United Nations Radio

Gay Pride Activist

PRES: 66 member states of the United Nations have signed on to a declaration reaffirming the universality of human rights and calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality. 60 other countries opposed the declaration presented in the UN General Assembly and issued their own statement. Bissera Kostova has the story.

Duration: 3'56"

NARR: The declaration on Human Rights, sexual orientation and gender identity was co-sponsored by France and the Netherlands, on behalf of the European Union. Dutch foreign minister, Maxime Verhagen says it was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, celebrated last week.

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen

Verhagen: Human Rights apply to all people, in all places, at all times, so there can be no excuse for the persecution, the discrimination or violation of human rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people. And with today's statement, this is no longer a taboo within the UN.

Rama Yade

NARR: Rama Yade, the French state secretary for human rights, said it's not acceptable that people continue to be victims of violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation.

Yade: How can we accept the fact that in nearly 90 countries, homosexuality is punishable by law and in at least 6 countries punishable by death?

NARR: At a discussion following the adoption of the declaration, Sunil Pant, an openly gay Member of Parliament in Nepal pointed out that if a poor and traditional society like his own could embrace equality for homosexuals, so could any country.

Nepalese Parliamentarian Sunil Pant

Pant: It is just a few vocal fanatics on the grounds of politics or religion, who choose to think that society is not ready. The reality, however, is that society in general is always ready to respect one another, support each other, living in harmony together, regardless of whom we choose to love.

NARR: Another speaker in the discussion, Mark Tewksbury, an Olympic medalist swimmer from Canada, confronted the notion often brought up by those who oppose gay rights, that homosexuality is a life-style choice.

Tewksbury: As if as young children there is all of these sexualities paraded in front of us and we choose "Oh, I think I'd like to be this way!" Why would anybody choose a life that's going to be filled with difficulty and discrimination and an uphill battle, no matter where you are in the world.

NARR: However, a group comprised mostly of African and Muslim nations rejected the declaration. The Syrian representative, Abdullah Hallak read a statement on their behalf:

Hallak: The notion of orientation spans a wide rage of personal choices that expand way beyond the individual sexual interest ... thereby ushering in the social normalization and possibly the legitimization of many deplorable acts, including paedophilia.

NARR: The United States also refused to support the declaration, as did Russia, China and the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Verhagen, the Dutch Foreign Minister said the declaration does not support any life style choice, but merely reaffirms the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Verhagen: It applies to all people and gay people, lesbian people, transgender people are also people. ... So this statement does not promote gay life style, but it simply states the fact that human rights apply to all people.

Navanetham Pillay

NARR: The UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navanethem Pillay, in a video message, endorsed the declaration, saying that the principle of universality of human rights admits no exception.

Pillay: The ageless cliché that everyone is equal but some are more equal than others is not acceptable.

NARR: Navanethem Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. For UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

duration: 3'56"