SA abstention from gay rights vote ‘just wrong’

SOUTH Africa’s recent decision to abstain from a key vote in the UN Human Rights Council on appointing an independent watchdog on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights was just plain wrong, Deputy International Relations Minister Luwellyn Landers said.

Breaking ranks with the ANC – which endorsed South African UN ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko’s decision to abstain – Landers yesterday told a packed lecture venue at Rhodes University that the government was ashamed of what had happened.

Mxakato-Diseko’s abstention from the vote on the resolution to appoint an independent expert on the protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity earned international criticism.

“It was wrong,” Landers said to huge applause.

He was answering questions from Rhodes students after delivering a public lecture hosted by the university’s political and international studies department.

He said diplomats and ambassadors should always use the South African constitution as their first port of call when making decisions affecting the country.

In due course he would have a “nice discussion on the rights of LGBTI, women and vulnerable people” with the ambassador.

In her defence, he said resolutions were constantly amended and had to be monitored.