The United States
has joined its voice to the host of foreign nations speaking out against Nigeria’s
anti-gay marriage bill. In a statement issued by the US Embassy on Friday, the
western nation expressed concern Senate-approved bill that outlaws gay marriage
and institutes a 14-year jail term on same-sex couples who seek to marry.
The bill, which is now on its way to the House of Representatives
before landing on the President’s desk where it will more than likely be signed
into law, will also met out a 10 year jail term for “any persons who registers,
operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations” as well as
“any person who… directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amourous
relationships.”
The statement reads:
“The United
States is concerned about reports of legislation in Nigeria
that would restrict expression, assembly or organisation based on sexual
orientation or gender identity. The United States believes that all
people deserve the full range of human rights and opposes the criminalisation
of sexual relations between consenting adults. The United States is watching this
matter closely.”
The US
statement also said “the freedoms of speech, assembly and association are
long-standing international commitments and universally recognised.”
“Nigeria,
as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
has assumed important obligations on these matters. We expect the government of
Nigeria
to act in a manner consistent with those obligations.”
Canada is condemning Nigeria for clamping down on
homosexuality.
In a statement issued Wednesday,
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird lashed out at a bill passed by Nigeria’s
senate that would, if ratified, “disregard basic human rights and fundamental
freedoms.”
Nigeria already criminalizes homosexuality,
and this bill would make same-sex marriage punishable by a 14-year jail
sentence and turn supporters or witnesses of such unions into criminals as
well, the release said. Groups that support gay rights would also be banned.
“The Government of Nigeria must
protect all Nigerians, regardless of sexual orientation,” Baird said. “Through
the Commonwealth and other forums, Canada will continue to make this
point in the most forceful of terms.”
Baird called the promotion and
protection of human rights an “integral part” of Canadian foreign policy.
Amnesty International
declared the Nigerian bill “reprehensible.”
“If passed, this measure would
target people on the basis of their identity, not merely their behaviour, and
put a wide range of people at risk of criminal sanctions for exercising basic
rights and opposing discrimination based purely on a person’s actual or
presumed sexual orientation or gender identity,” the human rights group said.
The Nigerian bill goes to the
nation’s House of Representatives for a vote before President Goodluck Jonathan
is able to sign it into law. Last month, British Prime Minister David Cameron
threatened to withhold aid from nations violating gay rights, triggering
outrage from African leaders who said the move undermined their sovereignty and
cultural practices.
Homosexuality is illegal in most
African countries, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.
He says legislation being considered
in Nigeria
would disregard basic human rights. The country's Senate has approved a bill
which would further toughen Nigerian anti-gay laws and make same-sex marriages
punishable by 14 years in jail.
It also targets those who support or
even witness such unions or those who form gay-rights groups.
Baird says Nigeria should
ensure equal basic rights for all its citizens. At the October
Commonwealth conference in Australia,
Canada
was part of a failed effort to persuade member states to rescind anti-gay laws.
Baird says Canada will
keep trying, even though 41 of the group's 54 member countries have anti-gay
laws. He said governments have a duty to all citizens.
"The government of Nigeria must
protect all Nigerians, regardless of sexual orientation," he said.
"Through the Commonwealth and other forums, Canada will continue to make this
point in the most forceful of terms."
Many Third
World countries maintain tough anti-gay laws and condemn western
efforts to change their views.
David
Cameron, the British Prime Minister, threatens sanctions unless Nigeria and Uganda both legalize
homosexuality and lesbianism
Britain has threatened countries that ban
homosexuality with losing aid payments unless they reform, David Cameron has
said.
But he conceded that "deep
prejudices" in some countries meant the problem would persist for years.
The prime minister said he had
raised the issue with leaders of some of the states involved when he attended
the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Australia. Britain was
"putting the pressure on", he said. But it was not a problem that
would be solved by the time Commonwealth leaders are next due to meet, in Sri Lanka in
2013.
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