Tag Archives: United Nations

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday announced that UN employees who have legally married will have those unions recognized even if their home countries don’t. Under the new policy staff who have married a same-sex spouse in a jurisdiction will receive the same benefits and recognition as those in heterosexual marriages regardless of whether same-sex marriage is legal in their …

Via press release: On the eve of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released an emotive, new video that focuses on the impact that each of us can have by sharing our own stories and by showing our support for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender …

From the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: The suffering of Clayton Lockett during his execution in Oklahoma on Tuesday 29th April, may amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment according to international human rights law. It also appears to run counter to the 8 th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states that “…nor …

Via press release: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday launched the first ever Bollywood-style UN music video at a press conference in Mumbai to promote its Free & Equal campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. The two-and-a-half minute video, called “The Welcome”, stars actress and former Miss India Celina Jaitly. Jaitly, …

Via UNAIDS Asia & the Pacific: Across Asia and the Pacific, transgender people face significant stigma and discrimination which prevents them from accessing the HIV and health services they need. Everyone has the right to live a full and healthy life with dignity. This video is proudly produced by the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) in partnership with UNAIDS Asia and …

Inspired by a similar campaign about women’s rights, the United Nation’s human rights office has launched an ad campaign which notes the most common suggestions when Google searches are made on LGBT-related topics. More results are at the link.

In what activists hope may lead to a repeal of Russia’s national “homosexual propaganda” ban, a local court has agreed with a 2012 ruling by the United Nations Human Rights Commission and dismissed the charges against activist Irina Fet, who was arrested in 2009 after holding the above “Homosexuality Is Normal” sign.  Gay Star News reports: Ryazan regional court today …

Via press release: New York-based LGBT activist group Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand halted Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller’s exit from a United Nations session at the Ford Foundation in New York today. Shouting “Gay rights are human rights!” and “Portia, shame on you!” the group of seven protestors greeted the PM as she began to exit the Ford Foundation offices on …

Via press release: New York-based LGBT activist group Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand will protest Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller, on September 26th and 28th in New York as she makes appearances at the 68th UN General Assembly. Simpson Miller’s appearances come shortly after a spate of attacks and murders of gay men and transsexuals in Jamaica. Allies such as Queer Nation, …

Yesterday about a thousand activists marched on the United Nations, demanding the creation of a so-called “Robin Hood Tax” on Wall Street and financial institutions around the world. Forbes posted a press release: To commemorate the 2nd Anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, the Robin Hood tax coalition that consists of two hundred million supporters around the world including Occupy Wall …

Yesterday activists confronted the Russian ambassador to the United Nations outside of his home in Manhattan. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin arrived at his residence on New York’s Upper East Side in the late afternoon to find 10 activists from the international gay rights group All Out outside the wrought iron gates holding red placards saying: “340,457 worldwide say stop Russia’s anti-gay …

Yesterday I reported that the United Nation’s had launched a global campaign for the LGBT rights during a meeting in South Africa.  At the launch announcement was Archbishop Desmond Tutu. South Africa’s Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu says he will never worship a “homophobic God” and will rather go to hell. The retired archbishop was speaking at the launch …

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today unveiled a global LGBT rights campaign at a meeting in South Africa.  The campaign is called Free & Equal. The multi-pronged campaign — announced at a news conference in Cape Town, South Africa — will include videos and public-service announcements distributed through social media, a new website, a …

United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice is set to step down to replace Tom Donilon as National Security Advisor. President Obama will nominate activist Samantha Power to replace Rice. The appointments of Rice and Power not only represent the ascension of women to top roles on Obama’s national security team, but the rise of two officials who have made human rights …

The United Nations has issued the below video message in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia. Clip recap: 76 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex relationships and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people everywhere continue to suffer violent attacks and discriminatory treatment. In this simple, high-impact video from the UN human rights office, individuals from diverse backgrounds pose questions directly …

Posted to the UN’s official YouTube channel.

The White House press office sends us this statement from United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice: Today, we pledge to live up to Eleanor Roosevelt’s inspirational example, for in far too many places human freedoms are still denied. As long as a family anywhere is tormented by a state-sanctioned killer; a peaceful agitator is hounded by a violent brigade; an artist …

The nine votes against came from: United States, Canada, Israel, Czech Republic, Panama, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced today that France will support Palestine’s bid for “nonmember observer status” at the United Nations. Presuming that that France follows through, it will become the first major European power to recognize Palestine as a legitimate state. The support of France, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, is the most significant boost …