The voting took place on the “Mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.” (Photo: AP/File)

New Delhi: Despite calls from parties in India to support the issue of LGTB community rights at the United Nations, India once again abstained during the voting on the resolution at the United National Human Rights Council. India has in the past too abstained from voting on this issue.

Leaders across party lines had come out in support of a petition that called for India to move away from its past trend of abstaining from voting on resolutions related to LGBTQ rights at the United National Human Rights Council and to vote in favour of a crucial resolution on LGBTQ rights on Friday.  The voting took place on the “Mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

It was based on a General Assembly resolution of 15 March 2006, in which the Assembly stated that the Human Rights Council should be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner,

In a petition on Change.org, Pune resident Varun Sardesai urged India to change its stance on LGBTQ rights at the UNHRC, since the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgement last year striking down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, decriminalising homosexuality.  

The petition also called for India to support a resolution to renew the mandate of the first UN expert Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI).