France to call for EU, UN action on women's and gay rights
(PARIS) - France is to call for a European Union drive to tackle violence against women worldwide and for the United Nations to step up action against homophobia, the French human rights minister said on Wednesday.
Junior Human Rights Minister Rama Yade told the 61st annual conference of non-governmental organisations at UNESCO headquarters in Paris that a text would be submitted to the EU in the coming days.
France, as holder of the six-month EU presidency, hopes to "set the criteria for EU intervention" in the fight against violence towards women, including by mobilising Europe's diplomatic networks.
Paris also plans to submit a draft declaration to the UN General Assembly in December aimed at combatting homophobia and decriminalising homosexuality, which is punishable by prison in 90 countries and in theory by death in six of them, Yade said.
Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.
