India’s opposition to benefits for same-sex partners of United Nations (UN) employees has drawn a lot of
criticism. What is even more embarrassing for India were the kinds of governments it was allied with during the
UN vote on March 24, 2015. Opposing the benefits with India were 40 countries, including several authoritarian regimes such as the one-party state of China and a country with little freedom of dissent, Russia. A look at Economist Intelligence Unit's
Democracy Index 2014 shows how all the countries that voted against benefits were less democratic than India. (See chart below)
Sources: UN Web TV , EIU Democracy Index 2014 data courtesy of Shakti Krishnan 80 countries supported the benefits including South Africa, a country which is fairly advanced when it comes to recognition of gay and lesbian rights. It allows kids to be adopted by same-sex couples and even prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of
sexual orientation. With 80 countries voting for benefits in the UN General Assembly budget committee, 43 countries voting against and 37 abstaining, benefits will be
continued for same-sex partners of UN employees. Curiously, 10 countries that voted for benefits actually see homosexual acts as illegal, according to a 2014
report by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. (See chart below)
Sources: UN Web TV , "State-sponsored homophobia" by International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Pew Research With the opposition defeated, same-sex partners of UN employees will continue to be eligible for the same spousal benefits as opposite-sex partners. They would be eligible if they were married in a country or region that recognises same-sex marriage—even if it wasn't their own country.
The situation abroad India is one of a group of 78 countries that
criminalises homosexuality and makes it punishable by either fines, imprisonment, corporal punishment or death. As can be seen from the chart below, 39% of the world’s population live in countries where homosexual acts are illegal. Five countries (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Mauritania & Sudan) even give the
death penalty for homosexuality. 20 countries recognise same-sex marriages, with Netherlands having been the first to do so in 2000. 16 other countries, including Australia and Germany, recognise civil unions or domestic partnerships between gay and lesbian citizens, in place of marriages.
Sources: World Bank, Pew Research, "State-sponsored homophobia" by International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association The Indian government
said it wasn't opposed to same-sex partner benefits
per se but to the way they were instituted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. In India’s view, it was done
unilaterally without consulting member nations. India may feel its actions were justified, but it was tarred by association because of the unsavoury company it kept and its intentions seen as less than noble.
Image Credit: Flickr/KavitaKapoor __________________________________________________________________________
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