Comstock/Thinkstock(GENEVA) -- The United Nations Human Rights Council approved a historic resolution on Friday that recognizes and calls for gay rights around the world.



The measure was passed with 23 votes in favor, 19 against and three abstentions. It was introduced by South Africa and met with opposition from Arab and African countries.



The Obama administration is touting this as evidence of its leadership on an international body that was known more for its blanket criticism of Israel before the U.S. joined in 2009.



The draft resolution, provided to ABC News by a State Department official ahead of the vote, does little more than recognize universal rights and express concern about reports of discrimination, but such a measure would have been unthinkable just a short time ago when countries like Iran used the council to pursue their agenda.

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