66 States Condemn Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

December 20, 2008 at 6:17 pm · Filed under minority politics

For Immediate Release – Courtesy International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)

(New York, December 19, 2008) – In a powerful victory for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 66 nations at the UN General Assembly yesterday supported a groundbreaking statement confirming that international human rights protections include sexual orientation and gender identity. It is the first time that a statement condemning rights abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people has been presented in the General Assembly.

The statement drew unprecedented support from five continents, including six African nations. Argentina read the statement before the General Assembly. A cross-regional group of states coordinated the drafting of the statement, also including Brazil, Croatia, France, Gabon, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway.
The 66 countries reaffirmed “the principle of non-discrimination, which requires that human rights apply equally to every human being regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.” They stated they are “deeply concerned by violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” and said that “violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization and prejudice are directed against persons in all countries in the world because of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The statement condemned killings, torture, arbitrary arrest, and “deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health.” The participating countries urged all nations to “promote and protect human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity,” and to end all criminal penalties against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

According to calculations by ILGA (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association) and other organizations, more than six dozen countries still have laws against consensual sex between adults of the same sex. The majority of these laws were left behind by colonial rulers (http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2008/12/17/alien-legacy-0 ). The UN Human Rights Committee, which interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a core UN treaty, held in a historic 1994 decision that such laws are rights violations – and that human rights law forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity happen regularly around the world. For example:
• In the United States, Amnesty International has documented serious patterns of police abuse against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, including incidents amounting to torture and ill-treatment. The United States refused to sign the General Assembly statement.
• In Egypt, Human Rights Watch documented a massive crackdown on men suspected of homosexual conduct between 2001-2004, in which hundreds or thousands of men were arrested and tortured. Egypt actively opposed the General Assembly statement.
• The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has documented how, in many African countries, sodomy laws and prejudice deny rights protections to Africans engaged in same-sex practices amid the HIV/AIDS pandemic – and can actually criminalize outreach to affected groups.

The signatories overcame intense opposition from a group of governments that regularly try to block UN attention to violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Only 57 states signed an alternative text promoted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. While affirming the “principles of non-discrimination and equality,” they claimed that universal human rights did not include “the attempt to focus on the rights of certain persons.”

At first, the Holy See had voiced strong opposition to the General Assembly statement. Its opposition sparked severe criticism by human rights defenders worldwide. In a significant reversal, however, the Holy See indicated to the General Assembly today that it called for repeal of criminal penalties for homosexual conduct.

This year is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the General Assembly statement reaffirms the reach and breadth of UDHR principles. The statement is non-binding, but restates what UN human rights bodies have repeatedly said: that no one should face rights violations because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Navanetham Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, strongly supported the statement. In a videotaped message, she cited South Africa’s 1996 decision to protect sexual orientation in its Constitution. She pointed to the “task and challenge to move beyond a debate on whether all human beings have rights,” to “secure the climate for implementation.”

Since the Human Rights Committee’s landmark decision in 1994, United Nations experts have repeatedly acted against abuses that target lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, including killings, torture, rape, violence, disappearances, and discrimination in many areas of life. UN treaty bodies have called on states to end discrimination in law and policy.

Other international bodies have also opposed violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including the Council of Europe and the European Union. In 2008, all 34 member countries of the Organization of American States unanimously approved a declaration affirming that human rights protections extend to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Earlier in the day, the General Assembly also adopted a resolution condemning extrajudicial executions, which contained a reference opposing killings based on sexual orientation. Uganda moved to delete that reference, but the General Assembly rejected this by 78-60.

The signatories to the General Assembly statement are:
Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

The Full Text of the French Statement and the Webcast of the UN Session
The French, who initiated the statement, have created a website (http://www.droitslgbt2008.fr/

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66 States Condemn Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

December 20, 2008 at 6:17 pm · Filed under minority politics

For Immediate Release – Courtesy International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)

(New York, December 19, 2008) – In a powerful victory for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 66 nations at the UN General Assembly yesterday supported a groundbreaking statement confirming that international human rights protections include sexual orientation and gender identity. It is the first time that a statement condemning rights abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people has been presented in the General Assembly.

