This statement was created and signed by 185 women leaders in Uganda in response to the proposed legislation that would criminalize same sex relationships and eliminate basic rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Vital Voices stands beside women leaders and activists calling upon a total rejection of the proposed legislation and the entire LGBTQ+ community worldwide.
Statement on Behalf of Women Leaders in Uganda Regarding Opposition to Legislation Targeting LGBTQ+ Community
As a group of women leaders and activists in Uganda, we oppose in the strongest possible terms legislation approved by our parliament that would impose the death penalty and other draconian penalties for lesbian, gay and bisexual people – simply for being who they are. We concur with the assessment of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who classified the discriminatory legislation “among the worst of its kind in the world.”
The bill, adopted by Uganda’s Parliament on 21 March, proposes the death penalty for the offense of aggravated homosexuality, life imprisonment for the “offense of homosexuality,” up to 14 years for attempted homosexuality, and up to 20 years in jail for promoting homosexuality. We call upon our President Yoweri Museveni to reject this bill and align ourselves with those in LGBTQ+ community in Uganda and across Africa that oppose its adoption.
This legislation violates the most basic human rights and runs counter to the values of Ugandans and their commitment to equality and non-discrimination enshrined in our constitution. Further, this legislation will criminalize our own work on behalf of our fellow Ugandans.
Distressingly, it is part of a systematic effort in Uganda and across the continent to deny equality and dignity to those in the LGBTQ+ community. More than half of the countries in Africa prohibit consensual same sex activity; these prohibitions must end in Uganda and elsewhere, with immediate effect.
This statement is signed by 185 women leaders in Uganda, anonymously, to safeguard our work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.