France To Push UN For Decriminalization Of Homosexuality
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: May 19, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET

(Paris) The French government will press the United Nations to pressure countries to abolish bans on homosexuality the country's minister for human rights has announced.

Homosexuality remains a crime in 75 countries. In many of those countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Nigeria it is punishable by death.  Sentences in other countries range from public floggings to imprisonment.

Human Rights Minister Rama Yade told a meeting of French LGBT rights groups that his government would make its appeal to the UN when France assumes the  rotating six-month EU presidency in July.

During that period France will speak for all EU member states at the UN General Assembly. 

Yade's commitment came as gays in countries around the world observed International Day Against Homophobia on Saturday.

The International Day Against Homophobia was launched in 2005 and commemorates the date in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of disorders.

Human Rights Watch used IDAHO to launch blistering attacks on Poland and Uganda.

HRW said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is leading a pogrom against gays. Homosexuality under Museveni's rule is punishable by life imprisonment.

The rights group also accused Polish President Lech Kaczynski of attempting to "deny basic rights" to LGBT people.

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