Botswana dodges UN vote on gay rights probe
Tefo Pheage | Wednesday July 6, 2016 14:45
After much debate last week, the UNHRC voted to adopt the resolution to create the new post. The expert, to be appointed in September for an initial three-year term, will carry out country visits, take up individual allegations with governments and work to support and protect gay rights defenders. The position will look at issues related to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, but not intersex.
The resolution was sponsored by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay. Twenty-three council members voted for the new position while 18 members were against. Six, including Botswana and South Africa, abstained. Botswana, explaining its position before the vote, noted that the country’s Constitution did not condone violence against any person. “It had to be noted, however, that at the international level there was no accepted terminology on gender identity and sexual orientation. In that regard, it was important to respect local cultural, religious and historic circumstances and values,” Botswana said in an official note.
Proponents of the initiative referenced the recent violence against LGBT individuals in Orlando, Florida, and stressed that the UN must give a voice to those discriminated for their sexual orientation and gender identity while opponents such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Nigeria, argued that such an initiative was religiously or culturally motivated and did not properly reflect the views of the entire UNHRC.
British Ambassador Julian Braithwaite in her official profile responded to opponents by stating that a vote against the initiative was a vote for discrimination and violence. UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric in a statement said that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the decision.
“I can tell you that the Secretary-General believes that the Human Rights Council marked another important step forward when it decided to appoint a UN Independent Expert to monitor and report on levels of violence and discrimination against LGBT people globally,” Dujarric said.
“It is clear that there’s still so much that needs to be done to protect people from violence, tackle discrimination at work, end bullying in schools and ensure access to healthcare, housing and essential services,” he added.
Dujarric said for the first time, work on the issue would be effectively institutionalised at the Human Rights Council and there would be regular reporting on issues through the Council and the General Assembly.