UN Human Rights Office Urges End to Homophobia, Promises 'Free and Equal' World: VIDEO

A striking new campaign video from the United Nations human rights office speaks directly about the oppression of LGBT people and features messages from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

Says Pillay: "Every nation is obligated by international human rights law to protect all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination and violence."

Adds Ban and a chorus of voices: "The United Nations has one simple message to the millions of LGBT people around the world...You are not alone. LGBT rights are human rights. Together we will build a world that is free and equal,"

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon: Governments Have a Duty to Uphold the Rights of LGBT People — VIDEO

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon spoke out for LGBT rights at the Oslo Conference on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity on Monday, blasting government and religious anti-LGBT oppression.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP....

Said the Secretary General in his statement:

We should all be outraged when people suffer discrimination, assault and even murder – simply because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. We should all speak out when someone is arrested and imprisoned because of who they love or how they look. This is one of the great, neglected human rights challenges of our time. We must right these wrongs.

Governments have a legal duty to protect everyone. But far too many still refuse to acknowledge the injustice of homophobic violence and discrimination. We need to document this problem and share information with States on a regular basis for discussion and action.

We must institutionalize our efforts to address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We need public education to change popular attitudes.

Some will oppose change. They may invoke culture, tradition or religion to defend the status quo. Such arguments have been used to try to justify slavery, child marriage, rape in marriage and female genital mutilation.

I respect culture, tradition and religion – but they can never justify the denial of basic rights.

My promise to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the human family is this: I am with you. I promise that as Secretary-General of the United Nations, I will denounce attacks against you …. and I will keep pressing leaders for progress.

I am committed to leading a global campaign in partnership with the United Nations human rights office. I count on others to join us. Together, we can make the world safer, freer and more equal for everyone.

Thank you.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

It is not the first time he has spoken in support of LGBT people. At a UN Human Rights Council hearing on LGBT equality in March 2012, he denounced violence and discrimination, inspiring a walk-out by leaders of Islamic and African nations. He also appeared at a UN panel against homophobia with Ricky Martin last December.

Ricky Martin Speaks at UN Forum on Homophobia: VIDEO

Ricky Martin also participated in today's Human Rights Day panel at the United Nations, talking to those assembled about his decision to come out. He added that he wishes he could come out again because of the joy that it brought him.

Martin also talked about the institutionalized homophobia he encounters every day when he is told in interviews and by fans on social media to stop talking about LGBT issues.

"People that used to listen to my music say, "Ricky stop it! Stop talking about LGBT issues. We understand. You're gay. That's it. We're tired of that subject...It brings back the fear again - self esteem issues kick in...I guess I'll use my music to talk about this as well."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Read UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's remarks HERE.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon Condemns Oppression of LGBT People at Human Rights Day Forum: REMARKS

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon offered powerful remarks at a Human Right Day forum earlier today at the United Nations called "Leadership in the Fight against Homophobia"

I'll post a video if it becomes available, but following are his remarks, in full:

Thank you all for coming to this remarkable meeting. What a meaningful way to commemorate Human Rights Day. I welcome all of the activists, supporters and others here today.

The very first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

All human beings – not some, not most, but all.

No one gets to decide who is entitled to human rights and who is not.

The United Nations has a proud record of combating racism, promoting gender equality, protecting children and breaking down barriers facing persons with disabilities. We have a long way to go in all of these areas. But we are turning the tide on discrimination in both law and practice. Slowly, some old prejudices have started to dissolve.

Yet others remain in place, with horrendous consequences.

Around the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are targeted, assaulted and sometimes killed. Children and teens are taunted by their peers, beaten and bullied, pushed out of school, disowned by their own families, forced into marriage … and, in the worst cases, driven to suicide.

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UN Ambassador Susan Rice Laments Oppression of LGBT People in International Human Rights Day Statement

Today is International Human Rights Day and UN Ambassador Susan Rice released a statement marking it:

On Human Rights Day, we celebrate a simple but powerful declaration that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Adopted 64 years ago today, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stands as a monument to the courage of its founders and to freedoms longed for by every human being. But the fight for these freedoms—from demagogues and from tyrants, from the shackles of slavery and from the censor’s pen—did not end with the historic adoption of the Universal Declaration on December 10, 1948. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, success in the struggle “is a question of actually living and working in our countries for freedom and justice for each human being.”
 
Today, we pledge to live up to Eleanor Roosevelt’s inspirational example, for in far too many places human freedoms are still denied. As long as a family anywhere is tormented by a state-sanctioned killer; a peaceful agitator is hounded by a violent brigade; an artist is locked away for expressing what she thinks; an LGBT individual is harassed because of whom he or she loves; a community is beleaguered because of how it worships; a person with a disability is marginalized by those who ignore plain injustice; or a girl is threatened for having the audacity to pick up a book; all of our rights have been violated.
 
The United States is relentless in pursuit of a world that protects these rights. We fight for them at the United Nations, where we have made important strides, because we know that American leadership in the world can bring action against oppressors and hope to the oppressed. Our job is not done and the path ahead is fraught. But may we work together every day for the cause of human rights, so that our efforts can forge a world that respects our differences, protects our dignity, gives our children opportunities to pursue their dreams, and ensures that freedoms we have pledged to protect are universally enjoyed.

UN Approves Palestinian Statehood In 138-9 Vote

Palestine now has United Nations statehood. For the first time ever, the international body will recognize Palestine as a "non-member observer state" after 138 members voted for bring the nation into the fold. Nine nations, including the United States, Israel and Canada, voted against the measure. France and Spain voted in favor, while Germany and Great Britain both abstained, according to NPR.

Addressing the UN assembly before the vote, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, "We did not come here seeking to delegitimize a state established years ago, and that is Israel. Rather we came to affirm the legitimacy of a state that must now achieve its independence and that is Palestine."

"The moment has come for the world to say clearly: enough of aggression, enough with settlements and occupation," he said.