As described in my previous post, HRAC makes use of
international volunteers and consultants to add value to the project based work
they do here in Ghana. Volunteers may find themselves conducting fieldwork in
order to gather data for lobbying government, conducting legal research to
assist with a case, or helping to draft outreach papers and training manuals.
As I have previously worked with the Human Dignity Trust, an
international NGO dedicated to the global decriminalisation of homosexuality,
HRAC has asked me to prepare them a briefing on the legal framework surrounding
the criminalisation of homosexuality in Ghana and recent laws passed in Nigeria
and Uganda. Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, which came into force in February
2014, makes both homosexuality and “promotion of homosexuality” unlawful.
Homosexuality now carries a life sentence in Uganda. Staff at HRAC explained to
me their concern that Ghana, where consensual sex between adult men in private
is punishable by 5 - 25 years imprisonment, may follow the example set by
Uganda and pass broader legislation against “promoting” homosexuality. This
could have a detrimental impact on anti-HIV/AIDS initiatives, stifle the work
of human rights organisations, and breach freedom of expression and association
rights. I have therefore been asked to prepare a document to assist HRAC in its
advocacy efforts in this area. As I have previously done considerable work in
this area, and have previously looked in detail at the situation in Uganda, I
am confident that I can produce a valuable tool for HRAC to use in the future.
Down to work…
No comments:
Post a Comment