UN Security Council Condemns Orlando Attack In Unprecedented Statement

[octoberlib]

The statement is the first time the Security Council has condemned violence on the basis of sexual orientation.




The statement was a landmark because the Security Council, the main body in the UN focused on peace and security, has never issued an official document of any kind referencing sexual orientation. It’s a category that many countries have fought to keep out of UN documents, arguing that it is not recognized under international human rights agreements. Monday night’s document was a press statement, not a formal resolution, but it still required unanimous agreement from the committee that includes LGBT-rights opponents like Russia and Egypt.


https://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/un-security-council-condemns-orlando-attack-in-unprecedented?utm_term=.kjB8vyNyb#.rgWPyKdKV


Full statement:


Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack in Orlando, Florida
SECURITY COUNCIL
PRESS RELEASE
The following Security Council statement was issued today by Council President François Delattre (France):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, on 12 June 2016, targeting persons as a result of their sexual orientation, during which 49 people were killed and 53 injured. They expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of the United States. They wished a full recovery to those injured.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12399.doc.htm

[cigsandcoffee]

1. That'll show 'em. n/t

[oswaldactedalone]

2. Only thing is

is this is looking more like a hate crime than terrorism. It's just as likely that, as a self-loathing gay man, he used the ISIS angle as a cover for his real motive. Not ruling out terrorism as a contributing factor but it seems as if many have jumped the gun playing up the terrorism angle before a sufficient amount of information had been gathered about his background.