Sanatarkat istuntoselostukset

Torstai 24. lokakuuta 2019 - Strasbourg

3.1. Hlbti-henkilöiden tilanne Ugandassa

  Πρόεδρος. – Το πρώτο σημείο στην ημερήσια διάταξη είναι η συζήτηση επί πέντε προτάσεων ψηφίσματος σχετικά με την κατάσταση των ΛΟΑΔΜ ατόμων στην Ουγκάντα (2019/2879(RSP)).

Πριν από την έναρξη της συζήτησης, θα ήθελα να σας ενημερώσω ότι, για να ζητήσετε τον λόγο με τη διαδικασία «catch-the-eye» ή για να θέσετε ερώτηση με γαλάζια κάρτα, μπορείτε να χρησιμοποιήσετε και τον συνήθη τρόπο εγγραφής και το νέο σύστημα ηλεκτρονικής εγγραφής. Για τον λόγο αυτό, σας παρακαλώ να έχετε πάντα μαζί σας την κάρτα ψηφοφορίας.

Εάν επιθυμείτε να εγγραφείτε για τη διαδικασία «catch-the-eye», μπορείτε να ξεκινήσετε από τώρα χωρίς να περιμένετε το τέλος της συζήτησης.

  Ellie Chowns, author. – Mr President, I am very pleased that we have such strong cross-party support for this debate on this resolution in this Parliament today. I think this is testament to how far attitudes have moved in my own lifetime, indeed.

We stand here today in solidarity with those brave members of sexual minorities in Uganda and elsewhere who face not just public prejudice, but also the full force of the State aimed at repressing their very nature. The bravery of those activists is truly admirable. They stand up in the most hostile of circumstances to say ‘We are who we are. We are equal in dignity and rights and we should be free’.

The situation in Uganda is indeed very worrying. The killing of Brian Wasswa earlier this month was a horrific act and the perpetrator must be brought to justice. The deliberate stoking of anti-gay hatred by government ministers must be absolutely and strongly condemned.

With this resolution we are calling on the Ugandan Government to fully respect the rights of LGBTQIA people, not just to stop the whole hate-filled rhetoric but to ensure that Ugandan law does not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. Today we say to everyone fighting for those rights in Uganda, and worldwide: we in Europe stand with you.

  Marisa Matias, Autora. – Senhor Presidente, também eu quero agradecer aos colegas dos diferentes grupos parlamentares a possibilidade de termos uma resolução com tanta informação e, sobretudo, com tanto acordo numa matéria que é tão essencial. No entanto, temos que ter em conta que a discriminação com base na orientação sexual não é um exclusivo do Uganda. É, infelizmente, um retrocesso permanente a que temos assistido em várias partes do mundo, incluindo também em países da União Europeia.

Ao fazermos esta resolução, chamamos a atenção para a necessidade de ter um caminho que coloque a igualdade de todas as pessoas em todas as relações, sejam elas dentro do espaço da União Europeia, mas sejam também com países como o Uganda.

Nos futuros acordos, a União Europeia tem que ter em conta aquilo que está inscrito no Acordo de Cotonu e garantir que não há discriminação com base na orientação sexual, que essa referência fique incluída.

Não podemos assistir, como assistimos nos últimos meses, à morte, ao assassinato cruel de ativistas ou de uma jovem mulher transgénero, como vimos no Uganda. E é por isso que esta resolução é importante e é por isso que temos que passar das palavras aos atos e garantir que a discriminação com base na orientação sexual não é uma realidade que possamos assumir nem aqui nem em nenhuma parte do mundo.

  Karin Karlsbro, author. – (start of speech off mike) Mr President […] should not be a crime. Yet this is the case in more than 70 countries around the world. We felt repulsed last week when members of the Ugandan Government expressed support for a proposal to introduce a punishment that should not exist for an act that is not criminal – capital punishment for homosexual activities.

Whether or not this proposal is adopted, homosexuality is already a crime in Uganda and LGBT people are subject to cruel violence and discrimination. The government not only allows this to happen; they fuel it. It’s our duty to stand up for human rights and the EU should take a leading role in abolishing capital punishment everywhere. I want to entire LGBT community of Uganda to know that the European Parliament stands with them, because love can never be a crime.

(applause)

  Julie Ward, author. – Mr President, in light of the alarming rise in attacks against LGBTI people in Uganda, the resolution we have before us today is of great importance. Three gay men and one transgender woman have been murdered in Uganda this year, the latest being the LGBTI activist, Brian Wasswa, who was attacked in his home on 4 October.

The general deterioration of human rights of LGBTI persons in Uganda is very worrying, including increasing violations of their social rights, freedom of expression and gender equality rights. This resolution calls on our important cooperation with Uganda. We have got to support all efforts aimed at removing punitive laws, policies, practices, stigma and discrimination that undermine human rights.

