Gay rights are human rights too, Uganda

The Government should be pinning the New Zealand name to the list of countries which object to Uganda’s anti-gay legislation, says Maryan Street, Labour’s Human Rights Spokesperson.

“Gay rights have long since ceased to be the domain of the so-called decadent west and are recognised as part of those mainstream human rights which are about allowing human beings to be who they are.

“Uganda cannot be allowed to think that its repressive legislation in this area is only a domestic issue.

“Already reports are coming out of print media in Uganda publishing lists of the ‘top 200’ gay public servants or people of influence in the country. This fuelling of prejudice and fostering of fear are relics of older times. Uganda is a much more modern state than this. Why it has plunged itself back into benighted times is incomprehensible.

“The United States has said it is reviewing its official relationship with Uganda because of this legislation. Other countries on whose foreign aid Uganda depends, are also reconsidering their aid commitments.

“Uganda cannot be left with the impression that this anti-gay, anti-human rights legislation is acceptable. It is not. The New Zealand government was limp in its response to human rights abuses and war crimes in Sri Lanka. Surely it can tell Uganda that we do not approve of this legislation on human rights grounds,” said Maryan Street.

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