UN human rights experts urged Ghana’s Government to reject a proposed ‘family values’ bill, saying it seeks to establish a system of State-sponsored discrimination and violence against the LGBTI community.
The bill's first reading took place on August 2, 2021, and its consideration is expected to resume in October 2021.
“The draft legislation argues that any person who deviates from an arbitrary standard of sexual orientation or gender identity is immediately to be considered dangerous, sick or anti-social,” said the experts. “Such laws are a textbook example of discrimination.
“The proposed law promotes deeply harmful practices that amount to ill-treatment and are conducive to torture, such as so-called ‘conversion therapy’ and other heinous violations like unnecessary medical procedures on intersex children, and so-called corrective rape for women,” they added.
The independent experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council, presented an analysis of the draft bill to the Ghanaian Government, concluding that adopting the legislation in its current or any partial form would be tantamount to a violation of several human rights standards including the absolute prohibition of torture.
For example, attempts to prevent human rights defenders from organising themselves to defend LGBTI people and the absolute prohibition of public debate on sexual orientation and gender identity raises grave concerns about rights to freedom of opinion and expression and association.
Moreover, the bill in question would essentially legitimise the above instances of violence against LBTI women and reinforce existing gender stereotypes and discrimination against women, both the cause and consequence of violence against women and girls.
“The consideration of this legislation is deeply perplexing in a country that has been regarded as a champion of democracy in Africa, with an impressive record of achieving certain Millennium Development Goals by 2015,” they said. They cited specific concerns about the MDG goals on health, education, employment, housing and gender justice.
“The draft legislation appears to be the result of a deep loathing toward the LGBTI community. It will not only criminalise LGBTI people, but anyone who supports their human rights, shows sympathy to them or is even remotely associated with them.
“Given that LGBTI people are present in every family and every community it is not very difficult to imagine how, if it were to be adopted, this legislation could create a recipe for conflict and violence.”
Latest Stories
-
Platinum Cup makes return on April 27
3 mins -
MoE is not changing uniforms or re-painting all public schools – Kwasi Kwarteng clarifies
36 mins -
16th Africa Aquatics Swimming Championships: Nubia and Harry to represent Ghana in Angola
43 mins -
Four defendants in NDA case by OSP open defence today
44 mins -
GFA commissions first set of floodlights at Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence
49 mins -
Basic public school uniform change an initiative, not a policy – Kwasi Kwarteng
52 mins -
Bawumia appeals for peace in Gonjaland, donates GHȼ100K, bull
58 mins -
Drake: AI Tupac track gone from rapper’s Instagram after legal row
1 hour -
Repainting schools, changing uniforms a misplaced priority – Joy FM listeners on rebranding of basic public schools
1 hour -
UEFA U-16 Tournament: Black Starlets bounce back with 5-1 win over Serbia
2 hours -
There’s nothing strange about changing colours for basic public schools – Education Ministry PRO
2 hours -
Diana Asamoah causes arrest of personal assistant over GH₵4k MoMo theft
2 hours -
Adina impresses fans with new single ‘Emergency’
2 hours -
Our mindset should breed excellence – Ace Ankomah
2 hours -
SML fully delivered on Transaction Audit Service Agreement with GRA
3 hours