U.N. (But Not the U.S.) Comes Out Big for Gay Rights
The United Nations General Assembly in New York is poised to take a historic step for LGBT rights today with its first-ever statement affirming that sexual orientation and gender identity are included in human rights protections.
It was signed by representatives of 60 countries from all geographic regions - not including the United States.
The non-binding statement builds on established international human rights law and condemns violence, harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It is expected to be webcast here at a time dependent on the schedule of business in the General Assembly.
"For us in the former Soviet Union, I feel often that LGBT people are invisible and don't have a voice," said Anna Kirey from Kyrgyzstan. "The experience here was really amazing for me because I actually had a voice, and the post-Soviet government had to respond to me and had to talk to me because it's a setting where they are accountable."
Activists hope the endorsement in the General Assembly, the chief UN organ, can improve a landscape scarred by hundreds of killings in Brazil each year, potential legislation to criminalize homosexuality in Burundi, and the religious incitement of anti-gay violence in Nigeria.
More than 80 countries still criminalize homosexuality. Over half derive the prohibition from a British colonial era law that viewed conquered cultures' sexual mores with suspicion, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch.
"Of course, there are many things to do beyond," said Louis-Georges Tin of France, an instrumental backer of the statement. "Today and tomorrow are a symbolic day, but only a step in a long-term process, and we all know that it's going to take a lot of time."
As evidence of the long haul ahead, the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference is expected to present a counter statement on Thursday. The countries, led by Egypt, view the pro-gay statement as promising dubious new rights not grounded in fact. The Vatican also opposes the document.
However, LGBT rights activists also hold their own faith in a prevailing natural order.
"To be honest, I believe in contamination," said Tin. "Homosexuality is supposed to be a disease, and perhaps homophobia as well, so we have to choose the good one."
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Suspended UN Pornographer Opposed Gays, Liked Dogs, As Higher Ups Escape
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS, December 18 -- For months Inner City Press has heard of an investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services into widespread use of UN equipment and time to view pornography. On December 11, the New York Post broke the story in a short 130-word article, naming a single UN staff member, "Mario Antonio, of the Philippines ." He is a relatively lower level staffer, General Service rather than Professional or Director, employed in the Plant Engineering Section of the Office of Central Support Services.
The narrative in the Report of Investigation, marked Strictly Confidential by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services but obtained by Inner City Press and put online here -- says that he sent pornography to at least 72 other UN staff members. And what did they do with the images? One of the recipients was in OIOS itself; 61 were in the Department of Management, 13 in Security and two in the Department of Public Information…
www.innercitypress.com/un1porno121808.html
NAKED WORLD BODIES
By BENNY AVNI
A veteran United Nations official has for years entertained dozens of his colleagues with pornographic video clips and photographs, violating rules of conduct, according to an internal report.
One of the video clips depicted acts of "bestiality," the Nov. 13 report said.
The man at the center of the scandal, Mario Antonio, of the Philippines , has worked for the United Nations since 1987.
According to a UN source, he has furnished his office with a sofa, hosting friends for years.
Investigators found that Antonio has spent much of the 10 a.m.-4 p.m. office hours distributing pornographic materials, using his office computer.
His seized hard drive contained 1,200 photographs and 699 video clips depicting pornography.
In its report, UN officials recommend unspecific "action" should be taken against Antonio.
www.nypost.com/seven/12112008/news/nationalnews/naked_world_bodies_143638.htm
Russell Warren Howe; Journalist, Author of More Than 20 Books
..Starting in the early 1970s, he settled in Washington and began a prolific freelance career. In need of income, he routinely upset public figures -- including President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan -- for repackaging interviews he conducted for mainstream publications and selling them to the men's magazine Penthouse.
Annan's office complained of the indignity of being nestled in print between "25 Songs for Getting It On" and "So, You Want to Be a Porn Star?" But Mr. Howe, whose interview with Annan first appeared in the Arabic language magazine al-Wasat, told a reporter that he had "full legal rights to sell this interview to anyone and everyone."…
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/18/AR2008121803714.html
Majorities of Adults in Five Largest European Countries and the U.S. Believe United Nations Does More Good Than Harm
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--While the United Nations may be over 60 years old, not everyone is familiar with it and the work that it does. In fact, just one-quarter of Germans (25%) and French adults (28%) say they are familiar compared to a plurality of British adults (40%), half of Spaniards (48%), a majority of Italians (55%) and almost two-thirds of Americans (64%). While they may not all be familiar with what it does, people in these six countries all believe that the UN does good work. Three–quarters of French adults (75%), two-thirds of Italians (69%), Germans (67%) and Britons (65%) and at least three in five Spaniards (63%) and Americans (60%) all say the UN does more good than harm.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/081217/20081217005132.html?.v=1
Vienna U.N. Drug Treatment Meeting Day Two: The Clockwork Orange Brainwashing Day
… Perhaps, however, none of this is the point. As Gilberto Gerra, Chief of Health and Human Development Section of UNODC indicated on the first day, UNODC is gathering steam to launch a big demand reduction initiative. However, to make it work, UNODC needs US buy-in. …
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/dec/19/vienna_u_n_drug_treatment_meetin
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