16 May 2012

UN / INT’L DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA ADVANCER

UN expert on human rights and sexual orientation Charles Radcliffe explains why UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is calling this is an “historic moment” for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Activists around the world will observe 17 May as the International Day Against Homophobia. UNTV / OHCHR / FILE

Posted at: May 16, 2012 3:21 pm

Duration: 02:46

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / INT'L DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA ADVANCER
TRT: 2.46
SOURCE: UNTV / OHCHR / PAHO / EPA  
RESTRICTIONS:  PLEASE CREDIT STILLS; FOR STILLS NO ACCESS APTN LIBRARY
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 11 MAY 2012, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT / FILE

SHOTLIST:

OHCHR – RECENT, PSA EXCERPT

1. SOUNDUP (English) Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"In some 76 States, having a partner of the same sex is a criminal offense. People are being arrested, singled out for physical attack, being tortured, even killed – just for being in a loving relationship. When I raise these issues, some complain that I'm pushing for 'new rights' or 'special rights' for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. But there is nothing new or special about the right to life and security of person, the right to freedom from discrimination. These and other rights are universal."

UNTV – RECENT 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

UNTV – 11 MAY 2012, NEW YORK CITY

3. Wide shot, Charles Radcliffe in the studio
4. Close up, hands
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Radcliffe, Senior Adviser on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"It's been a year where we've seen for the first time formal discussion at the United Nations between countries, where the violence and the discrimination that people suffer because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity has been formally recognised. But we need to keep that dialogue going. And we need to make sure that those countries that have, that are resisting this discussion, or which for their own cultural, historical, religious reasons are reticent on this subject, feel they can come and engage in a discussion."

14 FEBRUARY 2011, MINSK, BELARUS – PLEASE CREDIT EPA TATYANA ZENKOVICH

6. STILL PHOTO, homosexual activist hold a placard symbolizing a ban of homophobia during the first-ever sanctioned gay pride picket in Minsk

2 AUGUST 2009, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – PLEASE CREDIT EPA GIL YAARI

7. STILL PHOTO, memorial at the scene of a shooting attack on a gay community centre which killed two gay youths

UNTV – 11 MAY 2012, NEW YORK CITY

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Radcliffe, Senior Adviser on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"From a victim's perspective, violence and discrimination is just that. It's violence and discrimination whether you're targeted because of your sexual orientation or your gender identity, or whether you're targeted because of your race or your religion. From a victim's perspective, it's equally bad. And from a state's perspective, equally it's an obligation to address."

11 OCTOBER 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – PLEASE CREDIT EPA JIM LO SCALZO

9. STILL PHOTO, National Equality March

2 AUGUST 2009, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – PLEASE CREDIT EPA ABIR SULTAN

10. STILL PHOTO, members of the gay community holding a rainbow banner with a black ribbon

11 OCTOBER 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – PLEASE CREDIT EPA JIM LO SCALZO

9. STILL PHOTO, National Equality March

UNTV – 11 MAY 2012, NEW YORK CITY

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Radcliffe, Senior Adviser on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"I think in some countries same-sex marriage is very much a priority issue, people are talking about it and there's a willingness to move in that direction. But there are many other countries where for LGBT people themselves, this is not the main issue, this is not the first priority, they're far more concerned trying to get rid of those laws that treat them as criminals or as trying to get protection in place in law."

FILE – UNTV - 2008, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

12. Various shots, gay youth

FILE - PAHO – 28 MARCH 2009, GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR

13. Med shot, gay and transgender persons walking on the street

FILE – UNTV - 2008, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

14. Various shots, gay youth

STORYLINE:

The top UN official for human rights has said this is an "historic moment" for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, with more and more States recognizing the need for action and speaking up – including at the United Nations.

In a video released ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia (17 May), United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay asked the public to help secure equal rights "for every last one of us".

SOUNDUP (English) Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"In some 76 States, having a partner of the same sex is a criminal offense. People are being arrested, singled out for physical attack, being tortured, even killed – just for being in a loving relationship. When I raise these issues, some complain that I'm pushing for 'new rights' or 'special rights' for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. But there is nothing new or special about the right to life and security of person, the right to freedom from discrimination. These and other rights are universal."

In a recent interview with UNifeed at headquarters in New York, the High Commissioner's special adviser on human rights and sexual orientation and gender identity, Charles Radcliffe, said the last year had seen a "huge step forward" on a subject that United Nations bodies had long shied away from formally addressing because of controversy among its members.

One year ago, the UN Human Rights Council passed an unprecedented resolution requesting the first-ever UN report on the human rights of LGBT people, which was released in December. In March, the Council held its first-ever session devoted to violence based on sexual orientation.

SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Radcliffe, Senior Adviser on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"It's been a year where we've seen for the first time formal discussion at the United Nations between countries, where the violence and the discrimination that people suffer because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity has been formally recognised. But we need to keep that dialogue going. And we need to make sure that those countries that have, that are resisting this discussion, or which for their own cultural, historical, religious reasons are reticent on this subject, feel they can come and engage in a discussion."

Radcliffe said that "many" countries and many sectors of society within countries were "very resistant", and that the issues of religion, history, culture and tradition cited by them were serious obstacles that needed to be acknowledged.

But he stressed that States were obliged to respect the human rights of all their people, and, regardless of the prevailing cultural norms or religious beliefs, stop violence and discrimination on whatever grounds.

SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Radcliffe, Senior Adviser on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"From a victim's perspective, violence and discrimination is just that. It's violence and discrimination whether you're targeted because of your sexual orientation or your gender identity, or whether you're targeted because of your race or your religion. From a victim's perspective, it's equally bad. And from a state's perspective, equally it's an obligation to address."

Asked about the impact of United States President Barack Obama's recent expression of support for same-sex marriage, Radcliffe praised Obama's statement as "a very powerful signal to this country and to the world about equality and non-discrimination", but pointed out that in some parts of the world, the right to marry was not top of the agenda for LGBT people still struggling for fundamental protections.

SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Radcliffe, Senior Adviser on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"I think in some countries same-sex marriage is very much a priority issue, people are talking about it and there's a willingness to move in that direction. But there are many other countries where for LGBT people themselves, this is not the main issue, this is not the first priority, they're far more concerned trying to get rid of those laws that treat them as criminals or as trying to get protection in place in law."

The report released by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) on 15 December 2011 reveals that violence against LGBT people takes place in all regions, many times with consent of governments. Commonly reported incidents include targeted killings, violent assaults and acts of torture and sexual violence.

It also shows that discriminatory practices affect the ability of individuals to enjoy their human rights on a daily basis in their workplace and at school, where they run the risk of being bullied, leading LGBT people to isolation, depression and in some cases suicide.

Activists around the world will observe 17 May as the International Day against Homophobia, but it has not been officially designated by the United Nations.

On 7 March 2012, Pakistan's representative told the Human Rights Council on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that it had consistently and firmly opposed the controversial notion of sexual orientation, which was vague and misleading and had no agreed definition and no legal foundation in international law. Licentious behaviour promoted under the concept of sexual orientation was against the fundamental teachings of various religions, including Islam, he added.