The statement drew unprecedented support from five continents, including six African nations. Argentina read the statement before the General Assembly. A cross-regional group of states coordinated the drafting of the statement, also including Brazil, Croatia, France, Gabon, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway.
The 66 countries reaffirmed “the principle of non-discrimination, which requires that human rights apply equally to every human being regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.” They stated they are “deeply concerned by violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” and said that “violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization and prejudice are directed against persons in all countries in the world because of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The statement condemned killings, torture, arbitrary arrest, and “deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health.” The participating countries urged all nations to “promote and protect human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity,” and to end all criminal penalties against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

According to calculations by ILGA (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association) and other organizations, more than six dozen countries still have laws against consensual sex between adults of the same sex. The majority of these laws were left behind by colonial rulers (http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2008/12/17/alien-legacy-0 ). The UN Human Rights Committee, which interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a core UN treaty, held in a historic 1994 decision that such laws are rights violations – and that human rights law forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity happen regularly around the world. For example:
• In the United States, Amnesty International has documented serious patterns of police abuse against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, including incidents amounting to torture and ill-treatment. The United States refused to sign the General Assembly statement.
• In Egypt, Human Rights Watch documented a massive crackdown on men suspected of homosexual conduct between 2001-2004, in which hundreds or thousands of men were arrested and tortured. Egypt actively opposed the General Assembly statement.
• The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has documented how, in many African countries, sodomy laws and prejudice deny rights protections to Africans engaged in same-sex practices amid the HIV/AIDS pandemic – and can actually criminalize outreach to affected groups.

The signatories overcame intense opposition from a group of governments that regularly try to block UN attention to violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Only 57 states signed an alternative text promoted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. While affirming the “principles of non-discrimination and equality,” they claimed that universal human rights did not include “the attempt to focus on the rights of certain persons.”

At first, the Holy See had voiced strong opposition to the General Assembly statement. Its opposition sparked severe criticism by human rights defenders worldwide. In a significant reversal, however, the Holy See indicated to the General Assembly today that it called for repeal of criminal penalties for homosexual conduct.

This year is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the General Assembly statement reaffirms the reach and breadth of UDHR principles. The statement is non-binding, but restates what UN human rights bodies have repeatedly said: that no one should face rights violations because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Navanetham Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, strongly supported the statement. In a videotaped message, she cited South Africa’s 1996 decision to protect sexual orientation in its Constitution. She pointed to the “task and challenge to move beyond a debate on whether all human beings have rights,” to “secure the climate for implementation.”

Since the Human Rights Committee’s landmark decision in 1994, United Nations experts have repeatedly acted against abuses that target lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, including killings, torture, rape, violence, disappearances, and discrimination in many areas of life. UN treaty bodies have called on states to end discrimination in law and policy.

Other international bodies have also opposed violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including the Council of Europe and the European Union. In 2008, all 34 member countries of the Organization of American States unanimously approved a declaration affirming that human rights protections extend to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Earlier in the day, the General Assembly also adopted a resolution condemning extrajudicial executions, which contained a reference opposing killings based on sexual orientation. Uganda moved to delete that reference, but the General Assembly rejected this by 78-60.

The signatories to the General Assembly statement are:
Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

The Full Text of the French Statement and the Webcast of the UN Session
The French, who initiated the statement, have created a website (http://www.droitslgbt2008.fr/

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Feb 14, LOVER’s day 2008

February 16, 2008 at 8:08 pm · Filed under minority politics

Video documentary on the claymore attack near Madhu church

A seven minute video documentary on the claymore attack on 29 January on a school bus near Madhu church in the Mannar district has been released by the LTTE Peace Secretariat.

‘Madhu amma’ – A seven minute video documentary can be downloaded here

The final toll of those killed in the attack stands at 20. A twelve year old injured boy taken to the Vavuniya hospital died a week later. The principal of Pandivirichchan school, Mrs. Lambert, died of her injuries in the Anuradhapuram hospital ten days later.

The latest death toll

1. Xavier Arns Basilio (M, 10)
2. Anton Satheeson (M, 10)
3. Pathmarasa Janarthanan (M, 11)
4. Soosaiappu Samson Souza (M, 12)
5. Yute Collins Jeni (M, 12)
6. A Jenistan Peries (M,12)
7. A Bruno (M, 12)
8. A Preeton (M, 14)
9. Yute Conston Rennie (M, 15)
10. Rajasooriyan Tharsika (F, 15)
11. Gunasingam A Tessman (M, 15)
12. Gnaprakasam John Mitlon (M, 16)
13. Santhan Bernard George (M, 16)
14. Stalin Suresh Lambert (M, 23)
15. K Jerad Gnanakaran (M, 28)
16. S Mary Josepin (F, 30)
17. Rajasooriyan Mangaleswary (F, 37)
18. Vimalanathan Reetamma (M, 41)
19. M Lambert (F, 51)
20. K Shanmugasuntharam (M, 65)

14 February 2008

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Thamilselvan Died.. ii

November 2, 2007 at 6:47 pm · Filed under minority politics

In English:
Public face of the Tamil Tigers

In Thamil:
இலங்கை விமானப்படை குண்டுவீச்சில் தமிழ்ச்செல்வன் மரணம

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Thamilselvan Died..

