The United States warns that the law will not only put fundamental values at risk, but will also reverse progress in the fight against HIV
22 (EUROPA PRESS)
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has expressed his concern this Wednesday about the adoption in Uganda of a law that increases prison sentences for having homosexual relations and has asked the president, Yoweri Museveni, not to promulgate a reform that “is probably one of the worst of its kind in the world.”
For Turk, the approval of the Ugandan Parliament for this reform is “worrying”, insofar as it proposes punishing the LGTBI collective “simply for existing, for being who they are”. In his opinion, it would mean a “carte blanche” for the “systematic violation” of Human Rights and would fuel social hatred.
“The law confuses consensual and non-consensual relationships,” according to Turk, who has urged the authorities of the African country to prosecute abuse “in all its forms,” regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the person who commits it. In this sense, he has indicated that “the law will be a massive distraction” when it comes to taking measures on sexual violence that are “necessary.”
The text penalizes the mere identification as LGTBI, with punishments that can reach life imprisonment and even the death penalty if it is classified as ‘aggravated homosexuality’, in cases where it is considered that there is no consent or coercion. Those who promote same-sex relationships risk up to 20 years in prison.
In addition, Turk fears punishment against journalists, medical workers and human rights defenders “simply for doing their job”, in a context where the persecution of the LGTBI collective was already palpable, as “brave” activists and deputies who have raised his voice against the law.
The United Nations had already detected an increase in hate speech against the LGTBI population and has echoed a study by a civil society group that denounced that, only in February, there were more than 110 incidents against this community, from arrests to evictions, going through sexual abuse or public harassment.
IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF “VALUES”
The reform “not only conflicts with the articles of Uganda’s own Constitution that enshrine equality and non-discrimination”, but contravenes all “international legal obligations” subscribed to by the African country and puts in “serious danger” the most basic rights of Ugandan citizenship, according to Turk.
The head of the UN for Human Rights issues has stressed that “this is not about values”, in relation to the recurring argument to justify this type of legislation, since “it promotes violence and discrimination against people only for what they are and because of who they love is wrong,” regardless of how you want to argue.
For its part, the United States has warned that this law will not only undermine the fundamental rights of all Ugandans, but could also reverse all progress in the fight against HIV.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has urged the Government of Uganda to “reconsider” the implementation of this legislation.
