Posted on 03/20/2006 1:20:48 PM PST by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
GENEVA (Reuters) - A global body representing gays and lesbians said on Monday it would seek to bring pressure on the United Nations for full recognition of their human rights at a conference in Geneva next week.
The Brussels-based International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) said the conference, held every two years in different locations, would be addressed by delegates from all continents, including countries where homosexuality is banned.
"How long can lesbian and gay rights be ignored at the U.N.? That is one of the key questions we will be addressing," said a spokesman for ILGA, Stephen Barris. "We will be discussing how we can get an official voice at last."
The conference will coincide with next week's planned session of the U.N. Human Rights Commission, where last year a draft resolution on the gay rights issue presented by Brazil and backed by over 40 countries was dropped amid fierce opposition.
But the opening of the six-week annual session of the 53-nation Commission, due to be replaced this year by a new Human Rights Council, has already been postponed twice and diplomats said it may only meet for a few days at most.
The 2005 Brazilian draft -- designed to formally include freedom of sexual orientation among the human rights that the Commission was set up 50 years ago to defend -- was strongly condemned by Muslim and African countries.
In January, a U.N. committee in New York handling accreditation to the world body for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) rejected an application from ILGA without debate amid similar opposition.
ILGA, founded in 1978 and uniting 500 groups in dozens of countries, said the problems for gays and lesbians in African and Islamic countries would top the agenda next week. There will be delegates from both regions.
A special session would be held for activists and organizations "who seek to organize courageously in the Islamic world," a statement from the organization said. But it indicated it would aim to avoid head-on confrontation.
"ILGA is aware of the increasing Islamophobia in the West and has always been careful to differentiate itself from those activists who failed to be sensitive on this issue," the statement declared.
Africa, it said, would be central to the conference, with special attention to developments in Nigeria -- where gays and lesbians are fiercely condemned both in the mainly Muslim north and the largely Christian south.
Also attending will be representatives of the U.N.'s World Health Organization for discussion on AIDS prevention, and of global labor union bodies for debates on discrimination against gays and lesbians in the workplace.
More like a head-off confrontation.
Good one!!
Brokeback Mountains
They already have a country of their own. I believe it's called France.
This is just a way they can get a general UN resolution past whereby they can force nations to recognize same sex "marriage" and outlaw traditional religious beliefs, expression and practice when it comes to views on the morality of homosexual activity.
And this is how people come to hate them. Nobody cares, lead your life and don't tell us about your messed up preferences.
They want acceptance and to be popular and that will never happen. They will never be accepted as NORMAL, but if they would shut up and not attempt to indoctrinate they might be tolerated.
As an admirer of full, firm busoms, when will the UN stop ignoring my civil rights? The right to look a Betty and say: "¡muchos gazongas senorita!" or "wide load coming through!
Seriously; how come fags can harrass me with threats of discipline or firing if I don't give a sh*t about their sexuality, but I can't tell a fellow employee that I like her new dress?
Double standards for lefties?
I'm sure they'll press the Muslim countries hardest. Keep pushing from behind, boys, you'll eventually get 'er driven home. So to speak.
Everytime I recognize one they always get mad. "Hey lookee there's a faggot. Hey faggot !!".
Why does the UN get to recognize them ?
Want another one?
Matter of fact, where is everyone? 200 folks on the ping list and everyone is MIA
Starting to look like a lost cause to me...:-(
Never a lost cause -you can't fool nature...
Not a lost cause, my friend. Not a lost cause at all.
This too will pass away, and the truth of natural law created by God will be recognized as the truth it is once again.
And every little (or big) effort any of us make on the side of the light of truth will give us light as well. Whatever good is done to serve the truth will light our own way. Good in the service of God's truth is never in vain, never unnoticed by Him, and who knows how many individuals have been helped by your efforts, or mine?
We may feel insignificant or useless sometimes, but each soul reclaimed is a victory.
When I was doing the ping list/s sometimes after reading bad news over and over again i would get discouraged.
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