November 2, 2007 at 6:45 pm · Filed under minority politics

Last Updated: Friday, 2 November 2007, 16:39 GMT E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Senior Tamil Tiger leader killed

Mr Thamilselvan was the public face of the rebels A senior leader of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels has been killed in a government air raid, the rebels say. SP Thamilselvan was the head of the rebels’ political wing and held an important position in their hierarchy. The rebels said he died along with five others in an air strike by the Sri Lankan military on Friday morning. Correspondents say the death will be a huge blow to the rebels. Fighting between troops and the Tamil Tigers has escalated in recent months. If we want we can take them one by one, so they must change their hideouts Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa Have your say – what now? Thamilselvan obituary The BBC’s Roland Buerk in Colombo says Mr Thamilselvan was the public face of the rebels, meeting Norwegian peace envoys and giving interviews to the media. The rebels’ top leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has been in hiding for years. Mr Thamilselvan’s death could provoke an escalation in the civil war, our correspondent says. How the rebels choose to retaliate also remains to be seen. The death of SP Thamilselvan follows that of another key rebel spokesman, Anton Balasingham, last year. With both men dead it is not clear who would lead the Tigers in any negotiations in the future, although few anticipate moves towards peace now, our correspondent adds. ‘Deep sorrow’ The Tamil Tigers announced the death of Mr Thamilselvan on their website on Friday. The Tigers have suffered a series of recent reverses “With deep sorrow we announce to the people of Tamil Eelam, the Tamil people living all over the world and the international community, that at 6am today, Friday 2 November 2007… head of our organisation’s political wing Brig SP Thamilselvan was killed by the Sri Lankan air force aerial bombing,” a statement said. “With him Lt-Col Anpumani (Alex), Major Mihuthan, Capt Nethagy, Lieutenant Adchgivel and Lieutenant Vahaikumaran were also killed.” Later on Friday, it was announced that the rebels’ police chief, P Nadesan, would replace Mr Thamilselvan. He will also remain in charge of police. Reports say Mr Thamilselvan and his colleagues were killed by the pressure of the bomb blast which left their bodies otherwise unscathed. The pro-rebel TamilNet website said the air strike was carried out in Kilinochchi, the rebels’ northern stronghold. Sri Lankan military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said intelligence had confirmed that the head of the Tigers’ political wing was dead. He described the attack as a success and said the military had got rid of a leader who was at the top of the list. It remains unclear how the military knew of Mr Thamilselvan’s whereabouts. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother, warned rebel leaders to beware. “This is just a message, that we know where their leaders are… if we want we can take them one by one,” he told Reuters news agency. War fears Friday’s air raid came after a Tamil Tiger attack on an Air Force base at Anuradhapura last week which left 14 security forces personnel dead and destroyed eight aircraft. Observers say the two sides now seem to be gearing up for a major confrontation in the north of the country. Paikiasothy Saravanamuthu of the Centre for Policy Alternatives think-tank said: “I think in any event we were going to see strikes and counter strikes after the Anuradhapura attack on the Air Force base. “I think we will see more of that. That will be the pattern of the conflict into the future.” Despite losing territory in the east earlier this year, the rebels still control a vast swathe of land in the north. A 2002 ceasefire which paved the way for inconclusive peace talks has existed on paper for more than a year. The rebels are fighting for autonomy for minority Tamils in the north and east, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese population. About 70,000 people have died in more than 20 years of war. Thousands have fled their homes to escape recent fighting.

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Break the Burmese blackout

October 17, 2007 at 3:17 pm · Filed under minority politics

From: Ricken Patel – Avaaz.org
Date: Oct 17, 2007 12:09 PM
Subject: Break the Burmese blackout
___________________________________
Last week, Burma went dark–the military shut down all internet, telephone and communication links with the rest of the world. They did it because it has been the pictures, blog posts, and emails–of monks brutally murdered, journalists shot–that have done the most to galvanize the entire world on Burma. Without that flow of information, the media is reporting dry diplomatic processes–and each day the danger grows that the press will move on.

