The United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a resolution on the ‘protection of the family,’ but attempts to have it amended to recognize there are a variety of family structures – including those headed by LGBTI people – were blocked. 

The resolution was put forward by diplomats from Egypt and Sierra Leone during the Human Rights Council’s 26th Session yesterday and calls for a plenary panel on the protection of the family and its members at the Human Rights Council’s September Council session. 

Uruguay, Chile, Ireland and France put forward a more inclusive amendment to the resolution stating that ‘various forms of family exist’ but Russia used a ‘no action’ motion to prevent it from even being debated. 

Saudi Arabia also sought to insert a restrictive definition of marriage into the resolution but withdrew this once the more inclusive amendment was voted down. 

The UK called a vote on the resolution by Sierra Leone and Egypt and it was passed in a vote of 26-14 with 6 abstentions. 

Voting in favor of the non-inclusive resolution were Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Vietnam. 

Voting against the resolution were Austria, Chile, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, South Korea, Romania, the UK and United States. 

Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Macedonia abstained while Cuba did not vote on the resolution at all. 

Countries that supported the non-inclusive resolution reportedly cheered and clapped when it passed. 

It is expected that Russia will also bring up a resolution on ‘traditional values’ when the council meets in September.