The vote, which laid bare global fault lines on the subject, saw 14 nations opposed to the resolution including Muslim countries Pakistan, Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco and Saudi Arabia, as well as Russia, and, from sub-Saharan Africa, Ivory Coast and Ethiopia.
By big margin UN rights commission expresses "grave concern" about #LGBT violence & discrimination 25-7; 14 abstain. pic.twitter.com/02x8pGBIgT
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) September 26, 2014
The 47-nation Human Rights Council resolution expressed "grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination, in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity".
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," the council said, adding that tradition was no excuse for the violence and discrimination suffered by people worldwide due to their gender and sexual identity.
But the vote cleaved the 47-state council neatly between mostly Western states, and a group including Asian and African nations, many Muslim.
The 25-strong bloc in favour of the resolution included Western and Latin American nations, as well as South Africa, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Seven members including China and India abstained, while Benin's ambassador was absent.
Adversaries failed in multiple efforts to use procedural moves to strip the resolution of significance by removing all references to sexual orientation and gender identity.
They also tried to add language making it applicable only to countries who proactively declare support for sexual diversity and rights.
The resolution dismissed cultural specificity as a justification for states allowing anti-gay policies and violence.
"While the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of states, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms," it said.
The resolution also tasked the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights with carrying out a new assessment of the state of violence and discrimination and how it can be battled.
"This resolution will offer hope for all those in the world who are victims of such violence or discrimination, and that is its goal," said France's UN ambassador, Nicolas Niemtchinow.
South Africa offered its staunch support for the resolution, referring to its own history of enduring the apartheid regime.
"This history and the struggle against all forms of discrimination had therefore made us, as a people and a country, commuted to the principle that no person should be subjected to discrimination or violence based on race, class, sex, religion, gender and, as is the case with this resolution, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity," said South Africa's ambassador, Abdul Samad Minty.
COMMENTS (11)
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I am ashamed as an Indian that the Govt of the day decided to abstain from the voting.
Where is Israel?
Muslim nations still having a hard time distinguishing between religious proscriptions and modern human rights.
Those who have knowledge of history of Persian literature and Moughal times will know that this was widely accepted and practiced.
I have nothing against LGBT's, but in all honesty they're not my concern either. What worries me more is the fact that millions die or killed because of poverty, ethnicity, religious affiliation! But UN is more worried about LGBT which has become a bigger talking point in the west than thousands being murdered in Palestine alone! This is what sickens me; lets do a parade for gays because we like to tell the whole world about our sexual orientation, who cares about 2 year old being bombed by a jet. Lets speak up for LGBT & not Palestinians, Kudos UN!
They are muslim nations. Why should the world accept anything better?
@It's (still) Economy Stupid Your comment is out of context. Stop seeing the world with religious glasses. Its very sick to generalize 2 billion people just because they follow same faith. The minorities in this case are LGBT people. Black people are minority in Europe and America. American Indian or indigenous peoples of the Americas are now minority there. Tamil speaking people are minority in India. Stop this hate filled nonsense. The elections are over and the results are achieved. Whats the use of continuing this?
That's a shame. Times have changed and Pakistan needs to allow freedom to minorities just as we want to be honored at the international level.
If a minority wants others to accept them than they have to respect the rights of other minorities too. If Muslim around the world want other people to accept them as who they are than they should first learn to respect other minorities regardless whether you agree with them or not.