UN Council adopts resolution to ‘protect the family’
The UN Human Rights Council yesterday adopted a resolution on the “Protection of the Family”, in a move which has been criticised as it could be used as a precedent to oppose LGBT rights.
The resolution, tabled by 13 nations including Uganda, Russia, Egypt and China calls on the High Commissioner for Human Rights to draft a report on the status of the family.
It also asks for a panel discussion on “the issue of the protection of the family”, at the September session.
26 countries voted for it, and 14 against.
The term “family” is not specifically defined in the resolution, but it has been criticised, as it could be used as a precedent to oppose rights for same-sex couples, single parents and other forms of families.
Russia also blocked an amendment tabled by Chile, Uruguay, Ireland and France, which stated that “different cultural, political and social systems various forms of the family exist”.
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup, said: “I am shocked by the tactics used by Russia and 21 other governments to avoid a discussion on the diversity of family forms. In a shameful manner they used a procedural motion to avoid talking about content.”
“Referring to family, without recognising the existence of more types of families, is to look away from reality where we find families in all forms and shapes.”
Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, continued: “It is appalling that the Human Rights Council, which is supposed to be concerned about the human rights of individuals, has adopted this resolution.”
“It should not be up to an accidental majority of states to define what does and what does not constitute a family. I urge all states to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of all individual members belonging to all different types of families, including same-sex families.”
