The US and the EU condemn the "shameful" anti-LGBTI law enacted in Uganda
President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, has promulgated this Monday the new anti LGTBI law that contemplates more severe punishments, among them the death penalty and imprisonment, for the people of this community.
The president of the Parliament, Anita Among, in which you have confirmed via Twitter that uganda parliament I have answered "to the cries of our people", for this reason they have legislated to "protect the sanctity of the family", according to him Article 32 full Constitution the country.
"We have remained firm to defend the culture, values and aspirations of our people, our national objectives and the guiding principles of State policy", has added Among, thanking the rest of the deputies for their "endurance" against “all the pressure from the bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists in the interest of our country”.
Also, the vast majority of 500 deputies who voted in favor have stated that the death penalty by "crimes of aggravated homosexuality, during the review of the document hours after its approval.
In spite of the international condemnation, the standard has been modified by the Parliament in May at the request of the president to include some of the changes that he proposed, such as not punishing only the mere identification as a person from the community LGTBIQ.
Museveni has ratified this new law more than eight years after a version of it was annulled by the country's courts due to procedural defects. As in 2014, the legislation can still be challenged in court.
USA and EU strike out the law of "shameful"
President of United States, Joe Biden, has mentioned that the new anti LGTBIQ law is “shameful” and a “tragic violation of universal rights” in the African country, which encourages Washington to take retaliatory measures, such as our sanctions.
El US government and the European Union condemn this law which was promulgated this Monday by the president of Uganda, in which they state that the “The dangers posed by this democratic rollback are a threat to all who reside in Uganda"Including "government staff United States, that of our partners, tourists, members of the business community and others”, has pointed out Biden In a statement sent by the Casa Blanca.
Increase in violence against LGTBI people in Uganda
In addition, he has ensured that the testimonies of violence and discrimination against Ugandans in the community LGTBI they have been increasing since the law was promoted, in which many people live in fear of being evicted from their homes, fired, threatened or even sentenced to prison terms.
In turn, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has indicated that the anti LGTBI law es "contrary to international law and the obligations of Uganda under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights".
Also, Borrell has mentioned that the European Union will continue to collaborate with the Ugandan authorities and civil society to ensure that "citizens regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, are treated equally, with dignity and respect..
He also recalled that the Museveni government "has an obligation to protect and defend the basic rights of its population”, otherwise, “relations with international partners will be undermined”.
Therefore, the bill is expected to come under review again, since the Homosexuality is criminalized in some 70 countries., half of them are in Africa.
