The World Celebrates International Day Against Homophobia on May 17

By Kylie M Tsudama

Special Features Editor, Impunity Watch

Today marks the seventh celebration of International Day Against Homophobia, also known by the acronym IDAHO.  The Day is an opportunity to “highlight positive aspects of homosexuality and celebrate the contributions of lesbians and gays to society,” and moves away from a ‘victimization’ philosophy.

IDAHO was established in 2003 by Fondation Émergence, along with numerous international partners.  It adopted the slogan, “From Tolerance to Acceptance,” a more-than-subtle indication that tolerance is often linked to indifference, which highlights the importance of moving beyond mere tolerance into a more accepting and inclusive world.

Fondation Émergence also established the Fight Against Homophobia Award, which has been a way to recognized the contributions made by individuals or organizations “to combat the prejudice gays and lesbians are subject to,” and has “served to highlight not only openness toward gay and lesbian realities but also the successful work that enables society to accept these realities.”  The award has been presented every year since 2003.

Quebec playwright and novelist, Michel Tremblay
Québec playwright and novelist, Michel Tremblay

This year, the award will be given to Michel Tremblay, a Québec playwright and novelist.

Michel Tremblay’s contribution to the fight against homophobia is obvious”, explains Laurent McCutcheon, Fondation Émergence President. “His world-renowned works and his personal contribution have helped to educate the general population and make them more aware. Our society has experienced remarkable breakthroughs over the past thirty years and Michel Tremblay has been a significant catalyst in this evolution.”

One of the first Québec figures to come out, Tremblay’s emergence took a great deal of courage at the time.  His recognition is “clearly related to his works,” which feature gay and lesbian characters in prominence.

Every year, IDAHO chooses an annual campaign highlighting a specific theme that affects LGBT people’s lives on a daily basis.  This year, IDAHO chose “Speaking about Silence: Homophobia in the Sports World” as its theme.  Its Declaration Against any Form of Discrimination in the Sports World states,

No form of discrimination is welcome in the sports world.

Being an athlete is not only about
reaching higher and higher physically.

It’s also about the values of justice, equality,
team unity, respect, and dignity.

Plus, it’s fighting any form of discrimination,
including discrimination based on sexual orientation.

That’s why I lend my support to
the International Day Against Homophobia.

Today, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) called for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation, and for the respect of human rights.

“I urge all governments to take steps to eliminate stigma and discrimination faced by men who have sex with men, lesbians, and transgender populations,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé’s Remarks on International Day Against Homophobia

UNAIDS hosted an event at its headquarters in Geneva today which included a screening of A Deadly Cycle.  The video highlights the impact of homophobia in Jamaica.  Translatina, a full-length documentary offering a realistic look into the challenges for transgendered people to access education, work, justice, and healthcare, among other things, in Latin America, was also screened.

Also planned were discussions with Executive Director of Sexual Minorities of Uganda, Frank Mugisha; Technical Director of Sexual Minorities, UNAIDS country office in India, and LGBT rights activist Ashok Row Kavi; and WHO HIV Director Dr. Gottlieb Hirnschall.

May 17 was chosen as the date for IDAHO because of its significance to the community; the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses on a May 17.

For more information, please see:

International Day Against Homophobia

UNAIDS – International Day Against Homophobia – 17 May 2010

Yemeni Soldiers Killed In Convoy Ambush

By Ahmad Shihadah
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – Armed separatists ambushed a military convoy on a road in southern Yemen on Saturday, killing two soldier and wounding four, a security official told Reuters.

“Two security escorts were killed and another four were seriously wounded when they returned fire against the armed attackers,” an official of the Interior Ministry told the Xinhua News agency on condition of anonymity.

According to the official, the accident took place Saturday afternoon in al-Habilain town in the province of Lahj, as the official convoy was traveling from the southern port city Aden to Sanaa.

“The Deputy Prime Minister al-Alami survived unharmed and his convoy managed to continue its way to Sanaa,” said the official, adding “the four injured soldiers were rushed to a hospital in Sanaa.”

“Security forces are chasing the saboteurs,” the security official said. A defense ministry website denied reports that Rashad al-Alimi, deputy prime minister for security affairs, was traveling in the convoy.

Several soldiers, separatist gunmen and bystanders have been killed in the recent months’ escalating tension in the south.

The government, struggling to stabilize a fractious country in which central authority is often weak, faces international pressure to quell domestic conflicts in order to focus on fighting a resurgent al Qaeda.

For More Information, Please see:

Reuters – Militants Kill Yemen Soldier In Convoy Ambush – 15 May 2010

Xinhua – Yemeni Deputy Survives, 2 Escorts Killed In South – 16 May 2010

Al-Jazeera – ‘Deadly Attack’ On Yemeni Convoy – 16 May 2010

Al-Qaeda Claims Failed Attack In Yemen

By Ahmad Shihadah
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – Al Qaeda’s Yemen wing has claimed a suicide attack on the British ambassador to Sanaa, accusing him of leading a war on Muslims in the Arabian peninsula on Britain’s behalf, a monitoring group said on Wednesday.

SITE Intelligence Group said in a news release that Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack in a communique released on jihadist forums Tuesday.

