United Nations Passes Resolution Restoring Reference To Sexual Orientation In Declaration Condemning Arbitrary, Extrajudicial, And Summary Executions; Zimbabwe Ambassador Admonishes Amendment While Comparing Homosexuality To Bestiality And Pedophilia

Reuters reports that the United States succeeded Tuesday in getting the United Nations to restore a reference to killing due to sexual orientation that had been deleted from resolution condemning unjustified executions. In November, the U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee approved an Arab and African proposal to remove a reference to slayings due to sexual orientation from a resolution on arbitrary, extrajudicial, and summary executions. Today, the 192-nation General Assembly approved a United States amendment to the resolution restoring the reference to sexual orientation with 93 yes votes, 55 no votes, and 27 abstentions. The amended resolution was subsequently adopted with 122 votes in favour, none against, and 59 abstentions. The General Assembly passes resolutions condemning arbitrary, extrajudicial, and summary executions every two years, the 2008 declaration included an explicit reference to killings committed motivated on the victim’s sexual actual or perceived orientation. Tuesday, prior to the vote, Zimbabwe’s U.N. Ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa admonished the United States amendment, arguing that referring to sexual orientation explicitly was not required, making absurd comparisons linking homosexuality and bestiality. “We will not it foisted on us,” he said. “We cannot accept this, especially if it entails accepting such practices as bestiality, pedophilia, and those practices many societies would find abhorrent in their value systems. In our view, what adult people do in their private capacity by mutual consent does not need agreement or rejection by governments, save where such practices are legally proscribed.” Susan Rice, the United States Ambassador, who sponsored the amended resolution, said in a statement “Today, the United Nations General Assembly has sent a clear and resounding message that justice and human rights apply to all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation.” Phillippe Bolopion, of the Human Rights Watch, concurred with Rice’s sentiment, saying “We are relieved by the result of the vote. Countries that tried to roll back crucial protections for gay and lesbian people have been defeated.”