We can’t allow the Burmese blackout to succeed. Avaaz is working to support highly respected Burmese democracy and civil society groups by sending them $100,000 in crucial technical and humanitarian support this week. These groups, working in the region with the right equipment and tools, can help bring stories out of Burma and poke holes in the blackout, shining spotlights on the ongoing cruelty in Burma. They are desperate for help to give humanitarian assistance to the victims of the crackdown and tell their stories to the world before the current window of media attention passes. Other donors take months to raise money; only we can be fast enough to meet this urgent need. Can we raise $100,000 (75,000 Euros) in the next 24 hours so the money can be transferred this week? Click below now to make a donation online:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/end_the_burmese_blackout/1.php?cl=32660324

A massive military crackdown has quashed the public protests and thousands of peaceful monks and protesters are right now being brutalized in secret prisons, away from the TV cameras. Burma’s people need us more than ever. Over the last several days, over 775,000 Avaaz members have answered the call for help and signed our petition, launched a global ad campaign, organized hundreds of protests, and lobbied their governments. Yesterday, we delivered our petition personally to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and helped win stronger measures on Burma from the European Union. The UN Security Council, including China, has finally condemned the crackdown.

The pressure is working. Every news story on Burma cites the power of global public opinion in this situation. Burma’s generals want to stifle that power by cutting off all communication, and there is a real danger this week that they will succeed, and the press will move on. But we can stop them. Click below to donate whatever you can:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/end_the_burmese_blackout/1.php?cl=32660324

With hope and determination,

Ricken, Pascal, Graziela, Ben, Paul, Milena and the whole Avaaz Team

PS – If you’re new to Avaaz and want to know more about us, our name means “voice” in many languages, and we are a legally registered non-profit organization, co-founded with the support of major NGO partners like Oxfam and MoveOn.org, and working with global figures like Al Gore on climate change and Desmond Tutu on poverty. We have offices in 6 countries and an administrative office in New York City at the address below. Our mission is a global democratic one, and our community has grown in just 9 months to over 1.5 million members from every nation on earth. Here are some links to more information about us:

Economist magazine features Avaaz after our launch in January:
http://www.economist.com/world/international/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=8703047

A summary of all our recent campaigns and their impact:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/report_back_1/

A report back on all of our work on Burma so far –
http://www.avaaz.org/blog/en

And here are a couple of articles about the situation so far:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/burma/story/0,,2186651,00.html

http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/EdOp/2007/Oct/02-Oct-07.html

_______________________
[-525.166871-]
Avaaz.org is staffed by a global team of campaigners operating on 3 continents. We have administrative offices in London, New York, and Rio de Janeiro. Please direct mail to our NY office at 260 Fifth Avenue, 9th floor, New York, NY 10001 U.S.A.

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Go into a NATION & abuse the kids, say "UNITED" nations will give justice to it!

January 5, 2007 at 2:41 am · Filed under minority politics

Go into a NATION & abuse the kids, say “UNITED” nations will give justice to it! (& not that particular country decides it, BUT you decide it)
bull shit or what?
Why are you So special??

news:

KHARTOUM, Jan 4 (Reuters) – Sudan on Thursday described the alleged sexual abuse of children by U.N. peacekeepers in south Sudan as “outrageous” and said it would launch its own investigation into the affair.

The United Nations said on Wednesday it was investigating 13 cases of serious misconduct including sexual abuse and exploitation in south Sudan.

Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper said on Wednesday that U.N. peacekeepers and civilian staff were raping and abusing children as young as 12 in southern Sudan. The paper said it had interviewed 20 young victims in the south Sudan capital Juba.

“We are very concerned. It is outrageous,” foreign ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadig told Reuters.

“If anyone has committed such crimes they should face the full weight of the law,” he added.

He said the Khartoum government would launch an investigation into the matter. Any U.N. personnel found guilty of such crimes would be dealt with by the United Nations and not under Sudanese law.

More than 11,000 U.N. police and troops are in Sudan to monitor a north-south peace deal, which will mark its second anniversary next week.

Sudan’s north-south civil war, Africa’s longest, ended in January 2005 with a peace deal which paved the way for democratic transformation, power and wealth sharing. The U.N. peacekeepers are there to monitor implementation of the deal.

U.N. spokesman George Somerwill said the United Nations would be meeting on Thursday with the government of southern Sudan. He said the United Nations took these kinds of allegations “very, very seriously indeed”.

The allegations are likely to further hamper efforts by new U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to deploy U.N. peacekeepers to Sudan’s western Darfur region, where a separate four-year-old conflict has killed an estimated 200,000 and driven 2.5 million from their homes.

Khartoum rejects a U.N. resolution authorising 22,500 U.N. troops and police to deploy to Darfur to take over from the struggling African Union force, likening it to a Western invasion and an attempt at colonisation.

Asked if the sex abuse allegations would affect Khartoum’s decision on allowing U.N. troops in Darfur, al Sadig said: “This is exactly why we are so concerned.” (Additional reporting by Skye Wheeler in Juba, south Sudan)
~

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