We call on the EU to enhance the defence and promotion of human rights in Uganda, notably through targeted support to NGOs and full implementation of the EU guidelines on human rights defenders. We also call for all of us to form the strongest opposition to all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Old colonial laws have no place in the 21st century world.

  Tomas Tobé, författare. – Herr talman! Jag vill börja med att rikta ett stort tack till alla kolleger som har arbetat med den här resolutionen. Det handlar i grunden om att stå upp för hbtq-rättigheter globalt, det vill säga mänskliga rättigheter. EU ska vara en drivande kraft för att alla, oavsett sexuell läggning, ska kunna ha frihet och trygghet. Tyvärr vet vi att situationen i väldigt många länder är långt ifrån detta.

Situationen för hbtq-personer i Uganda är redan mycket allvarlig. Det senaste förslag som nu har diskuterats i debatten om att införa dödsstraff för homosexuella handlingar är givetvis helt oacceptabelt. Jag välkomnar visserligen att vi har fått uttalanden från regeringen som menar att några nya lagstiftningsinitiativ inte är på gång. Det är något som vi menar förpliktigar. Men det förändrar heller inte den situation som vi redan ser i Uganda, i dag med hätsk retorik och homofobi. Vi ser till och med en situation där homosexuella mördas.

Vi menar att det här måste få större konsekvenser från det internationella samfundet. Att ta emot EU:s utvecklingsmedel kommer också med krav på mänskliga rättigheter. Vi ska från Europas sida nu stå redo att föra en dialog med regeringen, men även med civilsamhället. För det absolut viktigaste att uppnå nu, det är att vi på plats förbättrar situationen för hbtq-personer. Därför vill jag uppmana alla kolleger i Europaparlamentet att rösta för den här resolutionen. Det handlar i grunden om att stå upp för mänskliga rättigheter, men också för rättsstatens principer.

  Maria Walsh, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, it is unacceptable that sexual orientation continues to be used as a justification for serious human rights violations around the world. LGBTI rights are human rights.

What we are witnessing in Uganda and Indonesia falls within the competency of our European Union. Discrimination against LGBTI persons undermines the most basic human rights principles enshrined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This Parliament has an obligation to react to human rights violations and we also have an obligation to ensure other institutions also act.

It is important, it is highly important, that we ask our new Commission and our Council, in accordance with the LGBTI guidelines, to include our community members in Uganda and Indonesia in their dialogues with the governments of these countries. We must have a dialogue to change discrimination laws, combat homophobia and prejudice against LGBITQ community members and protect our communities from their violence.

We now have to lead. As an LGBTIQ community member myself, if the killing of three gay men and one transgender woman happened in Ireland? We should therefore protect our citizens in Uganda.

  Alex Agius Saliba, f’isem il-grupp S&D. – Sur President, sfortunatament id-drittijiet umani ta’ persuni LGBTI għadhom jinkisru ta’ kuljum madwar id-dinja kollha, u l-Uganda mhux eċċezzjoni; fejn il-membri ta’ komunità LGBTI għadhom qed jiġu soġġetti għal attakki brutali. Persuni LGBTI għandhom id-dritt tal- protezzjoni ugwali u għall-istess drittijiet bħal kulħadd.

Fil-qalba tal-vjolenza fil-konfront tal-komunità LGBTI hemm il-preġudizzju u l-mibegħda. Għandna bżonn nibdlu l-mentalità jekk irridu li jirnexxielna nevitaw dawn ir-reati. Irridu nkunu kuraġġużi biżżejjed biex nindirizzaw dawn il-fatturi mal-faxex kollha tas-soċjetà. Għaldaqstant huwa essenzjali li niddefendu u nipproteġu din il-komunità madwar id-dinja minn kull tip ta’ vjolenza u diskriminazzjoni.

Għandna bżonn niżguraw li n-nies kollha, irrispettivament mill-orjentazzjoni sesswali tagħhom u mill-identità tal-ġeneru jkollhom id-dritt li jkunu ugwali f’għajnejn il-liġi mingħajr l-ebda eċċezzjoni.

U Malta hija eżempju tajjeb ħafna għall-Ewropa. Matul dawn l-aħħar sitt snin ġew introdotti għadd ta’ liġijiet progressivi - minn unjoni ċivili għal drittijiet ta’ adozzjoni ugwali għal koppji tal-istess sess. Bdejna mill-qiegħ u issa Malta tinsab l-ewwel fil-klassifika tal-ILGA-Europe f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam ma’ dawn id-drittijiet.

