Numerous Italian lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations have written to senior government officials to express their concerns about the introduction of an "anti-homosexuality" bill in Uganda.
The letter, addressed to President Giorgio Napolitano, Prime Minister Mario Monti, President of the Constitutional Court Alfonso Quaranta, Speaker of the Chamber Gianfranco Fini, and President of the Senate Renato Schifani, states that the Ugandan bill "also provides for the introduction of the death penalty, as well as certain other new types of crimes with corresponding sentences, including those that can be imposed on those who fail to report homosexual persons they know (for example, a parent who fails to report their LGBT child or a teacher who fails to report an LGBT student), or anyone who promotes equality and respect for the rights of LGBT people.".
The association calls on the institutions to promote "all actions that could prevent the law in question from being passed. We hope that you, like other important authorities in European Union and Western countries, will dissuade Uganda from enacting a law that is inhumane and contrary to human rights, the principles of the European Union, and our Constitution.".
LGBT associations with local branches are also committed to promoting the approval of a motion against the persecution of homosexuals, lesbians, and transgender people in Uganda through local institutions. The motion calls on Italian institutions, among other things, to allow victims of discrimination "to enter Europe and apply for international protection.".
Letter to the Institutions
To the President of the Republic
George Napolitano
Quirinal Palace
To the President of the Senate
Renato Schifani
Senate of the Republic
To the President of the Chamber
Gianfranco Fini
Chamber of Deputies
To the President of the Council of Ministers
Mario Monti
Chigi Palace
To the President of the Constitutional Court
Alfonso Quaranta
Palace of the Consulta
Urgent appeal against the approval of the so-called "Anti-Homosexuality" law in Uganda.
Most Illustrious Presidents,
We hereby express our deep concern, as associations dedicated to protecting the rights of LGBT people in Italy, for homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people living in Uganda.
As you know, news broke in recent weeks that a bill has been reintroduced to the Ugandan Parliament. If approved, it would introduce new rules with even more severe penalties than those already in place against LGBT people.
A similar bill had already been introduced in the past, but it was not approved, also following numerous international pressures and the subsequent dissolution of the Ugandan Parliament at the end of the legislature.
From friends and representatives of LGBT associations in Uganda, we know that a similar, if not identical, version of that bill has been reintroduced, and from statements by some of the signatories, it appears it could be approved before next Christmas.
Uganda is one of the countries in the world that already has laws against homosexuals that provide very harsh penalties and has a very high percentage of the population hostile towards LGBT people.
The current bill appears to include, although some sources deny this, the introduction of the death penalty, as well as certain other new crimes with associated penalties, including those that can be imposed on those who fail to report homosexual persons they know (for example, a parent who fails to report their LGBT child or a teacher who fails to report an LGBT student), or those who promote equality and respect for the rights of LGBT people.
In recent years, the European Parliament has called on Uganda to respect human rights, decriminalize homosexuality, ensure LGBT people in Uganda adequate protection from violence, and take prompt action against all threatening or hate speech intended to incite violence, discrimination, or hostility against LGBT people. (Resolution of 16 December 2010 on the so-called "Bahati Law" and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Uganda; Resolution of 17 February 2011 on Uganda: the killing of David Kato).
In particular, in its February 2011 Resolution, the European Parliament also called on Member States to ensure that their foreign policies, including their cooperation and development policies towards third countries, both in relation to authorities and NGOs, take due account of the human rights situation of all minority groups, including LGBT people, in order to ensure concrete progress in this area. It also called for reaffirmation of the principle that for persons at risk of persecution, this aspect be taken into account for the purposes of granting refugee status.
For these reasons, we ask you, in accordance with your prerogatives to promote, with respect to your Ugandan counterpart authorities, all actions that may prevent the law in question from being approved.
We hope that you, like other important authorities of European Union and Western countries, will dissuade Uganda from promulgating an inhumane law that violates human rights, the principles of the European Union, and our Constitution.
We look forward to hearing from you and take this opportunity to send you our warmest regards.
Flavio Romani – President of Arcigay
Paola Brandolini – President of Arcilesbica
Rita De Santis – President Agedo
Porpora Marcasciano – President of MIT
Giuseppina La Delfa – President of Rainbow Families
Cecilia d'Avos, Fabrizio Paoletti, Valentina Violino – Rainbow Parents Network Executive Committee
Agenda promoted at local institutions
The Council (provincial, municipal, etc.) of _____________________
Taking into account the reports received from various Italian LGBT associations as well as from the Human Rights movement regarding the possibility that a so-called "Anti-Homosexual Law" could realistically be enacted in Uganda by the end of 2012;
Considering that this law would introduce new crimes that could be charged against LGBT people, those who work to protect the rights of LGBT people in Uganda, and those who know LGBT people and do not report them to the police authorities, it is also likely that even more severe penalties could be introduced against LGBT people and there are fears that capital punishment or life imprisonment could be introduced for some crimes;
Given that these provisions are evidently and totally in conflict with various international conventions and treaties to which Italy and/or the European Community are signatories, in particular the Treaty on European Union; the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
Noting that already in 2010 and 2011 the European Parliament voted on two resolutions denouncing what was happening in Uganda with regard to both the murder of one of the leaders of the Ugandan LGBT movement, David Kato, and the so-called “Bahati” bill and the discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Uganda, also calling on Member States to ensure that all possible measures were taken to prevent the law from being enacted;
he believes
that Italy must take all possible action through the various state bodies to ensure that the law currently under discussion is withdrawn, using diplomatic, economic, and international cooperation tools;
asks
to the highest Italian authorities, the President of the Republic, the Presidents of the Chambers, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Constitutional Court, to express to their respective counterparts in Uganda their concerns and disappointment regarding the proposed law under discussion;
asks
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Italian Embassy in Uganda, to monitor and inform through official communications on the progress of the "Anti-gay" bill and, if it is approved, to monitor and promptly report to Italian civil society on the application of the law;
He asks
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urged to provide appropriate and timely guidance to the diplomatic mission in Uganda to facilitate visa issuance and provide support to LGBT people who express their desire to leave Uganda, including through referrals from Italian LGBT associations, in the face of the concrete threat of persecution, allowing them to enter Europe and apply for international protection.
asks
The Ministry of the Interior and the bodies responsible for accessing and evaluating the granting of international protection are urged to take into account what is happening in Uganda when assessing the refugee status of those at risk of persecution in their own country who come to Italy seeking protection based on discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, or to avoid the penalties provided for in the bill currently under discussion.
