By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
GENEVA, September 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The 12th session of the UN Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, has included continued attempts by Canada, the US, the European Union and Brazil to retain references to the “UN International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights” in a draft resolution on HIV/AIDS being considered by the Council.
Pat Buckley, a representative of the UK's Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), notes that, “The international community rejected this document during the 2001 special session on HIV/AIDS.”
The Guidelines, a document produced by UNAIDS and the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, calls for governments to ensure availability of abortion-on-demand, the legal recognition of same-sex unions, and criminal penalties for anyone who speaks against homosexuality.
The document also:
– seeks to overturn all laws that limit sexual activity, including laws against “adultery, sodomy, fornication, and commercial sexual encounters” (i.e. prostitution);
– calls for nations to legalize homosexual “marriage”;
– seeks to impose explicit sexual and homosexual education on children, as well as other public information programs that (according to the explanatory text) should “not be inappropriately subject to censorship or other broadcasting standards”;
– seeks to impose “penalties on anyone who vilifies people who engage in same-sex relationships.”
Buckley observed that strong opposition to the inclusion of the document in the current meeting's draft resolution was evident, especially from Islamic countries who “consider the document to be offensive.”
“The draft resolution was initiated by Brazil which has made it clear that they wish to retain the references but also wish to have a consensus text,” Buckley explained.
“Egypt on the other hand has warned that if the references remain they will not join consensus and will push for a vote on the text when it comes before the plenary later this week.”
Buckley pointed out that “the Holy See would also prefer that the references to the guidelines are deleted.”