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UN chief urges international efforts to address homophobic violence and discrimination

26 July 2013 23:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday urged the international community to address homophobic violence and discrimination, commending the global public education campaign launched by its human rights office on the same day, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"This unprecedented global public information initiative aims to raise awareness of homophobic violence and discrimination, and to promote greater respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people everywhere," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson.

Launched by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa, "Free & Equal " is the first global public education campaign to raise awareness and respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.

With its core message - human rights are universal and we can change attitudes for the better - the campaign focuses on the need for both legal reforms and public education to counter homophobia and transphobia.

In the statement, the UN chief noted that he "has consistently called on world leaders to address violence against LGBT members of our human family."

More than 76 countries criminalize consensual same-sex relationships, according to a 2011 OHCHR report on violence and discrimination against LGBT people. Penalties range from jail sentences to execution. Meanwhile, in many more countries discrimination in the workforce, education, health sectors and other areas of society is widespread, according to UN.