Africa breaks silence on gays
Tefo Pheage | Thursday November 10, 2016 16:34
African nations have colluded to suspend the work of the first United Nations (UN) independent expert charged with investigating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The expert, appointed in September, was to carry out country visits, take up individual allegations with governments and work to support and protect gay rights defenders.
Last Friday, Botswana’s ambassador to the UN, Charles Ntwaagae, who was leading the African agenda told the general assembly (GA) that African nations want the UN to delay consideration for the appointment to discuss “the legality of the creation of this mandate.”
Ntwaagae said a resolution introduced by African nations seeking a delay also calls for suspending the activities of the first expert, Vitit Muntarbhorn, from Thailand, who was appointed in September, pending a determination of the legality of the mandate.
The Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution establishing the LGBT expert was adopted by a vote of 23-18 with six abstentions including Botswana and South Africa. Botswana argued that at the international level, there was no accepted terminology on gender identity and sexual orientation.
“In that regard, it was important to respect local cultural, religious and historic circumstances and values.”
Ntwaagae said African nations “are alarmed” that the HRC is delving into national matters and attempting to focus on people.
“This is on the grounds of their sexual interests and behaviours, while ignoring that intolerance and discrimination regrettably exist in various parts of the world, be it on the basis of colour, race, sex or religion, to mention only a few”.
Africans are also concerned that sexual orientation and gender identity are being given attention to the detriment of issues of paramount importance such as the right to development and the racism agenda.
Ntwaagae said African countries want to stress that sexual orientation and gender identity are not and should not be linked to existing international human rights instruments.
Muntarbhorn, a law professor who has been on the council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria and previously served as UN special investigator on North Korea and on child prostitution and child pornography, was given a wide mandate by the HRC for three years.
Ntwaagae said sexual orientation and gender identity “are not and should not be linked to existing international human rights instruments”.
Voting on the matter has been deferred. LEGABIBO Coordinator, Caine Youngman said it was unfortunate that African nations were opposing a move to protect a section of their people.
“It is more like these communities should not be protected. We find this move disappointing and it says a lot about our leaders,” he said, further adding that they are still engaging the Ministry responsible on the matter. .