Panel bars UN links to two more gay rights groups

UNITED NATIONS, May 20 (Reuters) A UN panel this week barred two more gay rights groups from having a formal voice at the United Nations after blocking two others earlier this year, diplomats said .

Votes to deny the groups ''consultative status'' at the world body took place in the UN Economic and Social Council's Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations, which wrapped up its latest eight-day session yesterday.

A total of 2,870 nongovernmental organizations have such status, enabling them to distribute documents and speak at meetings of some UN bodies and conferences.

The committee, which holds sessions twice a year, this week rejected applications from The Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany and ILGA-Europe, a chapter of the International Gay and Lesbian Association.

During its first 2006 session, which took place last January, the committee rejected the Belgium-based International Gay and Lesbian Association and the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians.

The United States -- which voted against UN recognition of the two groups considered in January, prompting criticism from several human rights groups and 45 members of the US Congress -- voted in favor of the two groups put to a vote this week.

But motions by Iran to reject both applicants were nonetheless approved 9-7. Voting ''no'' both times were Cameroon, China, Iran, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Sudan and Zimbabwe. Voting against rejection were Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Peru, Romania and the United States. India and Turkey abstained.

While some committee members expressed concern the rejections revealed a discriminatory pattern, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican's UN observer, said UN consultative status was not a question of human rights.

All four committee votes are subject to review later this year by the full 54-member Economic and Social Council.

Reuters SK GC0539