brazilian resolution falters

April 2, 2004: As the UN Commission on Human Rights and several representatives from LGBT organisations from around the world converge on Geneva in Switzerland the anti-gay forces appear to be making headway in their campaign against human rights for all.

In a press release dated March 29, 2004, Brazil announced that it has decided to keep its United Nations Commission on Human Rights resolution "on sexual orientation and human rights" under consultation and to request the Commission to postpone its consideration.

Last year at the 59th meeting of the Commission, the Brazilian Resolution first appeared but it failed under pressure from homophobic nations - however it was kept under consultation until this year's gathering. Now under pressure from the Vatican and the Organisation of Islamic Conferences, Brazil has once again put the resolution on hold.

For millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world this means that their rights are not protected or recognised by the UN and widely reported persecution and human rights abuse will now continue unchecked and unreported by UN recorders.

African nations have also been vocal in their opposition to the resolution.

It is the second year in a row that the motion has been withdrawn at the Geneva-based UN Commission on Human Rights. The proposal had been put forward by Brazil and supported by Canada and most of the European Union states.

Brazil dropped the motion when it became clear the Vatican and Arab countries led by Egypt would not let it pass.

One member of the European Parliament called the opposition "The Unholy Axis".

"Millions of people across the globe face imprisonment, torture, violence, and discrimination because of their sexual orientation," said MEP Michael Cashman, who is gay."

"For the second year running the UN has failed to condemn this discrimination and the continuing abuses of human rights on the basis of a person's sexuality."

"Both the Vatican and the Conference of Islamic States should hang their heads in shame for having reduced their beliefs to the gutter of bigotry and discrimination," said Cashman, an actor before he turned to politics.

The same "axis" is attempting in New York to revoke an executive order by Secretary General Kofi Annan that would provide the same-sex partners of UN workers the same benefits as married couples if their home countries approve.

Other gay rights groups have joined in condemning the delays.

U.K.-based Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) also said Monday that the withdrawal reveals the religious states' true colours.

"This continued barbaric contempt for gay people shows that the Vatican is prepared to go to any lengths to promote its nasty dogmas. It has now thrown in its lot with states that kill and imprison their gay citizens," George Broadhead, secretary of GALHA, said.

As many as one-third of the U.N.'s 191 states currently outlaw homosexuality, with many punishing those found guilty with death.

"We have been here before with the UN," says Kursad Kahramanoglu, Co-Secretary General of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). "This unprincipled alliance of the Vatican and Organisation of the Islamic Conferences (OIC) in the UN has already twisted the arms of many countries to almost a breaking point in the past. The lukewarm support from
some of the traditional supporters of LGBT rights has also contributed to the feeling of isolation of the Brazilian Government. There are however, plenty of countries, which support the human rights of LGBT people. ILGA will ask some other countries which support this resolution to sponsor the resolution. Our team in Geneva with other advocates of human rights will continue to talk to all those involved. We thank Brazil for their hard struggle until now, in the name of all those millions of LGBT people all over the world. People who expect this to be the end of the matter are sadly mistaken. Resolve this in the way the Vatican and OIC demand it, implies we would deny our own existence. We simply cannot do that. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights are Human Rights, and it is just a matter of time before the whole world recognises this."

From Sri Lanka, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, Co-secretary General of ILGA added: "Some might say that Brazil backed down under pressure. Our rights cannot be denied forever. We will fight and we will eventually gain the Human Rights which have been denied us for this long".

ILGA, a federation of over 400 national and international organisations working for equal rights for lesbians, gay, bisexuals and transgender persons (LGBT), decided to support this historical text by mobilizing forces and asking supporters to sign a petition in favour of the text and the inclusion of gender identity in its final version, so as to address violations suffered by transgender persons. So far, the petition has been signed by 43 000 persons and is to be handed to the Australian Ambassador Mike Smith, Chairman of the 60th session Friday April 2nd. ILGA, which has joined forces with a coalition of NGOs, will be present all through the 60th UNCHR session with a team of activists from all parts of the world to ensure
the voices of the LGBT community are heard in Geneva.

the johannesburg statement from the All Africa Rights Initiative