Changing Laws, Changing Lives: Assessing sexual offences laws in the Commonwealth, put together by the Human Dignity Trust, reviews sexual offence legislation in all 54 Commonwealth member states using a set of indicators to assess their human rights compliance in four areas of law - sexual assault, child sexual assault, disability and consensual same-sex sexual activity.
MPs mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia
MPs mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia
MPs from 8 political parties expressed strong support for LGBT+ rights by signing an Early Day Motion tabled by the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights Chair, Crispin Blunt MP, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia and to reaffirm the importance of the UK’s support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex people globally.
Crispin Blunt MP noted that ‘despite seeing many signs of progress in LGBT+ equality over the last year in some parts of the world, there have also been attempts to roll back the human rights of LGBT+ people in others, in particular now during the global coronavirus pandemic. We remain concerned for example about reports of unlawful arrest of LGBT+ people and misuse of emergency powers in Uganda, the threat to legal gender recognition in Hungary, and the scapegoating of LGBT+ communities. The UK, as co-chair of the Equal Rights Coalition with Argentina, and as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, has a crucial role to play in supporting LGBT+ rights, people and civil society organisations globally. So too, does the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights as we continue to connect MPs and Peers in the UK with their counterparts across the world as part of our Ambassadors project.’
Vice-chair of the APPG and country ambassador for Ukraine Stewart McDonald MP added that ‘we know that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on groups that are already facing marginalisation, including LGBT+ people both in the UK and across the world, and therefore now is the time to ensure that LGBT+ people do not get left behind in the response to COVID-19. As APPG country ambassador to Ukraine I am continuing to work closely with Ukrainian LGBT+ activists to support the fight for LGBT+ rights across the region’.
The full text of the EDM can be found below:
International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia 2020
EDM #475
Tabled 13 May 2020
2019-21 Session
That this House notes that 17 May is the annual International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia to highlight the violence and discrimination that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex communities and other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) continue to face; further notes with concern that the covid-19 pandemic is increasing inequalities for many marginalised groups globally, including LGBT+ people particularly in the areas of access to healthcare, housing, employment as well as misuse of emergency powers and increase in hate crime and domestic abuse for those in lockdown; celebrates civil society defending LGBT+ rights around the world, including in the jurisdictions where LGBT+ identities remain criminalised; commends the UK’s role as co-chair of the intergovernmental Equal Rights Coalition which advocates for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people; maintains the importance of the UK’s role in promoting and protecting LGBT+ rights globally; and calls on the Government to continue to advance and uphold the rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people.
Lord Collins of Highbury raises LGBT+ rights in Commonwealth in Queen's Speech Debate
During the Queen’s Speech debate today in the House of Lords, APPG Treasurer Lord Collins of Highbury questioned the Government on their human rights commitments and work on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and particularly LGBT+ rights, calling for a greater effort to ensure the decriminalisation of homosexuality across the Commonwealth.
If, as the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, argued yesterday, the UK’s foreign policy is to be used to promote our values and not only our commercial interests, then I would have expected a greater focus on human rights and a review of the Government’s regime for arms exports.
He added that there should be more consistency between the FCO and the DIT with regards to human rights positions:
As the noble Baroness, Lady Tonge, said yesterday, we have an FCO condemning human rights abuses and a Department for International Trade supporting closer relationships—constant mixed messages.
In terms of the UK’s role as Commonwealth chair-in-office, he said that:
Many noble Lords mentioned the role of the Commonwealth, and I certainly recognise its importance. It is a family of nations that, through its charter, provides the means to promote the values of democracy, transparency, the rule of law and human rights. The Minister the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, referred to our role as chair-in-office, but where are we on the commitments we made at the end of CHOGM? Despite some progress, we still have Commonwealth countries where LGBT people face not only discrimination and anti-gay laws but increased violence. I hope that, in the Minister’s response, we can have greater detail as to how we are supporting efforts to ensure the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
Lord Collins also raised the Government’s approach to the SDGs. Many have argued that the SDGs can also be a powerful tool for LGBT+ inclusion.
If the Government were serious about Britain’s part in creating a just, safe, secure and sustainable planet, free from the fear of hunger and poverty, then I would have expected a clear focus in the gracious Speech on the United Nations 2030 agenda, building a unified approach to deliver the sustainable development goals and to ensure that we leave nobody behind. The Government could have used the gracious Speech to signal a new approach to the SDGs by creating a new policy unit in No. 10 dedicated to them, with a Cabinet Minister responsible for co-ordinating across Whitehall.
The full transcript can be found here.
The full video is here.