Urgent Alert-do we need this?

mstahiki · 2009-10-21T16:11:38+00:00

Urgent Alert - Organizations and Individuals: Sign-On Letter Demand Withdrawal of Proposed Legislation in Uganda Expanding LGBT Sanctions, Including DEATH PENALTY! CHAMP urges you to support International HIV Prevention Justice TAKE ACTION BY THIS THURSDAY! ENDORSE LETTER TO OPPOSE LEGISLATION! Thank you to the Global Forum on MSM and HIV for distributing a version of this alert: As you may know, legislation in Uganda was introduced late last week that will greatly expand criminal penalties against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. Currently, "carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature" carries a sentence of up to 14 years imprisonment in Uganda's penal code. The proposed legislation seeks to imprison anyone convicted of "the offense of homosexuality" for life, while "aggravated homosexuality," will incur the death penalty. Criminal laws against homosexuality not only violate human rights, but severely restrict efforts to reach most-at-risk populations with HIV prevention Please ENDORSE the statement below, asking President Museveni and policy-makers to immediately withdraw the proposed legislation. Due to the urgent nature of this letter, signatures are are due by end of day Thursday October 22nd. PLEASE SEND YOUR NAME, CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY TO: Krista Lauer, Policy Associate: klauer@msmgf.org. *** President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni State House Nakasero email: info@statehouse.go.ug Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi email: ps@opm.go.ug October XX, 2009 Your Excellencies, We the undersigned call for the immediate withdrawal of the "Anti Homosexuality Bill, 2009". This proposed legislation is a huge step backwards for HIV prevention, treatment and care initiatives in Uganda. By significantly expanding criminal sanctions against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people - with penalties going as far as the death sentence in some cases - this bill drives sexual minorities underground and away from vital information and services, further fuelling HIV transmission in the Uganda. Uganda's own HIV/AIDS prevention experts have recognized that laws targeting sexual minorities are obstacles to effectively addressing AIDS. A 2009 joint report by the Uganda AIDS Commission and UNAIDS specifically called for a review of legal impediments to the inclusion of most-at-risk-populations - including MSM - in the national AIDS response. The 2008 law reauthorizing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) - the source of 61% of all of Uganda's HIV prevention funding in 2006/2007 - includes a directive for HIV prevention education specifically targeting MSM. Additionally, both UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have each recently adopted new action frameworks for addressing HIV among sexual minorities, in reaction to growing evidence of the impact of HIV on sexual minorities globally. Recognizing that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights, and in pursuit of our mutual endeavor for an effective HIV/AIDS response worldwide, we call for the immediate withdrawal of this and any bill that threatens the health and human rights of your citizens. Sincerely, (List in Formation) Name, City, State, Country Cc: Cc: Hon. Dr. Stephen Malinga Minister of Health Plot 6 Lourdel Rd, Wandegeya Tel: 256-41-340884 Fax: 256-41-340887 P.O. Box 7272 Kampala Uganda Email: info@health.go.ug Dr Kihumuro Apuuli Director General Uganda AIDS Commission Ambassador Eric Goosby U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator U.S. Department of State Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda Embassy of the United States of America Jerry P. Lanier email: kampalawebcontact@state.gov Ambassador to the US Perezi K. Kamunanwire Fax: 1-202-726-1727 email: pkamunanwire@ugandaembassyus.org Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda Fax: 1-212-687-4517 email: pkamunanwire@ugandaembassyus.org

Thread starter mstahiki
Start date Oct 21, 2009

mstahiki

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Urgent Alert-do we need this?

mstahiki

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