Russia Blocks UN Security Council From Praising Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon For LGBT Rights Work

Yahoo News reports:



The UN Security Council on Wednesday dropped advancing gay rights from a tribute to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after Russia raised objections, diplomats said.

A draft statement that mentioned Ban’s support for the LGBT community was changed to note instead that “the most vulnerable or marginalized have been increasingly heard and assisted” under his leadership.

Ban, the 72-year-old former South Korean foreign minister, steps down on December 31 after serving two terms as secretary-general of the United Nations.

He will be succeeded by Antonio Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal who served as UN refugee chief for a decade. Ban has won praise from LGBT activists for his appeals to countries to decriminalize homosexuality.

The outgoing UN chief came under fire from many UN member-states including Russia when he decided in 2015 to extend benefits to the same-sex partners of UN employees.