UN says gays are victims of violent abuse all over the world
In this Saturday, June 21, 2014 file photo, gay activists take part in a parade in Thessaloniki, Greece, during the third Thessaloniki Pride festival. The United Nations said gays are victims of abuse worldwide. AP
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. human rights chief says in a new report that lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people are victims of “pervasive, violent abuse, harassment and discrimination” in all regions of the world and cites hundreds of hate-related killings.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein said actions by some countries to reduce violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity since the last report in 2011 have been overshadowed by continuing human rights violations against these groups, too often perpetrated with impunity.
READ: Church struggles to face Ireland’s huge ‘Yes’ to gay marriage
The report to the U.N. Human Rights Council that was circulated Monday cites the murder of transsexual women in Uruguay and of black lesbian women in South Africa and the killing of a gay man in Chile by neo-Nazis who carved swastikas into his body.
