sexual orientation

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

UN rights chief urges Serbia to allow pride parade for lesbian and gay people

4 October 2012
The United Nations human rights chief today urged Serbia to allow a pride parade for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to take place after authorities banned the public gathering, stressing that citizens should not be prevented from exercising their fundamental freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
Source: OCHA/ReliefWeb

Liberia: UN speaks out against draft law that would criminalize homosexual behaviour

3 August 2012
The United Nations human rights office today voiced concern about draft legislation currently being considered by Liberian lawmakers that would broadly criminalize homosexual behaviour, adding that it will negatively impact vulnerable populations in the country.
An activist waves a rainbow flag, an international symbol for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Flickr/See-ming Lee

Ban praises work of defenders of gay and lesbian rights

28 June 2012
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today hailed the work of gay and lesbian rights defenders all over the world, stressing that States have a legal obligation to stop violence and discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation.