Russia prevented the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday from thanking outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon specifically for promoting gay rights during his decade in office, diplomats said.

Ban Ki-moon

The United States and other members had wanted a council statement to read: “It is thanks to you, Mr. Secretary-General, that women, young people, and the LGBT community have been heard and assisted, and today their voices sound louder and stronger in this headquarters and around the world.”

However, Russia objected, diplomats said. The 15-member council instead agreed to a statement that said because of Ban’s human rights promotion “the most vulnerable or marginalised have been increasingly heard and assisted by the United Nations.”

Our message to Ban Ki-moon

Photo by Robert D. Ward [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Tagged:
About the Author

Staff members publishes stories from other news outlets from around the world.