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undeterred

(34,658 posts)
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 08:01 PM Feb 2014

Ugandan anti-homosexuality law: human rights catastrophe on its way

Dave Chapman 22 February 2014


Human rights groups in Uganda and around the world have all called on President Yoweri Museveni to veto the Anti-Homosexuality Bill ahead of the 23 February deadline. The Bill specifies life imprisonment for ‘aggravated homosexuality’. There are also provisions that criminalise ‘promoters of homosexuality’, anyone officiating a same-sex marriage ceremony, and anyone who fails to report ‘the commission of any offence under this Act’.

The Ugandan Human Rights Commission, Uganda Law Society, and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative have all publicly criticised the Anti-Homosexuality bill as unconstitutional. Gemma Houldey, Amnesty International’s Uganda researcher said: ‘This deeply offensive piece of legislation is an affront to the human rights of all Ugandans and should never have got this far.

 ‘The legislation will institutionalise hatred and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Uganda. Its passage into law signals a very grave episode in the nation’s history.’

The work of local and international non-governmental organisations doing advocacy work on human rights issues would be massively affected, according to Human Rights Watch. A range of foreign-funded programmes, especially in the health and human rights sectors, would likely be forced to end their work or face criminal sanction because the bill’s criminalisation of promotion blatantly curtails the rights to free expression for anyone in Uganda, including foreigners.

In one of the latest reports of human rights violations rises across sub-Saharan Africa, two Zambian men accused of having sex ‘against the order of nature’ have been subjected to forcible anal examinations to ‘prove’ their involvement in sexual activity. James Mwape and Philip Mubiana, both aged 22, have been imprisoned since May 2013. Their trial is due to conclude on Tuesday. Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International’s Zambia researcher said: ‘There has been a string of violent attacks and state prosecutions of people believed to be gay or lesbian in Zambia. Police as well as members of the public have carried out homophobic attacks on individuals perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. These attacks have been instigated by a series of inflammatory statements made by senior government officials instructing the public to report anyone they suspect of being a homosexual or “promoting homosexuality.’

more at: http://sosogay.co.uk/2014/ugandan-anti-homosexuality-law-human-rights-catastrophe-way/












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blkmusclmachine

(16,149 posts)
2. Washington DC's shadowy rightwing religious Cult, "The Family," helped author Uganda's KILL THE GAYS
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 08:19 PM
Feb 2014
bill.

"The Family" has run the Presidents Prayer Breakfast since 1952.

"The Family" owns/operates Washington DC's "Frathouse for Jesus" on C Street.

Hillary Roddam Clinton has been an associate member of "The Family" for over 22 years.

undeterred

(34,658 posts)
3. I believe that gay refugees can seek political asylum in either the US or the european union.
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 08:30 PM
Feb 2014

There needs to be more funding helping people to do that, considering the consequences.

Behind the Aegis

(53,921 posts)
4. That isn't always true.
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 10:15 PM
Feb 2014

Many GLBT have a serious issue getting amnesty, even in countries like the UK, the US, and Canada.

Behind the Aegis

(53,921 posts)
7. There are certainly some good stories, but I have seen some real horror stories.
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 11:31 PM
Feb 2014

The most recent (I use that word loosely) was a gay Pakistani that was sent back to Pakistan from Germany. There an Iranian in the UK who was being sent back. I think he was able to stay because of the protests, but I had a hard time finding more info. I just know for GLBT, it can be a real chore. There was a story about it on the International Gay...I can't remember the organization's name, site a few years back about the difficult the LGBT face when filing for asylum. This was three years ago ( ) so it is possible things have changed for the better.

undeterred

(34,658 posts)
8. The harsher the laws, the easier it is to file for asylum
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 11:50 PM
Feb 2014

I don't really know a lot about this but there are a lot of African countries that do not accept gays. This Ugandan law is hateful. It hasn't passed yet- the president says he is consulting physicians and scientists. But its pretty severe and I think it would make a lot of people want to leave the country if they could afford to.

Behind the Aegis

(53,921 posts)
9. Africa is getting worse. I was shocked by some of the things coming from South Africa!
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 11:52 PM
Feb 2014

I posted a link in the LGBT group about Global perspectives on LGBT people. It is a pew poll, take a look. It is eye-opening.

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