Since the first introduction of the anti-homosexuality legislation as a private member's bill in 2009, Ireland, together with its EU partners and civil society organisations in Uganda, has been very active in highlighting the human rights implications of the draft anti-homosexuality bill and expressing strong opposition to the adoption of this bill. Ireland has been particularly vocal in pointing out the inconsistencies between this draft legislation and Uganda's domestic and international human rights obligations.
Irish representatives have met with several senior members of the Ugandan Government, including the Prime Minister, to discuss the draft bill. It was raised with the Ugandan Foreign Minister during a visit by my predecessor to Uganda last year. In addition, Ireland's Ambassador to Uganda has met directly with Mr. David Bahati M.P., who is the sponsor of the Bill, to articulate the Government's position, and to make clear that adherence to international human rights standards is the foundation of Ireland's relationship with Uganda.
The current situation is that the previous session of Parliament concluded without the bill being passed. If the bill is to be placed on the agenda of the new parliament it will have to go through full parliamentary process again. Repeated assurances have been given at the highest levels of the Ugandan Government that the bill, should it be placed before Parliament for a vote, will not pass. Our Embassy in Uganda will continue to monitor the situation closely. If a new bill is proposed, Ireland will again join with EU and other partners in expressing opposition, at the highest level, to its adoption.
In the broader work of promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons internationally, on 22 March 2011 at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, Ireland actively supported a Joint Statement on behalf of 85 countries from every continent, including five African States, entitled ‘Ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity'. We were one of fifteen EU member States who were part of a cross regional core group which worked to prepare the statement in Geneva. The Joint Statement demonstrates the increasing commitment across the international community to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The Statement called on States to end acts of violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violations committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity
The Joint Statement builds on a December 2008 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, which was supported by 68 countries including Ireland and all EU Member States. In June 2010, the European Union Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM) adopted a ‘Toolkit to Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People'. Ireland participated fully in the elaboration of this comprehensive toolkit which guides the work of all European Union (EU) diplomats, including Irish, in overseas missions.