In what can only be described as a major switch in outlook, South Africa changed it's vote to keep sexual orientation in the resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

The removal of the reference, which was done at the committee level last month, led to an outcry from human rights advocates worldwide. Gay rights and human rights activists said gay people are among minority groups that need special protection from extrajudicial and other unjustified killings.

The UN assembly has now voted 93 in favor of the United States' proposal to restore the previous language, with 55 countries against and 27 abstaining. The assembly then approved the amended resolution 122 in favor, with 0 votes against, and 59 abstentions.

The resolution once again states: "To ensure the effective protection of the right to life of all persons under their jurisdiction and to investigate promptly and thoroughly all killings, including those targeted at specific groups of persons, such as...killings of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, or because of their sexual orientation...."

South Africa's vote has been credited to be one of the leading factors in the resolution amendment. Not only does South Africa carry a key vote in the African region at the UN, but it has also amended it's vote after many gay and human rights activists in South Africa implored the government to adjust it's previous viewpoint. South Africa now is credited as saying that they were "guided by our Constitution that guarantees the right to life" and that "no killing of human beings can be justified whatsoever."

South Africa's government received letters and petition from many groups of concerned individuals, who both begged the government to explain their previous stance and petitioned them to revert to the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation in the resolution.

Cape Town Pride applauds the South African Government on their swift response to the outcry from the local gay community. It is this kind of swift government attention and action to the rights of the South African gay minority that prove that democracy is indeed alive and well in South Africa.