UN Secretary-General Speaks Out For LGBT+ Rights

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, congratulated the world on its progress on LGBT+ rights, but cautioned that more still needed to be accomplished.

He singled out India on its recent decision to overturn Section 377 of the Penal Code and decriminalise homosexuality, effectively liberating one-fifth of the world’s LGBT+ population.

“So long as people face criminalization, bias, and violence based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics we must redouble our efforts to end these violations,” he said at the UN General Assembly in New York.

“The United Nations stands up for the rights of the LGBTI community and will never give up the fight until everyone can live free and equal in dignity and rights.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, made a similar speech at a summit on LGBT+ rights on the side-lines of the General Assembly. She spoke of more than 70 countries around the world which continue to criminalise same-sex relationships.

“These laws subject LGBT people to long prison sentences and in some cases physical punishment,” she said. “They also implicitly encourage prejudice, hatred, and violence.

“We will only prevent these crimes if we are brave enough to address these factors, across society.”

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