LUANDA, December 1, 2009 – The infamous Ugandan Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009 was vehemently denounced yesterday in Luanda, Angola, by EU representatives during the 18th session of the ACP (African-Caribbean-Pacific)/EU (European Union) Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
In his opening speech to the plenary, Louis Michel, former Development Commissioner and Co-President of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, denounced the draft law as attacking human rights, and called for the separation of religion from politics and mutual respect.
During the discussion with the European Commission, and despite some ACP delegates insisting that they could do “what they wanted” in their own countries, Development Commissioner Karel De Gucht recalled that they had obligations under the Cotonou Agreement, as well as under International Conventions.
Following a negative response from a delegate from Uganda, this was echoed by other Members present, including Michael Cashman MEP, co-president of the European Parliament’s all-party Intergroup on LGBT Rights and a Member of the European Parliament Development Committee.
“It is quite clear that this issue of state-sponsored homophobia has been building up for years, and now it is finally out of the bag,” Mr. Cashman told UK Gay News.
“We should have faced this down years ago, but now we can ensure that such homophobia is never endorsed by our silence.
“Things are changing; it will take some more time, but this clock is never going to be turned back. We are all equal in this world and it is high time LGBT people are granted their full human rights, wherever they live.” Read complete article - ILGA EUROPE
Equality for Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender People in Europe
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