UN to appoint first global LGBT rights monitor

The United Nations Human Rights Council voted on Thursday to create a role for a global LGBT rights monitor, the first position of its kind.

The 47-elected member body will now look to appoint an 'independent expert' on a three-year-term, to monitor and report on violence against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The LGBT rights monitor will also be charged with making recommendations to member states and UN bodies on how they can improve and expand LGBT rights worldwide.
 

Threat

Despite fierce resistance from the non-Western countries the initiative narrowly passed, 23 to 18, with six abstentions, in a move which has been heralded as ground-breaking by LGBT activists.

However, concerns have been raised over the threat it poses for Christian freedom, and those who want to uphold God’s pattern for marriage and family.
 

'Coercive measures'

Pakistan’s ambassador, Tehmina Janjua, proposed a series of amendments to the resolution as he argued that it contained "certain notions, concepts and lifestyles on which there is no consensus".

According to BuzzFeed, Tehmina Janjua was successful in passing a motion highlighting the respect for local values, religious sensitivities, and domestic policies.

An amendment was also added to disapprove of countries who use ‘coercive measures’ to influence local policies, such as when the US changed its aid to Uganda following the passing of anti-LGBT law there in 2014.

The Nigerian envoy, Peters Omologbe Emuze, objected even to the title of the resolution: "Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity."

The British ambassador, Julian Braithwaite, said in response: "By voting against this resolution you are voting to block the U.N. from trying to stop violence and discrimination. How is that acceptable?"

"This affects people in this room, and people in my team who are L.G.B.T.," he continued. "Are you saying it is O.K. to discriminate against them based on their sexual orientation and gender identity? To hit, torture, or possibly kill them? Because that is what you are supporting, if you vote against this resolution."
 

'UN should not take unilateral decisions on such sensitive matters'

The UN recently created the Free and Equal Campaign, which is at the forefront of the UN’s efforts to promote and institutionalize the LGBT lifestyle.

Earlier this year, the UN launched a series of stamps depicting same-sex couples and same-sex parenting as part of the LGBT the campaign.

On the UN stamp website, the campaign was described as a "global public education campaign dedicated to raising awareness of homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination globally."

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon came under strong criticism from a large number of member states, over the promotion.

Nigeria's previous ambassador Usman Sarki told the UN secretariat that it should not be promoting causes that a large number of member states strongly oppose.

At a meeting of national representatives, he said:

"We wish to remind the UN to limit itself strictly to activities mandated by member states and specially to promote issues that are beneficial to mankind rather than lend itself as tool to promote aberrant behaviour under the guise of promoting human rights."

"The UN should not take unilateral decisions on such sensitive matters that offend the sensibilities of the majority of its member states, and contradict their religious beliefs, cultures, traditions and laws," he added.

Related Links: 
UN Secretary General refuses to withdraw stamps promoting LGBT agenda  
LGBT Groups Seek to Entrench Agenda at the UN (Daily Signal)
The U.N. Votes To Create Its First LGBT Rights Watchdog (BuzzFeed)