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Content about Ban Ki-moon

May 17, 2013
UN chief tells world: Scrap your anti-gay laws

Ban Ki-moon speech delivered at The Hague as part of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said ending homophobia is ‘critical’ to the UN’s work and called for an end to anti-gay laws and better education.

His comments were delivered today (17 May) at an event in The Hague, The Netherlands, to mark International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

The speech was delivered on his behalf by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, in the presence of the new Queen of the Netherlands, Máxima.

May 16, 2013
United Nation’s LGBT rights video goes viral

UN leaders tell gay and trans people they are not alone and promise to fight for their rights

A new video from the United Nations – warning countries who fail to protect LGBT people that they are breaking international – law has gone viral on YouTube.

The UN Human Rights office released the video on 14 May, telling LGBT people they are not alone and promising to work for their protection and freedom.

After Gay Star News highlighted the video others started to share it and it went from 368 views on YouTube to 65,000 now.

May 15, 2013
UN promises a free and equal world for gays

A new United Nations video sends a clear message: LGBT rights are human rights and abuse of gay and trans people is against international law

The UN Human Rights office has released a new video telling LGBT people they are not alone and promising to work for their protection and freedom.

It reminds viewers that 76 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex relationships and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people everywhere continue to suffer violent attacks and discriminatory treatment.

May 15, 2013
UN warns world they are breaking law by not protecting gays

United Nations Secretary General features in video promising a ‘free and equal’ world for LGBT people and telling them they are not alone

Countries must protect LGBT citizens from violence or discrimination or they are breaking international law – the United Nations has warned.

A new video released by the UN Human Rights Office puts particular pressure on the 76 countries that still make consensual gay sex illegal.

And it highlights the many others where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are not protected from violent attacks and discriminatory treatment.

April 16, 2013
UN chief Ban Ki-moon to lead global campaign for gay rights

UN Secretary-General says ‘culture, tradition or religion’ is no excuse, governments have to protect gay, bisexual and trans people in strongest speech yet on issue

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has promised to lead a global campaign for LGBT rights.

And he has told governments around the world that they have a ‘legal duty’ to protect gay and trans people and that ‘culture, tradition or religion’ could not be used as an excuse for failing to do so.

His comments in a video message to the Oslo Conference on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity yesterday (15 April) were not his first remarks on sexual orientation or gender identity – but were the strongest-worded.

December 12, 2012
Anti-gay laws are 'an outrage' says Ban-Ki Moon

Secretary-General of the UN points finger at the 76 countries that still criminalize homosexuality

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban-Ki Moon, said the fact that 76 countries in the world still criminalize homosexuality is 'an outrage'.

In a historic statement made yesterday at the UN headquarters in New York, Ban said:

'It is an outrage that in our modern world, so many countries continue to criminalize people simply for loving another human being of the same sex.'

December 12, 2012
Ricky Martin talks at the UN about 'beautiful' experience of coming out

Puerto Rican popstar speaks at the United Nations about breaking free from his upbringing and coming out in 2010

Puerto Rican popstar Ricky Martin has spoken about his 'beautiful' coming out experience while speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Martin, who was at the UN to show his support for Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon's statement criticizing countries with anti-gay laws, said:

September 22, 2012
UN chief calls on Human Rights Council to do more on LGBT rights

The United Nations secretary general has called for Human Rights Council members to put LGBT rights and women’s rights at the top of their agendas going forward

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has told delegates at the opening of the 21st regular session of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva to put women’s rights and LGBT rights at the forefront of the UN’s human rights agenda.

‘I commend the progress made by the Council [in the last year],’ Ki-moon told delegates.

‘In particular, I welcome the groundbreaking, first-ever intergovernmental discussion, in March this year, on discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.’

September 22, 2012
UN chief calls on Human Rights Council to do more on LGBT rights

The United Nations secretary general has called for Human Rights Council members to put LGBT rights and women’s rights at the top of their agendas going forward

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has told delegates at the opening of the 21st regular session of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva to put women’s rights and LGBT rights at the forefront of the UN’s human rights agenda.

‘I commend the progress made by the Council [in the last year],’ Ki-moon told delegates.

‘In particular, I welcome the groundbreaking, first-ever intergovernmental discussion, in March this year, on discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.’

September 10, 2012
Ban Ki-moon urges more UN work on gay rights

United Nations Secretary General praises first controversial Human Rights Council debate on LGBT issues and wants more

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for more work to be done on ‘discrimination and violence’ towards gay, bi and trans people.

Speaking in Geneva today to the United Nation’s Human Rights Council (HRC), he highlighted the first debate the HRC held on the issue earlier in March.

