Activists and the public alike have reacted with dismay and anger at a UN vote whereby sexual orientation was removed from a resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The resolution is designed as guidance for countries to protect the right to life of all people, including by calling on state power to investigate killings based on discriminatory grounds. For 10 years sexual orientation had been included in a list of discriminatory crimes.
The non-exhaustive list includes nationality and ethnicity, religion and language (in the case of minority speakers), those acting as human rights defenders (such as lawyers, journalists or demonstrators) as well as street children and members of indigenous communities.
The amendment removing the reference to sexual orientation was sponsored by Benin on behalf of the African Group in the UN General Assembly and was adopted with 79 votes in favor, 70 against, 17 abstentions and 26 absent.
The Bahamas voted in favor of the amendment to remove sexual orientation from the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
