Senate condemns Uganda
The Australian Parliament last week voted to support a Greens’ motion condemning the Ugandan and Nigerian Anti-Gay Bills.
“It is genuinely horrifying that there are governments in this world that want to punish and imprison people simply for being who they are,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“The Australian Parliament has condemned the bills in both Uganda and Nigeria and I call upon the government to do all it can diplomatically to urge those nations to remove these disgraceful pieces of legislation.
“While more needs to be done to create equality in Australia, we are lucky to live in a country where people can feel safe in being themselves.”
The approved motion noted grave concern over the bill in Uganda, re‑tabled in 2012, which would increase the penalties imposed in the country for homosexuality, as well as the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Law in Nigeria, passed by Nigeria’s Parliament but not yet signed into law. It prohibits same-sex marriage and civil unions by imposing penalties including imprisonment of 14 years, and prohibits the activities of gay couples and organisations by imposing penalties including imprisonment of 10 years.
The motion also urged the governments of Uganda and Nigeria to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay and transgender people in accordance with their commitments under international law.
