Sat 29 Oct 2016 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Russia has been voted off the United Nations Human Rights Council. Running for re-election against Croatia and Hungary, Russia missed out on a seat by 2 votes, with 112 votes to Croatia’s 114. Both Hungary, with 144 votes, and Croatia secured the two available seats for the Eastern Europe bloc. Earlier this month the UN Human Rights Council appointed its first ever independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity. Law professor from Thailand, Prof Vitit Muntarbhorn was appointed to the position which he will hold for three years. His tasks will include assessing implementation of existing international human rights law, identifying best practices and gaps, raising awareness of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, engaging in dialogue and consultation with States and other stakeholders, and facilitating provision of advisory services, technical assistance, capacity-building and cooperation to help address violence and discrimination on these grounds. In 2013, President Vladimir Putin’s “gay propaganda” came into law, restricting freedom of speech and the rights of LGBTI people in Russia. The lack of votes come as Russia faces allegations of war crimes relating to actions taken against Syria.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 29th October 2016 - 12:24pm