January, 28 2011, 08:39am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Gay Activist Murder Part of Trend of Deteriorating Rights
JOHANNESBURG
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is greatly saddened
by the news of the tragic murder of prominent gay rights activist David
Kato in Uganda on 26 January 2011. CIVICUS calls upon the government of
Uganda to carry out an immediate and independent investigation into the
murder and bring the perpetrators to justice. CIVICUS also urges the
government to demonstrate due diligence in stopping the ongoing
homophobic campaigns and attacks prevalent in many parts of Ugandan
society and abandon the Anti-Homosexuality Bill which has been before
parliament since October 2009.
David Kato was reported murdered in his own home after suffering
several blows to the head. Previous reports indicate that he had faced
increasing threats and harassment after his photo appeared on the front
page of a tabloid paper that published pictures, names and residential
addresses of some members of the gay community in Uganda, under the
headline "Hang Them".
While the reasons behind his murder cannot yet be determined, various
authoritative reports and testimonies from the ground attest that the
authorities offer little protection to gay people and activists.
The 2010 human rights report published by Amnesty reveals that in
Uganda, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) people and rights
activists continued to face arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention,
torture and other ill-treatment by police and other security
personnel. Homosexual conduct is already a criminal act in Uganda
in clear violation of international human rights standards. But 2009
saw a further increase of state-sponsored homophobia with the
introduction of the proposed 2009 Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which is still pending, proposes to
criminalise all homosexuality, making it punishable by a fine and life
imprisonment. Repeat offenders would face the death penalty, while
Ugandans would be obliged to report any homosexual activity within 24
hours or face police action themselves. Kato, an advocacy officer
for Sexual Minorities Uganda, was one of the leading voices against the
legislation.
"Those that are willing to speak out against the discrimination of the
gay community are increasingly under attack as the government allows
the violation of the human rights of its own people" said Adele
Poskitt, Policy Officer at CIVICUS.
The legal system that fails to protect the rights of homosexuals is not
restricted to Uganda. There has been a disturbing increase in
homophobia in various African countries, with a clampdown and
strengthened legislation in criminalising homosexuality in Malawi,
Zimbabwe, Cameroon and Swaziland. Even the progressive legislation of
South Africa, which bans all anti-gay discrimination, was not able to
prevent the death of lesbian activist and national football player,
Eudy Simelane in 2008.
With shameless attacks from people within the community and media,
condemnation by many of the US evangelical influenced churches and no
protection by the authorities, the international community has a huge
responsibility to protect the human rights of the gay community and gay
activists under attack. CIVICUS calls upon global civil society, the
international community, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights, the African Commission on Human and People's Rights and other
intergovernmental organisations to exert pressure on the Ugandan
government to protect the rights of gay people and activists in Uganda
and respect the rule of law in the country.
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