  María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, en nombre del Grupo Renew. – Señor presidente, aun recordamos los debates en 2014 cuando en Uganda se presentó una ley para castigar con la pena de muerte la homosexualidad y fue precisamente la presión de la comunidad internacional la que hizo que esta ley se retirara. No obstante, en Uganda, la homosexualidad sigue estando dentro del Código Penal y castigada con duras penas. El día a día de las personas LGTBI es muy duro porque no tienen acceso a servicios básicos como la educación o la sanidad, y hemos asistido con alarma al anuncio de una posible vuelta a endurecer esa ley con penas más severas como de nuevo la pena de muerte.

Nos alegra que esto no sea así, pero esta Resolución lanza un mensaje muy claro: no podemos permitir un solo paso atrás en el avance, en la libertad, en los derechos de la comunidad LGTBI. En Uganda hay solo que dar pasos hacia adelante, hay que descriminalizar la homosexualidad porque no es un delito y la orientación sexual es un derecho humano. Y la Unión Europea tiene que utilizar el diálogo político para defender los derechos de estas personas.

  Rasmus Andresen, im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident! Anfang Oktober wurde der 28-jährige Brian Wasswa in Uganda brutal ermordet, weil er homosexuell war. Mit scharfen Messern wurde zehnmal in seinen Kopf gestochen. Der Mord an Brian Wasswa geschah zu einem Zeitpunkt, als die Regierung Ugandas ankündigte, die Todesstrafe für Homosexuelle einzuführen. Seit Jahren müssen Homosexuelle in Uganda um ihr Leben fürchten. Zeitungen veröffentlichen Bilder und Adressen von LGBTI, eine brutale Hetzjagd findet statt. Die Hetzjagd gegen LGBTI muss ein Ende haben. Allein die Diskussion über die Einführung einer Todesstrafe schadet massiv, und wir sollten sie scharf verurteilen. All people should have the right to love and to live in freedom.

Die Europäische Union gibt 578 Millionen EUR an Entwicklungshilfe für Uganda, und auch deshalb haben wir eine Verantwortung. In 70 Staaten weltweit wird Homosexualität kriminalisiert, in neun gibt es die Todesstrafe. Lassen Sie uns gemeinsam wirklich alles dafür tun, dass das ein Ende nimmt. Lassen Sie allen LGBTI weltweit die Freiheit geben!

  Assita Kanko, on behalf of the ECR Group. – Mr President, two African countries criminalise same—sex relations. Four of them punish homosexuality with death. This is a heartbreaking and awful statistic. I have spent my whole life trying to help others fight intolerance and discrimination. When I was a kid I couldn’t imagine what my life would be if I had not been heterosexual. A lot of conversations I heard referred to homosexuals as criminals or people who are not clean. It’s really awful to know that today this is still the case.

It has also been my experience that to really achieve meaningful and lasting change in attitudes and beliefs, you not only have to condemn and be bold or sound sad, but also promote education programmes and community dialogue for concrete and sustainable results. We need to help increase trust between local people and the NGOs who carry out the brave and important work of protecting the LGBTI community in these countries. Europe needs to work together with communities, police forces and the political system of these countries to bring an end to this deplorable situation. We must use every opportunity we have in our dialogue with these countries to promote tolerance, education and understanding, because everyone has a right to be free and everyone has a right to live and love without fear.

  Eugenia Rodríguez Palop, en nombre del Grupo GUE/NGL. – Señor presidente, en Uganda, las relaciones homosexuales son castigadas con la cadena perpetua porque contravienen el orden natural, una apelación fantasiosa que se usa desde el medievo y que ha llevado a la muerte a las personas homosexuales en muchos lugares del mundo. Asesinarlas es lo que quiere hacer ahora el flamante ministro de Ética e Integridad ugandés, aunque ya, en 2014, el Tribunal Constitucional declaró nulo este mismo intento.

He aquí la influencia nefasta de las iglesias y su particular cruzada contra el mal, actuando desde las mismísimas entrañas del Estado; y no se trata de dar lecciones, porque los lobbies religiosos están sentados en este Parlamento y en muchos parlamentos estatales.

Y ayer mismo tuvimos un debate en esta cámara sobre una Directiva antidiscriminación que lleva diez años bloqueada en el Consejo. Aquí está sentada también una extrema derecha homófoba y tránsfuga.

No se trata tampoco de retener la ayuda financiera a Uganda, castigando aún más a una población vulnerable, como se ha hecho en otras ocasiones. Nosotras tenemos que censurar sin paliativos este tipo de iniciativas, pero, para ser creíbles, deberíamos proteger adecuadamente al colectivo LGTBI y asegurarnos de que todos los Estados ofrecen asilo y refugio a quienes sufren persecución por su orientación sexual y su identidad de género. ¿Lo hacemos? Esto es lo que tenemos que preguntarnos cuando hablamos de Uganda.

  David Bull (NI). – Mr President, discrimination against anyone on the grounds of their sexuality is absolutely abhorrent. There are around half a million LGBTI people in Uganda and yet homosexuality is still illegal. Same—sex marriage is constitutionally banned and LGBTI people are unable to express themselves freely. They are oppressed. They are socially imprisoned and often violently attacked.

