Rudd weighs in on Uganda
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has expressed ‘deep concern’ over draft laws being considered by the Ugandan Parliament, which propose harsh penalties for a variety of offences related to homosexuality.
The draft ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’ — a private member’s Bill originally introduced in 2009 — has been re-introduced for debate in the Ugandan Parliament.
Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have today spoken to the Ugandan Acting High Commissioner in Canberra to convey Australia’s deep concerns about the Bill.
“We have expressed the Government’s condemnation of the content of the Bill,” Rudd said in a statement this morning.
“I have also instructed our High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya, which has responsibility for Uganda, to make similar representations to the Government of Uganda.
“Australia is a global advocate in support of non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and will continue to take opportunities through the United Nations and other channels to urge all governments to end such discrimination.”
The Government has raised concerns about the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill with the Government of Uganda on several occasions. At the 14th Session of the Human Rights Council, in June 2010, Australia urged all States to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and, in particular, to remove criminal penalties, including the death penalty, for offences on the basis of sexual orientation.
Australia also co-sponsored the UN Joint Statement on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity at the UN General Assembly in December 2008.
The bill is expected to be debated today.
UPDATE: According to activist group Avaaz and media reports the bill was not passed into law.
A statement on the Avaaz website reads: “Great news — the bill has has been shelved! Together, we’ve won a major fight for equality and justice. Over 1.6 million of us signed the petition opposing the anti-gay bill, tens of thousands of us called our heads of state, and we helped make the attack on gay rights in Uganda a major international news story — and it worked.”
“Today, under intense global pressure, the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament blocked the anti-gay bill from coming to a vote in the emergency session. Now Parliament has closed and the bill has been wiped from the books. It’s not necessarily gone for good, but to be considered again, it would have to be reintroduced as a new bill and go through the whole Parliamentary process — which took 18 months last time.
“Our global outcry made it clear that the world is watching, and demanding that human rights be respected everywhere. Today, we can join our friends in Uganda in celebration of a victory that could save thousands of lives.”
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I agree with you Marcus. Kevin Rudd should keep his nose out of Uganda. Its a unique country of its own and has its own laws. Its the same as taking tribal people and moulding them to live a so called proper westernised life.
Your gay
Kevin Rudd is sending Same-Sex attracted people to be tortured in Malaysia!
It is one thing for Kevin Rudd to talk the talk, but he cannot walk the walk. He is sending Same-Sex attracted refugees to Malaysia, where they will be caned and face jail if they dare to make love to their partners, during the many years they will be in detention.
Of course I welcome Kevin Rudd speaking up on Human Rights abuses in other countries, but he should not in the next breath be sending people like us to be tortured!
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/malaysia-torture-practiced-systematically-widespread-caning-2010-12-06
http://www.corpun.com/myjur4.htm
Marcus you are almost completely illiterate. And ignorant. YAY for you!
I think people should focus on the fact that it’s the death penalty that’s being discusessed here, yes we don’t have have same sex marriage here, which is discrimination, but these people are facing a bill to introduce the death penalty for being homosexual!
Rudd had his opportunity to make these sort of changes andstopped short of granting full equal rights to non-heterosexual australians so unfortunately he has no leg to stand on when he condemns other leaders from discriminating against same sex attracted people. If he wants to assist and end discrimination (and criminalisation) against homosexuals, he should start in his own backyard.. another blatant case of ‘christian’ contradiction. Any form of discrimination no matter how small or irrelevant the Australian government believe it is, is still outright discrimination. To use an old saying: “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”. Global change starts at home, Mr.Rudd should consider his blatant double-standards.
Come on now, let’s not get ridiculous with our criticisms of Julia Gillard… especially when Kevin himself is opposed to marriage much like she is. Don’t get silly just because she’s in power.
This is crucial for our government to speak out and do what they can, so good on them.
Kevin Rudd should stay out of Uganda’s affair. Australia should not be made used of by some minority interest groups to carry out their perverted agendas. Uganda has done well to turn around from near extinction from AIDS to what they are today. Well done Uganda, be courages to stand up for the truth. I am Aussie and I would like to tell you that many in this country felt ashamed by these people that are lifted up in their soul but not upright in their hearts.
“Australia is a global advocate in support of non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and will continue to take opportunities through the United Nations and other channels to urge all governments to end such discrimination.”
hey Kev… wanna tell your ‘boss’ that? coz she’s got no idea!