COC Netherlands, along with Spanish Federacion Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales, will be considered by ECOSOC at its meeting in July in New York for UN consultative status.

Both groups had been denied a recommendation at a January meeting of the NGO Committee, a UN body of 19 member states from all regions whose responsibility includes evaluating NGO applications for consultative status.

In 2005, the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) began its ECOSOC campaign, an initiative aimed at allowing gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender human rights defenders to address the UN “in their own name.”

In 2006 and 2007, after lengthy consideration by the ECOSOC, consultative status was granted to five LGBT organisations: ILGA-Europe, the Danish, German and Swedish national LGBT federations (LBL, LSVD and RFSL respectively) and the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Quebec, CGLQ.

This development has already allowed ILGA members to address the floor of the Human Rights Council (HRC) plenary, which prompted the High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour to state her support for LGBT rights in that international forum.

The US-based International Wages Due Lesbians and Australian-based Coalition of Activist Lesbians have had consultative status at the UN for some years.

Prior applications from LGBT NGOs were rejected by the NGO Committee, and later approved by ECOSOC.

Just before Louise Arbour stepped down as President of the HRC she lambasted the Islamic states for trying to impose censorship to disallow debate of issues related to human rights for LGBT persons.

Does the UN support gay ‘human rights’ or is it neutral to the issue?

It’s not exactly neutral but nor is it specifically supportive as a unified voice.

Certain spokespersons and certain member states are supportive, others are not.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, who just stepped down from the position, was quite supportive and frequently made reference to the Yogyakarta principles.

He is implicitly endorsing a genocide against GLBT people in Africa with comments like these.

Does the UN support gay ‘human rights’ or is it neutral to the issue?

Following his election to head the 47-member body, Mr. Uhomoibhi recalled that the Council’s main purpose was to uphold the dignity of the human person through the promotion and protection of human rights.

“Failure to advance the aims and objectives of the Human Rights Council collectively by all nations, all peoples and all institutions will be a colossal failure of humanity to protect its own dignity and rights under the rule of law and agreed norms and practices,” he said.

“States undoubtedly bear the primary responsibility to protect and promote human rights,” he added. “As such, the Council should per force continue to direct its gaze and its searchlight on actions of States to ensure that they abide by all their commitments.”

In another interview with the Lagos Vanguard:

“This month, it is Africa’s slot to present the Presidency of the council, and Nigeria has indicated its readiness,” the ambassador told the Lagos Vanguard.

Uhomoibhi also told reporters that Nigeria was eminently qualified to head the council, going by its human rights’ records as well as its respect for the rule of law.

He should be kept under observation as to whether or not he addresses these on-going comments of his countrymen.