Parliament discusses the current situation in Uganda in relation to recent developments in law to pass new anti-lgtbi laws. Opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

EU - Uganda (T)

Fundamental rights (T2)

KYRIAKIDES, Stella (CY, EC)

ROSWALL, Jessika (SE)

Universal Decriminalization of Homosexuality, in light of recent developments in Uganda: opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, President, Honourable Members, Commissioner, the European Union and the Member States are deeply concerned by the passing of an anti-homosexuals bill by the Uganda Parliament, which introduces severe punishment for same sex intimacy, including the death penalty.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, These concerns have been conveyed to members of the Ugandan government and Parliament during the process of adoption of this bill. Bilaterally, several EU Member States have also expressed their strong concerns with the consequences of this law. The criminalisation of homosexuality is contrary to international law and violates the enjoyment of human rights by LGBTI persons.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, It reinforced the legitimises and legitimizes existing stereotypes, increases the risk of stigmatisation, discrimination and violence, and can be and can make LGBTI persons more vulnerable to human rights violations and abuses. Article one in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states is that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and in 2023 marks its 75th anniversary.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Equality and non-discrimination are core values enshrined in the EU treaties and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The European Union is committed to fighting all forms of discrimination, including the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, and continues to actively promote and protect the human rights of LGBTI persons.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, As Prime Minister Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, today so strongly reminded us today in his speech here in the Chamber. It is important to recall that the African Union also shares these values and the African Union Commission has condemned violence and other human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, The EU will continue to work constructively with partners in Africa to counteract and denounce all discriminatory laws, policy and practices, including the criminalisation of consenting same sex relations and in particular the use of death penalty, torture or ill treatment in this respect. The human rights of LGBTI persons remain part of the EU diplomacy efforts in bilateral relations and in multilateral fora.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, The EU will continue to work with and support civil society organisations working for increased respect for human rights, including those protecting and promoting the enjoyment of human rights of LGBTI persons. Looking forward to this debate, but thank you for the attention.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, President, Honourable members of the European Parliament. First of all, let me start off by appreciating the long standing and broad based partnership the EU has with Uganda, including in the areas of private sector development, the green transition and good governance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, We recognise Uganda's contribution to regional security, including providing sanctuary for the more than 1.5 million refugees in the country, as well as the continuous contribution of troops to our mission UN ATMIS to provide security in Somalia.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, We also recall our excellent collaboration in addressing the Ebola outbreak in 2022. We look forward to cooperating with Uganda and operationalisation of the recently adopted Council conclusions on the Great Lakes strategy, as well as enhancing bilateral and regional economic cooperation through the Economic Partnership Agreements and we are considering a strategic partnership on critical raw materials that are important.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Partnership with Uganda only emphasises are serious concerns regarding the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Immediately after its announcement, there have been numerous contacts and demands from the EU towards the Government, Parliament and the President expressing our concern and reconsideration of the bill.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, At the end of March, the head of the EU delegation and the Italian ambassador met in private with President Museveni to discuss the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and the EU's continued concerns with the promulgation of the law. If the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is signed into law, Uganda will seriously undermine its international and continental human rights obligations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, It is important to recall that the EU is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. The EU strongly encourages Uganda to reconsider the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and believes that the Ugandan government and lawmakers should engage in dialogue with all sectors of society to foster a greater sense of tolerance towards the rights of all people, to live free from fear, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, The bill calls into question Uganda as a country where rights and freedoms are guaranteed to all citizens and a central feature not only of an open and democratic society, but also an environment conducive to business and foreign investment. Thank you for your attention.