I want to write to Baroness Warsi
Baroness Warsi: ..., that we must always work with local campaigners to ensure that changes in other countries are both indigenous and long term? Will she join me in congratulating Pakistan on its achievements on transgender rights, including the appointment of a transgender rights adviser—Aisha Mughal, who last year became the first transgender person to represent their country at the UN—to its Ministry...
Baroness Warsi: We updated our Travel Advice for Uganda on 24 February to advise on the environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender travellers following the signing into law of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Our Travel Advice is reviewed regularly.
Baroness Warsi: ...were arrested in Nigeria, having been accused of homosexual activity. We are seeking further detail from the Nigerian authorities. The UK opposes the criminalisation of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and opposes any discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. We believe the Same Sex Marriage Bill in Nigeria, which received the President's assent on 7...
Baroness Warsi: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights remain a deeply controversial issue within the Commonwealth. The UK cannot speak on behalf of other governments. However, the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the UN Human Rights Council in February 2013 said “with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity our position remains that, based on shared Commonwealth principles, we...
Baroness Warsi: ...are currently no plans to change this list of priorities. Nevertheless, we work actively through our High Commissions to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Commonwealth. Addressing discriminatory laws, in particular those that criminalise homosexuality, is a priority within this work.
Baroness Warsi: ...of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.” The UK Government interprets ‘other grounds’ as including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. However, we recognise that over 40 Commonwealth members still criminalise homosexuality. We want to ensure the Charter becomes a key document for holding Commonwealth members...
Baroness Warsi: ...activity” and accepts foreign funding to bear the label of “foreign agent”. Critically, the definition of what is and what is not political is unclear. In addition, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of Russian society have been directly targeted. In June, a law was passed which bans the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations”. This effectively makes all LGBT...
Baroness Warsi: We are committed to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people around the world are free to live their lives in a safe and just environment. We are concerned about the proposed anti-homosexuality Bill being considered by the Ugandan parliament. We raise our concerns regularly at all levels with the Ugandan Government. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for...
Baroness Warsi: .... We have been in close contact with the defendants' lawyers throughout. We regularly raise our concerns about the criminalisation of homosexuality, the treatment of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and threats against human rights defenders with the Cameroon Government. For example, on 5 December 2012, our high commissioner raised these issues, including this...
Baroness Warsi: My Lords, the British Government are strongly committed to upholding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights bilaterally and with international partners. We have raised concerns about the proposed anti-homosexuality Bill being considered by the Ugandan Parliament at very senior levels. Most recently, the Minister for Africa raised the issue with President Museveni during a visit to...
Baroness Warsi: The Government are committed to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people around the world are free to live their lives in a safe and just environment. We are therefore concerned about the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill being considered by the Ugandan Parliament. We have raised our concerns regularly. Most recently, the Minister for Africa and Parliamentary...