June 29, 2012
UN chief Ban Ki-moon says gay activists are his 'inspiration'

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hails 'brave' gay activists, says anti-gay abuse is a human rights violation and insists countries have a legal and moral duty to deal with it, whatever their culture

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has described LGBT activists as ‘brave’, ‘committed’ and an ‘inspiration’ to him.

The comments from the UN leader were read out by assistant secretary general for human rights, Ivan Šimonović, at a screening of gay documentary Call Me Kuchu at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York last night (28 June).

The film covers the struggles faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights movement in Uganda. It also focuses on the murder of veteran campaigner David Kato.

June 29, 2012
UN chief Ban Ki-moon says gay activists are his 'inspiration'

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hails 'brave' gay activists, says anti-gay abuse is a human rights violation and insists countries have a legal and moral duty to deal with it, whatever their culture

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has described LGBT activists as ‘brave’, ‘committed’ and an ‘inspiration’ to him.

The comments from the UN leader were read out by assistant secretary general for human rights, Ivan Šimonović, at a screening of gay documentary Call Me Kuchu at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York last night (28 June).

The film covers the struggles faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights movement in Uganda. It also focuses on the murder of veteran campaigner David Kato.

June 18, 2012
UNESCO joins global fight against anti-gay bullying

Homophobic bullying is a 'significant' problem worldwide, according to new report by UN agency

A new report by UNESCO has revealed the extent of homophobic bullying worldwide, recognizing the problem as a human rights issue.

The UN agency’s first ever international consultation on the issue brought together experts from NGOs, ministries of education and academia from more than 25 countries around the world.

The report states that, based on evidence collected, the scale of the problem is ‘significant’ and as a result students around the world are routinely denied the ‘basic, universal human right to education’.

March 22, 2012
Time Has Come for Ban Ki-moon remix

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's historic gay rights speech remixed by AllOut.org

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's historic speech on gay rights has been remixed on YouTube with inspiring photos from around the world.

The speech addressing the UN Human Rights Council on 7 March urged countries to decriminalize same-sex relationships.

However, many nations walked out in protest during the summit on LGBT discrimination - a stark reminder that in many places around the world lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are still demonized, criminalized, attacked and even killed for who they are.

March 22, 2012
Time Has Come for Ban Ki-moon remix

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's historic gay rights speech remixed by AllOut.org

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's historic speech on gay rights has been remixed on YouTube with inspiring photos from around the world.

The speech addressing the UN Human Rights Council on 7 March urged countries to decriminalize same-sex relationships.

However, many nations walked out in protest during the summit on LGBT discrimination - a stark reminder that in many places around the world lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are still demonized, criminalized, attacked and even killed for who they are.

March 7, 2012
United Nations divided in gay rights debate

UN responds to report detailing homophobia and transphobia across the globe

The United Nations were divided in today’s first landmark global conversation over gay rights.

Representatives of countries from across the globe including the USA, Brazil, Thailand and Pakistan met to discuss gender identity and sexual orientation for the first time.

March 1, 2012
Zambians outraged over UN gay rights call

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has been asked to apologize for Zambia gay rights comment

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has been asked to apologize after calling on Zambia to respect gay rights.

During a visit to the country last week, Ban said gays have rights that all nations should respect.

'Now you have embarked on a transformation agenda, a process for a new people driven constitution that will be a foundation for Zambia’s progress, a constitution that will stand the test of time,' Ban said.

March 1, 2012
Zambians outraged over UN gay rights call

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has been asked to apologize for Zambia gay rights comment

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has been asked to apologize after calling on Zambia to respect gay rights.

During a visit to the country last week, Ban said gays have rights that all nations should respect.

'Now you have embarked on a transformation agenda, a process for a new people driven constitution that will be a foundation for Zambia’s progress, a constitution that will stand the test of time,' Ban said.

February 2, 2012
Gay rights victory as lesbian's killers jailed

The killers of a lesbian in Cape Town, South Africa, have each been jailed for 18 years

A group of men have been jailed for stabbing and stoning a lesbian to death in South Africa.

In what activists are calling a landmark case, four men were yesterday sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing 19-year-old Zoliswa Nkonyana in 2006 because she was living openly as a lesbian.

January 29, 2012
UN Secretary General urges Africa to respect gay rights

Ban Ki-moon says 'we must not give up' on human rights

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged African leaders to respect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Speaking at the opening of the 18th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ban told leaders:

'One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long has been discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

'It prompted governments to treat people as second class citizens or even criminals.'

January 29, 2012
UN Secretary General urges Africa to respect gay rights

Ban Ki-moon says 'we must not give up' on human rights

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged African leaders to respect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Speaking at the opening of the 18th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ban told leaders:

'One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long has been discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

'It prompted governments to treat people as second class citizens or even criminals.'