Commonwealth should act to protect gay rights in Uganda (Newham Borough Liberal Democrats)

Newham Borough Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Commonwealth should act to protect gay rights in Uganda

January 14, 2010 12:00 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

The European Parliament has joined the effort to raise awareness of the stream of aggressive state-sponsored homophobia that is sweeping across much of Africa, and Daniel Howden's article ("The love that still dare not speak its name", Independent 11th January) gave valuable coverage to this huge and frightening human rights threat. Just before Christmas MEPs called on the Ugandan government not to approve the anti-homosexuality bill put forward by that country's parliament.

Let's be clear. This is not 'just' about denying equal rights in society to gay people. It is not for example about refusing same-sex marriage. It is not even 'just' about refusing to decriminalise gay sex. It is about persecution and witchhunting on a ferocious scale which threaten not only limbs but lives. The proposed law in Uganda would make execution a routine penalty for gay sex and (perpetuating an ignorant myth that ignores heterosexual transmission) for those testing positive for HIV, while the familiar ban on 'promotion of homosexuality' would stop organisations working in HIV and AIDS prevention. Not only is snooping and settling of scores encouraged but, since anyone knowing of homosexual activity but failing to report it would risk up to three years in prison, a fear-based incentive is given to file wild and erroneous reports.

Many of the countries going down this road are members of the Commonwealth, of which one central goal is the promotion of human rights. This organisation needs to act to enforce its core principles, not turn a blind eye to the most gross and egregious abuses of fundamental rights, including the right to life.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Ludford

(This letter was sent to The Independent on 14 January 2010 but was not published.)