Thu 6 Oct 2016 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Guterres will become the next UN Secretary General after all 15 Security Council ambassadors unanimously voted in his favour. In the past Guterres has spoken out about the invisibility of the issues faced by LGBTI Refugees and publicly condemned the persecution faced by LGBTI people in Uganda. Guterres, who was the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 - 2002, will replace outgoing Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in January next year. He is yet to make a public statement regarding the decision and his spokesperson David Damiao says he will do so after a formal vote on his selection which will be held in the next 24 hours. The 193-member General Assembly can then approval the Security Council’s recommendation. Guterres has held the position of UN High Commissioner for Refugees since 2005 and in 2012 on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, spoke out about the invisibility of the issues faced by LGBTI refugees. “Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, including adolescents, continue to be compelled to flee their home countries and seek protection abroad due to the discrimination and abuse they experience. In many countries around the world, these individuals and the specific protection problems they face in flight and in exile remain largely invisible. It is clear, however, that the nature of the discrimination they encounter can be particularly virulent, their isolation from family and community profound, and the harm inflicted on them severe,” he said.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 6th October 2016 - 1:03pm