Russia blocks United Nations tribute to Ban Ki-moon for promoting LGBT rights
Source: Reuters
Russia blocks United Nations tribute to Ban Ki-moon for promoting LGBT rights
Reuters at the United Nations
Wednesday 14 December 2016 18.54 GMT
Russia has prevented the United Nations security council from thanking outgoing secretary general Ban Ki-moon specifically for promoting gay rights during his decade in office, diplomats said.
The 15-member council met to pay tribute to Ban, who will step down later this month. Being gay is a crime in at least 73 countries, the UN has said, and the issue of gay rights consistently sparks heated debate at the United Nations.
The United States and other members had wanted a council statement to read: It is thanks to you, Mr Secretary-General, that women, young people, and the LGBT community have been heard and assisted, and today their voices sound louder and stronger in this headquarters and around the world.
However, Russia objected, diplomats said. The 15-member council instead agreed to a statement that said because of Bans human rights promotion the most vulnerable or marginalised have been increasingly heard and assisted by the United Nations.
[font size=1]
-snip-[/font]
Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/14/russia-blocks-tribute-ban-ki-moon-lgbt-rights