the Australian government to support the US’s amendment and to call on neighbouring countries for support.
info: To sign a petition to support the US’s move, click here
Frequent holidays in Fiji have always been wonderful. Never had any trouble from very eager boys or for that matter the girls. Remember to take a stick with you at night to beat the horny ones off, and a comfortable Pillow to sleep from exhaustion on the flight home.
Luke, charity does begin at home but we need to show support to others around the world in the fight for equal rights. And by showing the GLBTI communities in countries that have less basic human rights such as ours that we are aware of their plight would surly show them that they are NOT alone and would give them strength to keep on fighting for equality.
Bloody hell.. It’s one cause after another these days! Why can’t we just concentrate on what’s in our own backyards for a while..? Then we [gays] can conquer the world! Isn’t that the plan?