United Nations: Support LGBT Groups’ UN Accreditation

07/25/2006

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has deferred until this week a vote on whether to accord UN consultative status to 3 NGOs addressing human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The 3 NGOs under consideration are: the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians (LBL); the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany (LSVD) and ILGA-Europe.

It is critical that LGBT groups have a voice at the UN. Some states are doing every thing they can to stall the proceedings and avoid the issue even coming to a vote.

Why is it important?

Consultative Status enables qualifying organizations to make a contribution to the work programs and goals of the United Nations by serving as technical experts, advisers and consultants to governments and Secretariat. Consultative status is granted by UN-ECOSOC upon recommendation of the UN-ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, which is comprised of 19 Member States. Currently there are over 2,700 NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC.

What can I do?

Listed below are key States most of which abstained during votes on the issue last week. Some of the votes came down to a tie, so a single vote from any of these countries could make the difference between winning and losing.

The matter is likely to come up before the ECOSOC for final decision in the next couple of days, possibly on Wednesday. If you live in or have connections with any of these States, please write to them or call them TODAY.

How do I contact my government?

Contact details for the Geneva missions of each key State are listed below, but please also approach any additional contacts you may have within your own country’s Foreign Ministry. An index of Ministries of Foreign Affairs for each country can be found at: http://www.ssrc.org/gsc/datasphere/ministries.htm

What do I tell them?

Urge your government:

To oppose any procedural maneuvers to delay or stall the vote, and ensure that the ECOSOC fairly considers the NGO applications on their merits;
To support, or at least not oppose, the applications of these NGO, all of which are doing valuable human rights work.

Government contact details:

Note: please also contact your government’s Foreign Ministry. A list of Foreign Ministries can be found at: Ministries of Foreign Affairs for each country can be found at: http://www.ssrc.org/gsc/datasphere/ministries.htm

Armenia:

Note: Armenia did support the NGO applications on their merits, but also voted in favor of motions to adjourn debate and send one of the applications back to the NGO Committee. Armenia should be thanked for its support, but encouraged to ensure that all NGO applications receive substantive consideration by the ECOSOC on their merits.

Mr. Zohrab Mnatsakanian Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary: Ph: +41 22 320 11 00
Fax: +41 22 320 61 48
arm.mission@deckpoint.ch

Belize:

Mrs. Alicia Hunt Chargé d'affaires a.i.: Ph: +41 22 906 84 20
Fax: +41 22 906 84 29
mission.belize@ties.itu.int

Costa Rica:

His Excellency Mr. Luis Alberto Varela Quirós Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary: Ph: +41 22 731 25 87
Fax: +41 22 731 20 69
mission.costa-rica@ties.itu.int
Alejandro Solano-Ortiz: mission.costa-rica@ties.itu.int
Bruno Stagno: desp_min@ree.go.cr

Cuba:

His Excellency Mr. Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary: Ph: +41 22 758 94 30
Fax: +41 22 758 94 31
embacubaginebra@missioncuba.ch
misioncubaginebra@bluewin.ch
Maria del Carmen Counselor: Ph: +41 22-758-9430
mary.cuba@bluewin.ch
Mariela Castro Espin: cenesex@informed.sld.cu
marielac@informed.sld.cu
Camilo Garcia: multilateral@embacuba.nl

Guyana:

See: http://www.sdnp.org.gy/minfor/

India:

His Excellency Mr. Swashpawan Singh Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary: Ph: +41 22 906 86 86
Fax: +41 22-906-8696
mission.india@ties.itu.int

Indonesia:

Dr. Makarim Wibisono Ambassador: Ph: +41 22-338-3350
Fax: +41 22-345-5733
makarim.wibisono@ties.itu.int
Lasro Simbolon First Secretary: Ph: +41-22-338-3350
lasro.simbolon@ties.itu.int

Paraguay:

His Excellency Mr. Rigoberto Gauto Vielman Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary: Ph: +41 22 740 32 11
Fax: +41 22 740 32 90
mission.paraguay@ties.itu.int

South Africa:

Her Excellency Mrs. Glaudine J. Mtshali Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary: Ph: +41 22 849 54 54
Fax: +41 22-849-5432
mission.south-africa@ties.itu.int

Sri Lanka:

Her Excellency Mme. Sarala Fernando Ambassador and Permanent Representative: Ph: +41 22-919-1250
Fax: +41 22-734-9084
mission.srilanka@ties.itu.int

Thailand:

His Excellency Mr. Chaiyong Satjipanon Ambassador: Ph: +41 22 715 10 10
Fax: +41 22-715-1000
mission.thailand@ties.itu.int
Bantita Pichyakorn: Bantitap@mfa.go.th

Turkey:

His Excellency Mr. Türkekul Kurttekin Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary: Ph: +41 22 918 50 80
Fax: +41 22 734 08 59
mission.turkey@ties.itu.int
Selcuk Ünal First Secretary: Ph: +41-22-918-5080
Fax: +41-22-734-0859
sunal@mfa.gov.tr