OutRight Reacts to Donald Trump’s Address at the UN General Assembly

Today, Donald Trump addressed world leaders at the opening of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City.

Donald Trump’s speech prioritised national sovereignty over global cooperation, reiterated the dissatisfaction of the United States with the Human Rights Council, and stressed that the U.S rejects the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Additionally, Trump emphasised the right of every nation to pursue «its own customs, beliefs and traditions». Apart from stating his discontentment with the Human Rights Council, there was no mention of human rights.

Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International, reacted to Donald Trump’s address:

Like last year, Donald Trump’s message at the UN General Assembly prioritised national sovereignty over global community and accountability. He went so far as to say that every nation should prioritise their own customs, beliefs, and traditions, a notion that directly contradicts 70 years of evidence about what makes all people in all countries thrive.

As an international LGBTIQ human rights organisation, we know that sovereignty and claims to tradition, belief, and custom, have been used repeatedly to trample on the human rights of LGBTIQ people, women, people of color, religious minorities, and anyone driven to the margins of society. These are excuses States use to advance a patriarchal, nationalistic agenda.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN 70 years ago, affords rights to every individual. These fundamental rights should never be compromised regardless of where someone lives, or the so-called customs and traditions in those countries.

Donald Trump is short sighted when he asks nations to «choose a future of patriotism». That ignores the fact that we are all different in some way. Plurality and diversity make all our nations stronger. The future lies in embracing our collective differences.