U.N. Draft Resolution Against Extrajudicial Executions Includes Gender Identity
The draft resolution approved in the Third Committee of the General Assembly mentions gender identity as a characteristic warranting protection from unlawful executions for the first time.
BY Julie Bolcer
November 23 2012 5:00 PM ET UPDATED: November 23 2012 8:38 PM ET
http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2012/11/23/un-draft-resolution-against-extrajudicial-executions-includes-gender (http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2012/11/23/un-draft-resolution-against-extrajudicial-executions-includes-gender)
A United Nations committee overseeing human rights issues approved a draft resolution Tuesday that for the first time acknowledges the need to protect individuals from extrajudicial executions on the basis of their gender identity.
The Third Committee of the General Assembly passed the resolution by a vote of 108 to 1, with 65 abstentions and 18 absences. Iran was the only country to oppose the resolution, which was approved after "rigorous debate" over the language, according to a United Nations news release.
Sweden introduced the resolution co-sponsored by 34 states. The text reiterates states' obligation to conduct prompt, comprehensive, and fair investigations into all suspected extrajudicial, arbitrary and summary executions, and urges states to investigate all killings, including those of people targeted for their sexual orientation, gender identity and other reasons.
-------
Thu Nov 22, 2012 at 07:53 AM PST
UN votes to protect people on basis of sexual orientation, gender identity: US abstains
by rserven
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/22/1164003/-UN-votes-to-protect-people-on-basis-sexual-orientation-gender-identity (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/22/1164003/-UN-votes-to-protect-people-on-basis-sexual-orientation-gender-identity)
Tuesday The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly voted to approve a resolution condemning extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions. The vote was a reversal of the 2010 procedures which stripped the resolution of mentions of sexual orientation. And for the first time in the resolutions history gender identity has been included.
Fittingly the action taking place on the 14th International Transgender Day of Remembrance.
This resolution is introduced every two years to protect the right to life of all people. It includes calling on all member states to investigate killings based in discrimination. The resolution was introduced Sweden and co-sponsored by 34 countries.
For the past 12 years, this resolution has urged States "to investigate promptly and thoroughly all killings, including... all killings committed for any discriminatory reason, including sexual orientation." Apart from Human Rights Council resolution 17/19, it is the only UN resolution to make specific reference to sexual orientation. This year, the term "gender identity" was added to the list of categories vulnerable to extrajudicial killings.