CANADA MUST ACT AGAINST INTERNATIONAL HATE LAWS TARGETING LGBTQ PEOPLE
Marking International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, dozens of organizations release 10-point plan for federal government
TORONTO, May 16, 2014- As activists around the world prepare to mark the
International Day Against Homophobia and
Transphobia (IDAHOT) tomorrow, May 17,
more than 85 civil society organizations Can
ada-wide are calling on the Government of
Canada to take critical steps
to defend the rights of lesbi
an, gay, bisexual, transgender
and queer (LGBTQ) people around the world.
A signed letter to the Honourable John
Baird, Minister of Foreign A
ffairs, details a 10-point plan
of action for things Canada can
do to uphold LGBTQ rights and concretely purs
ue its "Dignity Agenda," a key tenet of
Canada's foreign policy out
lined by the minister.
Recently, there has been a marked escalation of
assaults on the basic human rights of
LGBTQ people in many countries. These assaults include new explicitly anti-LGBTQ laws
in countries such as Russia, Nigeria, and Uganda;
in other countries, such as India, laws
to prohibit homosexuality have misguidedly
been reinstated. More than 80 countries
worldwide criminalize homosexuality, some
times punishing by death consensual sex
between adults.
With an establish history of supporting LG
BTQ rights internationally, Canada has rightly
condemned this wave of hate. However, word
s without action will not
produce the kind of
change that is now desperately needed, as more and more LGBTQ people are being
subjected to legislated persecution and violence.
"Speaking out is important, but we need a
strategic and ongoing response to these
blatant human rights abuses that
are destroying lives the world
over," said Richard Elliott,
Executive Director of the Canadi
an HIV/AIDS Legal Network. "T
he vitriol and violence are
escalating, as we've seen most recently
in a report from Uganda documenting abuses
since the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Ac
t. We need to work in concert with local
human rights advocates in affected countries
, letting political and religious leaders know
that legislating and inciting hate will not
be allowed to continue with impunity."
To that end, a new coalition, namely #END
hatelaws, has been formed by group of human
rights advocates to raise awareness of this
ongoing epidemic of ha
te and to press the
Canadian government to do more to def
end the basic human ri
ghts of LGBTQ people
( www.endhatelaws.com ). This volunteer-run coalition is among the many signatories to the open letter to the Fore ign Affairs Minister.
"We call on Minister Baird and the Gove
rnment of Canada to adopt this well-
considered10-point plan of acti
on to end hate laws," said A
ndrea Houston, volunteer with
#ENDhatelaws. "The action plan reflects w
hat human rights defenders in countries such
as Uganda and Nigeria have asked for by wa
y of support from
the international
community. It's a very important time for Canada
to take definitive action, as we will be
hosting WorldPride next month and welcomi
ng LGBTQ human rights advocates from
around the world. Canada needs to
outline how it will stand in solidarity with persecuted
people around the world."
Read the open letter to the Honourable John Baird at http://bit.ly/1sA18WB .
###
About the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network ( www.aidslaw.ca ) promotes the human rights of people living with
and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, in Canada and internationally, through research and analysis, advocacy and litigation, public education and
community mobilization. The Legal Network is Canada 's leading advocacy organization working on the legal and human rights issues
raised by HIV/AIDS.
Contact:
Janet Butler-McPhee
Director of Communications
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
jbutler@aidslaw.ca
416 595-1666 ext. 228
"Reproduced with permission - Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network"
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
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