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Dec. 23 - The European statement calling for global decriminalization of homosexuality is meeting some strong opposition from within the United Nations General Assembly. Less than one-third of the 192 member nations support the resolution, with the vast majority opposed.
Nations opposed to the measure to legalize and recognize homosexuality issued a joint statement, declaring the move gave "special prominence" to gays and lesbians.
Below is the text of the joint statement, issued by the Syrian delegation, on behalf of the DPRK, Iran, Libya and others:
"Following the statement previously delivered by Argentina on behalf of a group of member states on human rights and the so-called notion of sexual orientation and gender identity. On 10 December 2008 the Human Rights Family celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and once again made an unequivocal commitment to the principles enshrined therein. On that occasion we reiterated that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing. There was also a universal acknowledgment that in no country or territory can it be claimed that all human rights have been fully realized at all times for all. Member States declared that the full realization of human rights for all remains a challenge that they shall not shy away from its magnitude. The principal of nondiscrimination and equality are two faces of the same coin. They are indeed cross-cutting principles in the vast area related to the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedom for all. Such principles are well entrenched in the Charter of the UN and internationally agreed human rights instruments, as they all reaffirm the fate in fundamental rights in the dignity of the worth of the human person and in equal rights of men and women without distinction.
In this context we are seriously concerned at the attempt to introduce to the UN some notions that have no legal foundation in any international human rights instruments. We are even more disturbed at the attempt to focus on certain persons on the grounds of their sexual interests and behaviors while ignoring that intolerance and discrimination regrettably exists in various parts of the world be it on the basis of color, race, religion, to mention only a few. Our alarm does not merely stem from concerns about the lack of legal ground or that the said statement delves into matters which is within the domestic jurisdiction of States, counter to the commitment in the UN Charter to respect sovereignty of States and principal of non-intervention. More important, it arises owing to the ominous usage of those two notions—the notion of orientation spans a wide range of personal choices that expand way beyond the individual's sexual interest in a behavior with a normal consenting adult human being, thereby ushering in the social normalization and possibly and delegitimizing many deplorable acts, including pedophilia. The second is often suggested to attribute particular sexual interests or behavior to genetic factors—a notion that has been scientifically rebuffed repeatedly. We affirm that those two notions are not and should not be linked to existing international Human Rights instruments.
We believe that people are not inherently vulnerable. But some individuals are made vulnerable due to the socio-economic setting that they live in. It follows that vulnerable individuals and groups are those women, children, elderly, people under foreign occupation, refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, internally displaced person-deprived of their liberty. And people belonging to ethnic and linguistic, or national, religious minorities will become vulnerable as a result inter alia of intolerance and discrimination. We strongly deplore all forms of stereotyping, exclusion, stigmatization, prejudice, intolerance, discrimination, and violence directed against peoples, community, individuals on any ground whatsoever, wherever they occur. We also affirm Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and rights of member states to enact laws that they meet just requirements of morality, public order, and the general welfare in a domestic society. We recognize that enumerated in HR rights were codified in subsequent international legal instruments. We note with concern attempt at creating new rights or new standards by misinterpreting international treaties to include such notions that were never articulated or agreed by the general membership. These attempts undermine not only intent of drafters or signatories of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also seriously jeopardize entire international human rights framework.
We call on all member states to eliminate all forms of xenophobia, racial discrimination, racism, and related intolerance. We also call on member states to refrain from priority to the rights of certain individuals which can result in a positive discrimination on the expense of others' rights and thus run in contradiction of principle of non-discrimination and equality. We urge all states and NGOs to continue to devote special attention to protect the family as the natural and fundamental group of society in accordance with Art 16 with the Universal Declaration. To conclude, Mr President, we also urge all States and to intensify their effort to consolidate to the commitment to the promotion of human rights and everyone on equal footing without exception."
