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OHCHR / GHANA ANTI GAY BILL
STORY: OHCHR / GHANA ANTI GAY BILL
TRT: 01:39
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 29 FEBRUARY 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The passage in the Ghanaian Parliament of the so-called “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024” is profoundly disturbing. The bill broadens the scope of criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual and queer people – simply for being who they are – and threatens criminal penalties against perceived allies of LGBTQ+ people. We call for the bill not to become law. We urge the Ghanaian Government to take steps to ensure everyone can live free from violence, stigma, and discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Consensual same-sex conduct should never be criminalized. We are also alarmed that the Bill criminalizes the legitimate work of human rights defenders, of teachers, of medical professionals, of landlords, as well as people seeking healthcare, and unduly restricts the freedom of association and the freedom of expression of all the people of Ghana. Criminal sanctions for consensual same-sex conduct violate key international human rights norms, but also standards on equality, non-discrimination, privacy, equal protection of the law, among others. There is extensive evidence that they legitimize prejudice, they expose people to hate crime, police abuse, harassment, intimidation, blackmail, and torture. They also perpetuate discrimination and denial of access to basic services, including in healthcare, education, and housing. The bill, if it becomes law, will be corrosive, and will have a negative impact on society as a whole.”
3. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today (29 Feb) said that he passage in the Ghanaian Parliament of the so-called “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024 is “is profoundly disturbing.”
She also said, “The bill broadens the scope of criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual and queer people – simply for being who they are – and threatens criminal penalties against perceived allies of LGBTQ+ people.
She continued, “We call for the bill not to become law. We urge the Ghanaian Government to take steps to ensure everyone can live free from violence, stigma and discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Consensual same-sex conduct should never be criminalized.
She added, “We are also alarmed that the Bill criminalizes the legitimate work of human rights defenders, of teachers, of medical professionals, of landlords, as well as people seeking healthcare, and unduly restricts the freedom of association and the freedom of expression of all the people of Ghana.”
She concluded, “Criminal sanctions for consensual same-sex conduct violate key international human rights norms, but also standards on equality, non-discrimination, privacy, equal protection of the law, among others. There is extensive evidence that they legitimize prejudice, they expose people to hate crime, police abuse, harassment, intimidation, blackmail, and torture. They also perpetuate discrimination and denial of access to basic services, including in healthcare, education and housing. The bill, if it becomes law, will be corrosive, and will have a negative impact on society as a whole.”
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