Several countries, including Namibia, Egypt and the United States, have succeeded in removing LGBTQ+-inclusive language from a landmark United Nations resolution aimed at upholding the rights of persons with disabilities.
The resolution on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities passed with near-unanimous support in the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
While widely welcomed as an important step in recognising the challenges faced by people with disabilities worldwide — including issues of rights, accessibility and inclusive education — activists have expressed deep disappointment that references recognising LGBTQ+ persons with disabilities were stripped from the final text.
LGBTQ+ Language Removed After Egypt-Led Amendment
The original resolution acknowledged that persons with disabilities experience additional barriers when their disability intersects with other forms of discrimination, including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Egypt, however, led a campaign to remove the references to “sexual orientation and gender identity” before the resolution was adopted. According to Outright International, Egypt’s amendment — supported by the United States and several members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — passed with 81 votes in favour, 77 against, and 15 abstentions.
Egypt argued that the amendment removed a controversial issue from the resolution, asserting that “a vote for deleting sexual orientation and gender identity is a vote for persons with disabilities”.
Activists Warn of Harmful Erasure
Maria Sjödin, Executive Director of Outright International, welcomed the overall passage of the resolution but expressed disappointment over the removal of LGBTQ+ affirming language.
“It would have been a far stronger resolution with the sexual orientation and gender identity protections intact,” said Sjödin. “LGBTQ persons with disabilities deserve to be seen, not rendered invisible. Today’s vote is a painful setback for them.”
Namibia was among the 81 countries that voted in favour of the anti-LGBTQ+ amendment, a decision that drew condemnation from Namibian LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equal Namibia.
“What Namibia’s vote does is signal that LGBTQI+ persons are uniquely undeserving of human rights protections. And in a country where queer people continue to be marginalised, LGBTQI+ persons with disabilities suffer the most,” the group said in a social media statement.
Equal Namibia noted that the country had historically tended to abstain from UN votes relating to LGBTQ+ issues. The organisation warned that “anti-rights and religious fundamentalist groups are influencing our politicians with Western ‘pro-family’ concepts of African culture”.
Human Rights Remain Non-Negotiable
Sjödin emphasised that despite the disappointing deletion of LGBTQ+-affirming language, fundamental rights remain intact.
“LGBTQ people remain entitled to the full spectrum of human rights protections recognised across the international human rights system,” she said. “No vote can erase the fundamental truth that all persons are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
