Equality for All.
After been given a proposal by the
Human Rights Council by South Africa, the United Nations Human Rights
Council is still in the process of adopting two new resolutions
demanding global protection of the LGBT community, reports The Human
Rights Watch. The 16-month long debate has caused both advances and
setbacks in various countries around the world: that of tightening of
legislature of sodomy crimes and others embracing decriminalization
and legalization of same-sex marriages. The dichotomy lies in
attempts of upholding traditional values (or family values) and
denying the “foundational principle of the Declaration of Human
Rights: namely that human rights are universal and indivisible”.
The UN resolution is hoping to defend sexual orientation and gender
identity to stop discrimination and granting this minority group
equal rights universally.
International response on the
discussion has varied and have stirred many fundamental religious
activists to instill fear and prejudice in opposition attempts. One
such activist, Scott Lively, is currently being sued by Sexual
Minorities Uganda, an LGBT activist organization, after the
Anti-Homosexuality Bill was passed into legislation as a result of
several appearances of his in the Uganda parliament to promote laws
that discriminate against LGBT peoples. Other countries, such as
Argentina and Brazil have taken sanctions in protecting their LGBT
communities and granting Civil Unions and Marriages to same-sex
partners. This past week, the states of Maine, Maryland, and
Washington all voted in favor of Marriage Equality, marking a
milestone in the United States as many more states are battling over
the controversial issue. However, discrimination should not be
tolerated by any government and its people, especially when the
denial of equal rights is based upon religious fundamentalism. The
United States, as well as the United Nations must stand up and
protect this minority group as well as enforce sanctions promoting
the acceptance once and for all. The paradox of the treatment and
acceptance of said community can not be overseen anymore.
Nov. 9th, 2012 ~15.50
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/11/08/two-steps-forward-one-step-back
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