International Day against Homophobia

Liberal International marked the International Day against Homophobia today with a speech by Boris Dittrich, Advocacy Director on LGTB issues at Human Rights Watch in New York. Boris (who used to be the leader of the Dutch social liberal party, D66) pointed out that homosexuality is a capital offence in seven countries in the world and a criminal offence in 77. Simon Hughes, MP, President of the UK Liberal Democrats, spoke about the case of the young Iranian gay man in his constituency who was at risk of being deported back to Iran where he could have faced execution — a process halted because of the international outcry by LGBT and human rights organisations.

International lawyers met in Jogjakarta, Indonesia, a while back to draw up a set of principles aimed at achieving worldwide recognition of equal treatment in law for everyone, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity. In order to avert accusations that European countries were trying to impose their views and customs on the world, Boris Dittrich got Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay to present the Jogjakarta Principles to the United Nations last year. Today, at the LI Congress in Belfast, a strong motion was passed urging political action in defence of these principles. As an interesting reflection of the universality of human rights values among Liberals worldwide, not a single person voted against the motion, even though there were representatives from many African and Arab countries whose governments or religious authorities have institutionalised homophobia. 

Link: www.idahomophobia.org