The British envoy survived the April 26 attempt on his life, carried out by a suicide bomber who targeted his convoy in Sanaa in an attack Yemen said bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda. The bomber was killed and three people were wounded.

The attack on came four months after the Yemen-based branch of al-Qaeda tried to blow up a U.S. airliner with 278 passengers as it approached Detroit.

John Brennan, President Barack Obama’s assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism, said on Jan. 3 that there were probably several hundred al-Qaeda members in Yemen and that the U.S. was concerned they may be training other operatives for attacks in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter and holder of one-fifth of global reserves, also faces a threat from al- Qaeda militants based across the border with Yemen. In August, the group attempted to assassinate a top Saudi internal security official, Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz.

Yemen is the poorest Arab country, and the government expects oil reserves that fund 70 percent of the budget to run out over the next decade.

The U.K. hosted an aid conference in January for Yemen that promised further assistance if the government carries out political and economic improvements that would allow better use of foreign donations.

In the statement, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula vilified Britain for convening the London conference, SITE said.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Yemen Al Qaeda Arm Claims Attack On UK Ambassador – 12 May 2010

AP – Al-Qaeda Group Claims April Attack In Yemen – May 12 2010

Bloomsburg – Al-Qaeda Claims Failed Attack On UK Envoy – May 12 2010

Human Rights Watch Presses UK to End Torture, Rendition

By Kenneth F. Hunt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, United Kingdom – In a report published on Friday May 14, Human Rights Watch criticized the United Kingdom’s treatment of terrorists and pressed for the new coalition government to undertake a judicial inquiry to uncover the truth about such abusive practices and officially break from past policies of torture and rendition.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said that such an inquiry and break from past policies is necessary to meet the UK’s domestic and international legal obligations and restore the UK’s reputation as a champion of human rights in the global community.

Just last week, the Tories and Liberal Democrats took power by forming a coalition in the United Kingdom, ending over a decade of Labor Party rule. Both parties ran on promises to end abusive counter-terrorism tactics, including kidnapping and torturing terrorist suspects, including several UK nationals.

Despite these promises, many believe that the new government will continue to allow M15 and M16 to work with overseas intelligence agencies to facilitate torture and illegal rendition for those alleged of terrorist activities.

The London director of Human Rights Watch, Tom Porteous, pressed the new government to end the impunity by “mak[ing] clean break with the previous government’s abusive approach to counterterrorism.”

Equally importantly, Mr. Porteous said a judicial inquiry to uncover the illegal techniques used by M15 and M16 during Labor rule would “strengthen the UK’s role in bringing to justice those responsible for international crimes at home and abroad.”

The inquiry, according to the Human Rights Watch report, should focus on identifying the members of the Labor Party government who specifically authorized torture and other illegal actions taken against terrorist suspects. The inquiry would also ideally uncover those M15 and M16 officers who tortured after being authorized by government officials.

While the new government has made public statements indicating its willingness to undertaken an inquiry into the actions, Tories and Liberal Democrats are extremely unlikely to prosecute M15 and M16 officers that undertook actions that government lawyers had deemed legal under UK law.

For more information, please see:

COMMON DREAMS – New Government Should Open Inquiry Into Allegations of Complicity and Torture – 14 May 2010

GUARDIAN – Human Rights Watch calls for inquiry into Britain’s role in torture – 14 May 2010

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH – UK: Make Rights a Priority at Home and Abroad – 14 May 2010

Serbian Government Pledges To Investigate Newly Found Mass Grave Tied To Kosovo War

By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BELGRADE, Serbia – Serbia announced today that it has unearthed a mass grave of Albanians killed in Kosovo during that region’s independence war in 1998.

The grave was found in the southern Serbian town of Raska during the early stages of construction on a new parking lot and building.  Based on the conditions of the ground where the grave was found, it is likely that the bodies were moved to their current location from another spot inside of Kosovo.  The grave was initially found as a result of efforts by the European Union Rule of Law Mission In Kosovo.

Bruno Vekaric, the Serbian Deputy War Crimes prosecutor, indicated that an investigation would be opened in the new grave site.  Vekaric estimated that there were somewhere between 150 and 350 bodies.  “Serbia is for the first time openly facing its bad past.”

Another prosecutor, Vladimir Vukecevic, also noted the importance the pending investigation held for Serbia in coming to terms with its role in the Kosovo war.  “This is more proof that Serbia does not shy away from its dark past and is ready to bring to justice all those who have committed crimes.”

Initial conclusions from investigators indicated that the persons found in this grave, mostly ethnic Albanians, were killed by Serbian soldiers during the war.  Slobodan Milosevic was President of Yugoslavia at the time of the killings.

The Raska location is not the first mass grave that can be traced to victims of the Kosovo war.  Five others were found in recent years, two in Kosovo and three inside of Serbia.

For more information, please see:

AP – Serbia plans to open mass grave – 14 May 2010

BOSNEWLIFE – Serbia Discovers Largest Mass Grave In Years – 13 May 2010

AFP – Serbia uncovers Kosovo Albanian mass grave – 10 May 2010

BBC – Mass grave find shows Serbia slowly facing up to past – 10 May 2010