Noticias

The United Nations Secretary General arrived to Paraguay in the morning of Wednesday, February 25th. During this visit, which happens to be the second visit paid to our country by a high-level authority of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, who in a historic address to the Human Rights Council in Geneva decried violence and discrimination towards LGBT people by saying "you are not alone", was received by chancellor Eladio Loizaga.

Loizaga, who during the OAS General Assembly last June affirmed that “the paraguayan government does not feel homophobia in the country”, gave backup to ultra conservative sectors to raise their discriminatory campaigns, thus providing a good opportunity for parliamentarians to express their extremely polemic comments during their session in the National Congress. Recalling some of them, Senator Wiens proposed a “pro-life” draft declaration, followed with support by Senator Mirta Gusinsky, who expressed her position against "gay marriage". "I'm not a philosopher, but I'm male, and God created man and woman" was one of the comments made by Senator Carlos Agüero to further indicate that "when we see a transvestite, a man dressed as a woman, we do not know where they hide that thing we know”.

In response to these statements, representatives and activists of SOMOSGAY and LESVOS called for a peaceful march outside the headquarters of the General Assembly, urging the Paraguayan State to accompany the Draft Resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression presented by the Brazilian delegation. However, the brutal police attack on activists and citizens defending LGBT rights proved once more the intolerant and hate-promoting position of the paraguayan government, contrary to the equality and free-speech principles stated in our National Constitution.

The statements made in regards to same-sex marriage were also expressed by Horacio Cartes during his candidacy for president, affirming that people with “different options” are abnormal, also comparing LGBT people with monkeys. Once he won the elections in 2013, Cartes said "If gay marriage is approved, I believe this could lead us to the end of the world". During a radio interview, President Cartes was asked about what he would do is his son comes out, affirming "I'm going to shoot my balls, honestly, because my son does not lack anything”.

In view of this important and historic opportunity for the country to move towards a more just and egalitarian society, Sergio López, activist of SOMOSGAY says that "it is necessary for us to leave the dark place where we are. Paraguay is the only country in Latin America that does not have any protective laws on human rights for LGBT people”. He also mentions that several complaints with serious offenses have been filed against the Paraguayan State and, up to date, all have been ignored.

"SOMOSGAY demands the Paraguayan State, as founding member of the UN and current member of its Human Rights Council, to include these issues in the Secretary General’s agenda, in addition to take actions to pursuit the advancement of human rights in Paraguay. If we don’t protect all citizens from discrimination, as suggested in the Art. 46 of our National Constitution, Paraguay will face a major setback on this matter, while other latin american countries show clear progress” finalized López.

Photo Credit: Free & Equal (Facebook)

UN Secretary-General message at Human Rights Council. Click here to watch.