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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni must veto the
Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which was passed in a surprise vote this
morning, Amnesty International said. The passage of the Bill - which
dramatically increases the criminal penalties for consensual sexual
activity between adults of the same sex - amounts to a grave assault on
human rights.
In addition to violating rights to privacy, family life and equality,
the bill threatens freedom of association and expression - all
protected under Ugandan and international human rights law. It
institutionalizes discrimination against already marginalized lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals in the
country.
"President Museveni must veto this wildly discriminatory legislation,
which amounts to a grave assault on human rights and makes a mockery of
the Ugandan constitution," said Aster van Kregten, Deputy Africa
Director at Amnesty International. "Passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
was a retrograde step for Uganda's Parliament, which has made some
important progress on human rights in recent years, including
criminalizing torture. It flies in the face of the Ugandan government's
stated commitment to ensure all legislation complies with human rights."
On September 10 this year, the government's Speaker of Parliament
launched a human rights checklist to give lawmakers criteria to assess
whether new pieces of legislation were at risk of violating key rights
and freedoms protected by Uganda's Constitution, including freedom of
expression and freedom from discrimination. Today's passage of the
Anti-Homosexuality Bill only three months later suggests Ugandan
parliamentarians have completely disregarded this commitment.
According to Ugandan NGOs, an opposition Member of Parliament tabled
the bill this morning without prior notice. Despite objections from the
floor, the bill was swiftly adopted after its second and third readings
both took place today, and now only requires presidential assent within
30 days for it to take effect.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill was first introduced in 2009 and
reintroduced to Parliament in 2012. Amnesty International and other
Ugandan and international human rights organizations have repeatedly
called for the legislation to be scrapped.
A provision in the earlier draft of the bill imposing the death
penalty for "aggravated" homosexuality has been replaced with a life
sentence. Among those who could be charged with "aggravated
homosexuality" are so-called "serial offenders," and anyone who is
HIV-positive and found to have had sexual relations with a person of the
same sex - even when such conduct is consensual and protected.
"This bill will institutionalize discrimination, hatred and prejudice
in law against lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and intersex
Ugandans, who are already marginalized," said Aster van Kregten.
Other disturbing provisions of the draft bill included criminalizing
the "promotion" of homosexuality, compelling HIV testing in some
circumstances, and imposing life sentences for entering into a same-sex
marriage.
The bill would significantly hamper the work of human rights
defenders and others who find themselves in conflict with the law merely
by carrying out their legitimate activities.
"The knock-on effect of passing this bill will reach far beyond gay
and lesbian people in Uganda, impeding the legitimate work of civil
society, public health professionals, and community leaders," said Aster
van Kregten. "President Museveni must demonstrate the Government's
stated commitment to human rights compliant legislation by refusing to
assent to this Bill."
Background
Under existing Ugandan law, anyone found guilty of "carnal knowledge
against the order of nature" - a reference to same-sex sexual conduct –
can already face up to life imprisonment. This already violates
international norms, but the Anti-Homosexuality Bill goes far above and
beyond this legislation.
Uganda's constitution, particularly article 29, contains strong protections for freedom of expression, conscience and belief.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled in November 2012, in a
case concerning Russia, that prohibitions against the "propaganda of
homosexuality" are in violation of non-discrimination protections
guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Human Rights Committee ruled in 1994 that laws criminalizing
consensual same-sex sexual activity were in violation of the right to
privacy."
Please sign the petition located here. It says
"implore you to veto the Anti-Homosexuality Bill — in its entirety — immediately.
This
bill violates the rights of Ugandan citizens — both those guaranteed
under Uganda's Constitution and in international and regional human
rights treaties to which Uganda is a party.
This bill will
institutionalize discrimination, hatred and prejudice in law against
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex Ugandans, who are
already marginalized.
I am also concerned that the bill
criminalizes the "promotion" of homosexuality, compels HIV testing in
some circumstances, and imposes life sentences for those entering into a
same-sex marriage.
The knock-on effect of passing this bill will
reach far beyond gay and lesbian people in Uganda, impeding the work of
civil society, public health professionals, and community leaders.
I
urge you to demonstrate the Government's stated commitment to human
rights compliant legislation by refusing to assent to this bill."
Please sign petition even if you do not agree with a same-sex relationship people should not be put to death because of who they love.