[News] [Africa] LGBT rights worsen in Africa: Amnesty

[Stephanie Stevens]

Sydney Star Observer, Australia


LGBT rights worsen in Africa: Amnesty

Andrew M. Potts

Posted on 24 May 2012


Discrimination against gay and gender-diverse people has “worsened” in
Africa due to homophobic laws and escalating persecution, Amnesty
International has reported.

The 2012 Amnesty International Annual Report, released today, found
politicians in some African nations had not only failed to protect
LGBTI people from discrimination, they also incited hate towards them.

The report flagged at least eight African countries where LGBTI people
still faced serious persecution based on their perceived sexuality
and/or gender identity.

In Cameroon, the Government proposed to increase jail terms and fines
for people found in same-sex relationships while scores were arrested
and some even jailed.

In Malawi, Mauritania and Zimbabwe, men were arrested and prosecuted
because of their perceived sexuality while the Malawian Government
criminalised lesbian relationships.

Amnesty LGBTI spokesman Senthorun Raj said the most pressing issue for
LGBTI people globally were anti-gay laws that still existed in more
than 70 countries.

“We recognise that that’s a breach of people’s fundamental rights to
non-discrimination and then also equality before the law and the right
to privacy,” he said.

“There are moves on the international level to progress the issues
facing sexual and gender minorities around the world.”

In a historic motion last year, the UN Human Rights Council passed a
resolution extending equal rights to everyone, regardless of sexual
orientation.

Also in 2011, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared “gay
rights are human rights” in a landmark speech while UK prime minister
David Cameron threatened foreign aid sanctions against countries that
persecuted LGBTI people.

“At the same time, there has been a concerted backlash against some of
these moves and what we are seeing is an intensification of violence,
harassment and discrimination in places like Africa, the Middle East
and some parts of Europe,” Raj said.

Even in countries where homosexuality was legal, Raj said there was
pressure to keep LGBTI people out of sight.

In March, authorities in St Petersburg, Russia passed laws to ban
“homosexual propaganda”.

“What we are seeing is that even where the rights to privacy are
recognised and there is no formal criminalisation of people in
same-sex relationships, there’s also a push to limit public
visibility,” he said.

Other issues highlighted in the report included hate crimes in some
European countries and failed attempts to introduce
anti-discrimination laws as seen in Italy.

Amnesty national director Claire Mallinson said men and women across
the world had shown bravery and determination to protect and defend
human rights.

Last week, new Malawian president Joyce Banda vowed to repeal the
country’s ban on homosexuality.


© 2012 Star Online

http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2012/05/24/lgbt-rights-worsen-in-africa-amnesty/77848