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‘The State Department report is enlightening but it won’t be effective if the U.S. government keeps siding with abusers like Iran in supporting silencing human rights watchers,’ said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON - The United Arab Emirates, in the news for its U.S. ports contract deal, was highlighted today by the State Department for its human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, alongside other countries.

“The State Department report is enlightening but it won’t be effective if the U.S. government keeps siding with abusers like Iran in supporting silencing human rights watchers,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Countries like the U.A.E. are abusing men and women and the best the U.S. government can do is give them a multimillion dollar contract to manage our ports. We should be demanding accountability for human rights violations, not simply turning a blind eye toward the problem.”

Solmonese continued, “The State Department’s ‘Country Reports on Human Rights Practices’ released today continues to show severe human rights violations based on gender identity and sexual orientation occur around the world. But in January, the United States sided with Iran in denying United Nations consultative status to organizations working to right these wrongs. We will continue to work with our allies to encourage the United States to follow its own advice.”

The report points to violations in several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Jamaica, Cameroon and Poland.

The report finds that in the United Arab Emirates, “On November 23, Abu Dhabi Police arrested 26 allegedly homosexual men — U.A.E. nationals, Arabs and Asians — who had gathered at an Abu Dhabi hotel for a party. Government officials reportedly said that the men were transferred to the ministry’s Social Support Center and would ‘be given the necessary treatment, from male hormone injections to psychological therapies’ after their trial.”

View the report.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.