"In late December the United Nations General Assembly held a symbolic vote on a statement calling for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality. France spearheaded the resolution, which was a 13 point declaration "to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention."The statement received 60 votes in support, mostly from Europe and South America.
Opposing the resolution, were the United States, the Holy See, and members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. At the time, the Bush administration couched its objection to the measure in legal technicalities.
At the so-called 'Durban Review Conference' on racism and xenophonia underway in Geneva, Europe again put forward language condemning 'all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.' According to UN Watch, 'The Czech Republic on behalf of the E.U., with the support of New Zealand, the United States, Colombia, Chili (sic) on behalf of the South American states, the Netherlands, Argentina and a few others, took the floor in support.'"
The efforts unfortunately failed due to lack of support from non-European countries (South Africa on behalf of the African Group, China, Egypt, Nigeria,Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Botswana, Iran, Algeria, and Syria), but the U.S. appears to be back on the correct side of the issue now.
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