Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUN / UGANDA ANTI-GAY-LAW
Download
There is no media available to download.
Share
STORY: UN / UGANDA ANTI-GAY-LAW
TRT: 2.10
SOURCE: UNTV / WFP
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE 12 FEBRUARY 2014, NEW YORK CITY
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
12 FEBRUARY 2014, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Nesirky at the podium
3. Med shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson, United Nations:
“The High Commissioner for Human Rights has denounced the anti-homosexuality law signed into force in Uganda today. Navi Pillay says this law would institutionalise discrimination against lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and could encourage harassment and violence against them. The law, which was signed into force, criminalises and imposes life imprisonment for homosexuality, same-sex marriage and aggravated homosexuality.”
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson, United Nations:
“She also expressed deep concern that the law could threaten the critically important work of human rights defenders in the country. She urged the Government to take immediate steps to ensure that they are not prosecuted for their advocacy. The High Commissioner voiced hope that the law would be reviewed at the earliest opportunity in light of its fundamental conflicts with Uganda’s constitution and its international human rights obligations.”
7. Med shot, journalists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson, United Nations:
“The Secretary-General is seriously concerned about the negative impact of the Anti-Homosexuality Act signed into law by the President of Uganda today. He shares the view of the High Commissioner for Human Rights that this new law violates human rights. It will institutionalize discrimination, restrict the vital work of human rights activists, and could trigger violence. It will also hamper potentially life-saving efforts to stop the spread of HIV.”
9. Med shot, journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson, United Nations:
“The Secretary-General has a meeting at 12:40 – so in about half an hour from now - with the Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations. This is a meeting to discuss South Sudan, but I can assure you the Secretary-General will also be raising this topic of the anti-homosexuality act when he meets the Ugandan PR.”
11. Med shot, journalists
12. Zoom out, end of meeting
In statements read by UN Spokesperson Martin Nesirky, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay spoke out today (24 Feb) against the anti-homosexuality law signed into force today in Uganda, saying it violates basic human rights and endangers lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the country.
Nesirky said Pillay “denounced” the anti-homosexuality law and said it would “institutionalise discrimination against lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and could encourage harassment and violence against them.”
The law, Nesirky said, “criminalises and imposes life imprisonment for homosexuality, same-sex marriage and aggravated homosexuality.”
He said Pillay also expressed “deep concern that the law could threaten the critically important work of human rights defenders in the country” and “she urged the Government to take immediate steps to ensure that they are not prosecuted for their advocacy.”
Nesirky said “the High Commissioner voiced hope that the law would be reviewed at the earliest opportunity in light of its fundamental conflicts with Uganda’s constitution and its international human rights obligations.”
The Secretary-General, according to Nesirky, “is seriously concerned about the negative impact” of the new law, and said it “could trigger violence” and will also “hamper potentially life-saving efforts to stop the spread of HIV.”
The Spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General was to meet today with Richard Nduhuura, Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, to discuss South Sudan, but added that he “will also be raising this topic of the anti-homosexuality act.”
Ban has appealed for the complete and universal decriminalization of homosexuality, still a criminal offence in some 76 countries, stressing that human rights must always trump cultural attitudes and societal strictures.
