Secretary-General Welcomes Uganda’s Decision to Annul Anti-Homosexuality Act

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the decision by the Constitutional Court of Uganda to annul the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act as a victory for the rule of law.

He pays tribute to all those who contributed to this step forward, particularly the human rights defenders in Uganda who spoke out, at times incurring great personal risk.

The Secretary-General calls for further efforts to decriminalize same-sex relationships and address the stigma and discrimination that persist in Uganda against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.

The Secretary-General reiterates that everyone is entitled to enjoy the same basic rights and live a life of worth and dignity without discrimination, as affirmed in the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Ugandan Constitution and the recent resolution of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on protection against violence and other human rights violations against persons on the basis of their real or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity.

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For information media • not an official record