Holocaust Memorial Berlin

Undoing Human Wrongs

Set-up on Saturday, June 2, 2007, this site has been established to address human rights issues. I have always been disturbed, concerned, and saddened by humanity's preoccupation with fearing difference. Ethnic conflict, criminalizing sexuality, exclusionary processes, political and religious frameworks guaranteeing division; these are ever-present topics taking place in all parts of the world. On the other hand I have always been inspired by communities and states that have moved forward in a quest to guarantee universal rights for all, creating laws which include rather than exclude certain groups. I have also been inspired by individuals who challenge others to think about prejudice, racism- discrimination at all levels. My challenge to friends, family, and the bloggers reading this is to become aware of new places with human rights abuses, learn about inspirational people, send stories, and make people aware. You can send messages out through your own sites, in emails to friends, or to the comments section of my blog. If you have links, videos, literature, etc, that you would like added send me a note (email in my full profile below). Terry

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

UN Restores Sexual Orientation Reference To Violence Measure

The United States has successfully persuaded the United Nations to include "sexual orientation" as a category of vulnerable populations whose targeted killings the world body condemns.

Controversy broke out after African and Arab states successfully stripped the resolution of a reference to killings for reasons of "sexual orientation," which was included along with killings for racial, national, ethnic, religious, or linguistic reasons, and killings of refugees, indigenous people, and other groups.
(http://www.rferl.org/content/un_sexual_orientation_gays_lesbians_transgender_violence/2255644.html)


It is reassuring to see the UN stepping-up and acknowledging the rights of minority groups, no matter how controversial the subject matter. There has been a polarization in the past few years when it comes to "sexual orientation" rights. While some countries, such as those in Latin America are passing same sex marriage and civil unions, other countries are condemning their gay citizens through lengthy prison sentences and execution.

Each of us is born with a unique set of identities: ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc., and as Hilary Clinton sums it up, "no one should be killed for who they are."

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