Dec 13, 2006Articles: ECOSOC approves applications of three LGBT organizations for consultative status
By vanrozenheim
(ILGA) - On 11 December 2006, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations approved ILGA-Europe’s application for consultative status. The consultative status was also granted to two of ILGA-Europe’s members - the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians - LBL, and the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany - LSVD.
The decision granting consultative status to the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians was adopted by a recorded, roll-call vote of 23 in favour to 16 against, with 11 abstentions.
The decision granting the International Lesbian and Gay Association – Europe consultative status was adopted by a recorded, roll-call vote of 23 in favour to 17 against, with 10 abstentions.
The decision on granting consultative status to the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany was adopted by a recorded, roll-call vote of 24 in favour to 16 against, with 10 abstentions.
In introducing each of the three decisions, the representative of Germany stressed that the organizations in question fully met the criteria set, by the Council, for consultative status. They had fully answered the questions put to them by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, yet no valid reasons for their rejection had been offered.
The representative of Finland, on behalf of the European Union, said that in establishing consultative relations with non-governmental organizations, the United Nations must try to ensure diversity in the representation of those groups. Since much of the organizations’ work dealt with matters of health, gender, development and human rights and HIV/AIDS, they clearly fell under the Council’s competence.
The representative of Guinea-Bissau said he wished that it would have been possible for the Committee to return to consideration of such an important question, in order to show responsibility and make judgments based on objective criteria. For that reason, he would not participate in the vote, so as not to confirm an action that undermined the Committee’s credibility and authority.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that he had voted against the draft decisions, since he believed that the Council had been trying to assume a function that was not part of its powers. An earlier Council resolution had empowered the Committee to award consultative status to non-governmental organizations. The drafts had been reviewed by that Committee, and its conclusions must be respected.
In its press-release, ILGA-Europe specifically acknowledges the European Union for its consistent commitment, support and leadership regarding the applications from organisations combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. ILGA also acknowledges the dedicated co-operative work of sister NGOs around the worlds lobbying for this recognition.
Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe, said:
“We are delighted with the decision to grant ILGA-Europe and two of its members consultative status with ECOSOC. This is a truly historic decision as now organisations representing and defending rights of LGBT people can address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity at the United Nations level. This is the best recognition of LGBT rights as human rights that LGBT activists could have received one day after marking International Human Rights Day on 10th December.
ILGA expressed hopes for this decision marking a fundamental change at the UN level with regards to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Just days ago 54 member states of the UN supported a statement acknowledging these forms of discrimination and calling upon the UN to seriously address them.”
