UNITED NATIONS, July 19 -- The culture war at the UN, to block the granting to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, re-ignited on July 19 in the ECOSOC committee. The blocking was over-ridden, and the non governmental organization granted consultative status with the UN, on a vote of 23 in favor, 13 against, and 13 abstaining.
As Inner City Press exclusively reported in June, in the NGO Committee the application of IGLHRC was “deferred” at the request of Egypt, China and Russia among others.
On July 19, US Deputy Permanent Representative Rosemary DiCarlo introduced an ECOSOC resolution to overrule the NGO Committee and grant consultative status to IGLHRC. In statements before the vote, Saudi Arabia and Egypt outright opposed the group and U.S. motion.
Eight more speakers signed up. Belgium's Permanent Representative Grauls, on behalf of the European Union, spoke in favor of IGLHRC, saying a “no” vote would be discrimination. Norway and UK DPR Parham echoed this, as did Argentina, where gay marriage was just legalized.
St. Lucia questioned if gay and lesbian rights are the priority in this time of economic crisis, and answered “no.”
Australia tried to respond to St. Lucia, but Ambassador Maged of Egypt cut in that the time for general statements had passed. So, a rare attempt at actual debate in the UN was immediately cut off, by a diplomat said to be seeking a UN job.
The resolution passed, the NGO was admitted, 23 in favor, 13 against, 13 abstaining and some not voting, including Iraq. Those voting no included China, Russia, Velezuela, Morocco, Malaysia, Egypt and Pakistan. Abstainers included Turkey, India, Ghana and Ukraine...
Note: Seven hours after Inner City Press published the above report, President Obama and Ambassador Susan Rice issued statements praising the vote, and other media then covered it.
And see, www.innercitypress.com/un6ngoglbt071910.html
