- Nigerian and international human rights organisations have written a protest letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo, urging him not to go forward with new legislation that would criminalise homosexuality. A proposed bill is to introduce criminal penalties for relationships and marriage ceremonies between persons of the same sex as well as for public advocacy or associations supporting the rights of lesbian and gay people.
A large group of human rights groups sent a protest letter to the Nigerian President earlier this week, according to a release by the New York-based group Human Rights Watch. Among the five Nigerian groups signing the protest were the Alliance Rights and the Centre for Democracy and Development. Also the Cameroon-based African Human Rights Organisation singed the petition.
In the letter, the human rights groups state their "deep concern" over the proposed bill that criminalises homosexuality and organisations supporting gays and lesbians. "The legislation proposed by Minister of Justice Bayo Ojo not only contravenes internationally recognized protections against discrimination, as well as the basic rights to freedom of expression, conscience, association, and assembly, but also undermines Nigeria's struggle to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS," the letter says.
The signatories warn that the "broad and sweeping provisions" of this proposed legislation could lead to "the imprisonment of individuals solely for their actual or imputed sexual orientation in a number of ways, including for consensual sexual relations in private, advocacy of lesbian and gay rights, or public expression of their sexual identity."
That, according to these human rights groups, would make anyone imprisoned under this law a prisoner of conscience. "We urge you to disavow this proposal which contradicts fundamental freedoms under the Nigerian constitution [and] international human rights law and standards," he groups tell the Nigerian President.
On 19 January, Minister Ojo presented to the Federal Executive Council an "Act to Make Provisions for the Prohibition of Relationship Between Persons of the Same Sex, Celebration of Marriage by Them, and for Other Matters Connected Therewith." While the Council reportedly approved the bill, it has not yet been submitted to the federal national assembly of Nigeria.
According to a draft of the bill, the law would provide five years imprisonment for any person who "goes through the ceremony of marriage with a person of the same sex," "performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage," or "is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private."
Anyone, including a priest or cleric, aiding or abetting such a union would be subject to the same prison term. The draft bill would also prohibit the registration of gay organisations, any public display of a "same sex amorous relationship," and adoption of children by lesbian or gay couples or individuals. In addition, the drift bill would invalidate same sex relationship formally entered into or recognised in foreign jurisdictions.
The human rights groups warn of the consequences of this law, if passed. "Laws criminalising homosexuality can also act as a licence to torture and ill treatment. By institutionalising discrimination, they can act as an official incitement to violence against lesbians and gay men in the community as a whole, whether in custody, in prison, on the street or in the home," the letter to President Obasanjo says.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español