Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 23rd March. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk on Wednesday said that the adoption by Uganda’s parliament of new legislation targeting lesbian, gay and bisexual people is “devastating” and could “erode gains made over years”.
Mr. Turk called on Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, not to sign the bill into law, stated that it would mean lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Uganda will become criminals simply “for existing, for being who they are“.
He warned the legislation would lead to “systematic” human rights violations.
The bill adopted by Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday, proposes the death penalty for the offence of “aggravated homosexuality” and lengthy prison terms for related offences.
According to news reports, anyone simply identifying as gay would be breaking the law, while friends, family and other community members, would have a duty to report any individuals who are in same-sex relationships, to the authorities.
Mr. Türk said that crucially, the bill confused consensual relations, which should “never be criminalized”, and non-consensual relations, which “require evidence-based measures to end sexual violence in all its forms – including against children, no matter the gender or sexual orientation of the perpetrator”.
He added that the legislation would be “a massive distraction from taking the necessary action to end sexual violence”.
According to Mr. Türk, the legislation “runs counter to the country’s international legal obligations on human rights” and is not compatible with Uganda’s “political commitments on sustainable development”, as it would put people’s health and safety at risk.
He said journalists, medical workers and human rights defenders could face prison terms “simply for doing their work”.
UN rights office noted that the new legislation comes amid a “rise in homophobic rhetoric among politicians, religious leaders, and other sections of Ugandan society”, which has made life in Uganda less safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
OHCHR said that “more than 110 LGBTQI+ people reported incidents, including arrests, sexual violence, evictions and public stripping” quoted the local sources.
Mr. Türk strongly pushed back on attempts to justify the legislation “on the basis of ‘values’”, stated that “promoting violence and discrimination against people for who they are and who they love, is wrong”.
He paid tribute to “brave” parliamentarians and civil society representatives who had spoken out against the bill, and the discrimination it aimed to impose.
“This law, if signed into force, will have serious negative repercussions on society as a whole, and erode gains made over years”, Turk warned.
Mr. Türk had expressed concern about the bill as it was tabled in Uganda’s parliament, regretted “rhetoric by politicians that incites hatred, and crackdowns on LGBTIQ+ organizations”.
He reiterated that “It is unthinkable that we are facing such bigotry, prejudice and discrimination in the 21st century, holding back development of all members of society”.
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