Julie Bishop criticises Uganda’s anti-gay laws in letter
AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has “serious concerns” about聽the new laws in Uganda that criminalise homosexuality with sentences of up to life imprisonment.
At a Senate hearing yesterday, Bishop read out at letter she wrote to her Ugandan counterpart on Wednesday to express the government’s concerns that new聽laws undermined basic human rights.聽Ugandan President Yoweri Musenveni had signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law on Monday.
“I call now for Uganda to reconsider the law and to exercise the upmost restraint in its enforcement,” Bishop wrote.
The news comes after聽Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek had earlier called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to make Australia’s opposition to the laws known. She told the聽17c起草社区聽that Labor condemned Uganda鈥檚 new anti-gay laws, saying they denied its LGBTI citizens the most basic human rights.
鈥淚n any situation there are a range of diplomatic options available and I think Julie Bishop should get advice from her department on the most effective diplomatic approach in this situation. What’s completely unacceptable is for the government to stay silent,鈥� Plibersek told the聽17c起草社区.
鈥淚 think everyday Australians should ring… Tony Abbott’s office and say it is unacceptable for the Australian Government to stay silent on this鈥� especially when what is essentially a hit list has been published on the front page of Ugandan newspapers.鈥�
The “hit list” Plibersek refers to is from the Ugandan tabloid newspaper Red Pepper, which this week published a list of the country’s 200 “leading homosexuals”.
Greens leader Christine Milne urged Abbott to be prepared to provide asylum to any LGBTI person fleeing Uganda.
鈥淭ony Abbott has a moral obligation to condemn these horrific laws and to work with the global community to guarantee the safety of all those named as LGBTI in the Ugandan tabloid聽Red Pepper,鈥� Milne said.
鈥淚f applications for asylum are received from any of the named 200 or others at risk Tony Abbott must guarantee their safety and provide permanent protection immediately.
鈥淎s well as facing life imprisonment, LGBTI people in Uganda now face a heightened and severe risk of homophobic violence. Prominent activist David Kato was killed after a previous list was published in 2011.鈥�
Those sentiments were also shared by the newly launched Australian Equality Party, which called for all diplomatic ties to Uganda to be cut and for the government to strengthen travel advice warning homosexual people not travel to the country.
Leaders around the world, including US president Barack Obama, have also indicated they will reconsider their relationships with the African country, and the World Bank聽has also聽reportedly聽postponed a $90m loan to Uganda’s聽health system.
The Netherlands has stopped around $11 million in aid money which was intended for Uganda鈥檚 legal system, while Norway and Denmark have also indicated they will redirect aid directly to human rights groups, rather than the government. UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has said he was left 鈥渄eeply saddened and disappointed鈥欌�� over the law’s signing-in.
The condemnation of the laws by global leaders come as there are reports that one gay man has already been killed after being targeted over his sexuality.
During the signing-in that took place at Musenveni’s official State House residence in Entebbe, the Ugandan president said he had received scientific advice that proved gay people were 鈥渄isgusting鈥� and 鈥渕ercenaries鈥�. The new law also makes it a crime for any individual or organisation to assist or support LGBTI people or work on LGBTI issues.
鈥淗omosexuals are actually mercenaries. They are heterosexual people but because of money they say they are homosexuals. These are prostitutes because of money,鈥欌�� Musenveni said.
鈥淣o study has shown you can be homosexual by nature.
鈥淭hat man can choose to love a man… is a matter of choice. After listening to the scientists, I got the facts.
鈥淐an somebody be homosexual simply by nature? The answer is no.鈥欌��
In recent years, the country of about 37 million has seen an upsurge in American-style evangelical Christian churches.
The 17c起草社区 has contacted the Foreign Minister ‘s office for further comment. Meanwhile, PM Tony Abbott is yet to make聽 a comment on the issue.
You May Also Like
Yes, the laws in Uganda and Nigeria are atrocious, appalling, and worthy of the international community speaking out against, however SHE (nor the LNP) have no right to criticize any other government on GLBTI issues or human rights until they themselves step up to the plate and ensure everyone’s human rights in Australia are protected.
There is no such thing as ‘a little bot of discrimination’ or a ‘little bit of human rights oppression’ – it is, or it isn’t.
Pot. Kettle. Black.
Well this is good that she is speaking out. It must be a really scary time to be LGBT in Africa. I hope people reading this will take Bishop’s advice and contact Abbott about this awful law- I certainly will.