Wed 30 Sep 2015 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
LGBT rights have been raised as an issue of importance during the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council which is currently taking place in Geneva. Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré A Human Rights Law Centre, International Service for Human Rights and ILGA World joint statement highlighted the lack of global progress in relation to the rights of LGBT people saying; "The Vienna Declaration condemned gross and systematic violations of human rights. It is disturbing that, 22 years on, people continue to suffer discrimination, violence and persecution as a result of their sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status, or because of their work to speak out for equal rights." Referring to a statement on Item 8 in which H.E. Mr Raimonds Jansons, representative of Latvia spoke on behalf of the European Union in June this year and stated that “human rights violations targeted toward persons because of their sexual orientation or gender identity constitute a global and entrenched pattern of very serious concern to the European Union.” In a call to action he went on to say; “We call on these countries to repeal these laws which amount to serious human rights violations and cause immense suffering and renew our firm commitment to ensure the full realization of all human rights for LGBTI persons all around the world.” The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which was adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna on 25 June 1993, confirmed the universality of human rights. Transgender rights, specific to healthcare, has been noted as an issue of importance during a UN panel discussion on the impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights. In a ILGA World
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 30th September 2015 - 9:27am