High Commissioner for Human Rights Mentions Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Sparks Controversy at the UN Third Committee

By Stefano Gennarini, J.D. | October 19, 2011

This morning the UN Third Committee was visited by Ms. Navanethem Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She presented the third committee with her 2010 Report to the General Assembly. Her statement, as well as the report’s section on discrimination (p.18), mention discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as an area that continues to draw the attention of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

When the floor was opened for comments, several delegates expressed their concern about this mention, and suggested the OHCHR should concentrate her efforts on rights that are internationally recognized.

The Arab Emirates Delegate provided the Third Committee with a statement on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Group. The delegate stated that the OIC Group spoke on behalf of 2 Billion Muslims. The delegate objected to the OHCRH’s concern with the very notion of sexual orientation.The delegate said these were “undefined notions that have no legal foundation in any human rights instrument”, and described the use of the notion of sexual orientation as “ominous” because it “spans a wide range of personal choices that expand way beyond the individual’s sexual interest”. The statement invited the OHCHR to concentrate on more tangible issues.

When Ms. Navanethem Pillay took the microphone to respond to questions and comments, she dismissed any concern about creating new rights. She stated that protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was not a controversial issue, because protecting people from discrimination was not a new right, and was merely applying the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR).

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter