United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay released this address 4 May on hate crimes against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.
She cites incidents in Brazil, Honduras, the United States and South Africa.
She argues against those saying that sexual orientation and gender identity are 'new concepts' (the argument of the Conference of Islamic States and some African states in international institutions), saying that archaeologists have discovered evidence of same-sex relationships dating back 4,000 years. But she also notes that it is 17 years since UN human rights institutions said that anti-gay legislation was wrong.
She remembers how when she was a child those who were left-handed were forced to use their right hand.
"Those teachers may have though they were doing the right thing but in time we learned," she says. "People are different ... it does not matter. The important thing is to let people flourish."Equal rights for all is "a great human rights cause and one I am proud to support."
For the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) a first ever brochure highlighting UN official positions on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Human Rights has been produced.
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