18/12/2008 | Writer: KAOS GL
Below please find the press statement issued by various Turkish LGBT organizations demanding Turkey to support the LGBT Human Rights Statement
TURKISH LGBT RIGHTS PLATFORM - PRESS RELEASEDecember 18, 2008
UN statement on LGBT human rights and the position of Turkey
If it is accepted, the presentation of the one of the most important statement on LGBT issues to the UN General Assembly is now expected to take place between now and December 20.
If the statement is allowed to be issued, it will call out for de-criminalization of same-sex acts. The statement will also condemn all human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Although this statement will not be binding, we believe that it will be an important step to combat homophobia as well as discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
We urge the government of Turkey to take the necessary action to support the UN Statement on LGBT Human Rights which are stated as follow:
1-The Turkish government is one of the only candidates to European Union that has declined to support a United Nations Declaration calling for the global decriminalization of homosexuality. The draft was already signed by all the formal or potential candidate countries which are: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The European Union is founded, according to the Convention's proposal, on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. We urge the Turkish government to commit to promote and protect human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity which is one of the founding principles of European Union.
2-IGLHRC (International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission) issued a statement saying that they have confirmed that the Organization of The Islamic Conference (OIC) is joining with the Vatican to protest this human rights statement. The General Secretary of this international organization is Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu from Turkey. We are urging the General Secretary to consider the organization
Tags: human rights