But fortunately, attitudes in Uganda are shifting rapidly. In 2007, a poll showed that 96% believed that same—sex relationships should be outlawed, but by 2017 an ILGA poll found that number had dramatically dropped to just 54% – so social and cultural change is happening.

But the bigger question is, why is the EU meddling yet again in the affairs of a democratically—elected country? This talking shop will not help people in Uganda. Hollow words in this Chamber may make us feel self—righteous, but they have no impact at all on the persecuted LGBTI people in Uganda.

Uganda itself must reform and it must allow LGBTI people to live and love in peace.

  Mónica Silvana González (S&D). – Señor presidente, África nos necesita, Uganda nos necesita, pero la cooperación al desarrollo y la ayuda humanitaria deben ir acompañados de una exigencia clara y concreta del respeto de la dignidad de todas las personas —y todas las personas también son las personas LGTBI—.

Erradicar la pobreza, combatir la discriminación y las desigualdades sin dejar a nadie atrás es un elemento fundamental; lo dice el propio Tratado de la Unión Europea, que establece que la acción exterior se basará en el principio de la universalidad y la indivisibilidad de los derechos humanos.

El nuevo instrumento de cooperación prevé más de 32 000 millones de euros para África, más de un tercio del presupuesto. Debemos desde este Parlamento ser garantes de que ese presupuesto se aplique respetando y empoderando a las personas LGTBI. También el propio Acuerdo de Cotonú establece que, si no se respetan los derechos humanos, ello puede ser motivo para romper este Acuerdo. Incumplido esto, deberíamos ser este Parlamento garante de estos derechos. Defender los derechos humanos es defender los derechos LGTBI, sin indivisibilidad.

  Phil Bennion (Renew). – Mr President, Uganda is a country where the human rights of the LGBTI community have been stripped away by anti-gay legislation for a very long time. The country’s LGBTI community has a history of being harassed and silenced by the government and the Ugandan police. The new plan by the government is to reintroduce the ‘kill the gays’ bill from 2014. This bill criminalises not only the act of same-sex activities, it even makes it clear that anyone who is even involved in promotional and information dissemination also has to be criminalised. The bill will lead to witch-hunts, more harassment, violence and, as we have seen, even extrajudicial executions.

The international community cannot let this happen. We need to remind Uganda that the right to sexuality and to express one’s sexuality and freedom from discrimination is based on the universality of human rights and is guaranteed by international human rights law. Furthermore, the Ugandan Government has an obligation under the Cotonou Agreement, which calls for universal human rights to be respected.

  Alice Kuhnke (Verts/ALE). – Herr talman! För fem år sedan var vi många som drog en lättnadens suck när man i Uganda drog tillbaka förslaget om att införa dödsstraff för homosexuella. Nu har samma avskyvärda politik lagts fram på nytt. Den här gången måste vi agera bestämt.

EU:s utvecklingsbistånd till Uganda 2014–2020 uppgår till hela 578 miljoner euro. Det är stora summor. Men de här pengarna är villkorade. Det finns tydliga skrivningar i avtalet om att mänskliga rättigheter ska upprätthållas. Därför kräver vi gröna att EU tar tydligt avstånd från den homofobiska utvecklingen i Uganda. Steg för steg har brotten blivit grövre. Det måste få ett stopp. Nu.

  Clare Daly (GUE/NGL). – Mr President, I am, of course, against the death penalty full- stop, but the fact that that was being considered for the crime of love is utterly outrageous. Let’s be clear: the criminalisation of homosexuality in any form legitimises homophobic hate and actually constitutes a death sentence for many people.

I, of course, offer full solidarity to the victims in Uganda and the LGBTI activists in that region. But I do find it a little bit sickening, that some in this House sought to add to this resolution a bit of self-congratulations to the EU, as if we are some sort of a beacon of human rights excellence.

We shouldn’t forget that we don’t have to go to Uganda to find appalling discrimination against LGBTI people. For many people in Europe, the inaction and complacency of the EU at the persistent and rising prejudice and hatred in our own Member States should also be listened to. Solidarity doesn’t stop outside our borders and should begin at home.

  Seb Dance (S&D). – Mr President, it’s humiliating enough to know that the marriage to the man I love is not possible in all of the 28 Member States of the European Union. It’s humiliating enough to know that there will be some in this House who don’t even believe I should have the right to that marriage, but, at the very least, I know that my life is not at risk when I walk the streets of the European Union, in most cases.

Words have consequences, and the Minister Simon Lokodo, the so-called Ethics Minister in Uganda, should be utterly ashamed of himself, because what he is doing is trying to deflect from his government’s own failings and using LGBTI people as a scapegoat.

I want to address directly LGBTI people in Uganda and in every country in the world that suffers under discrimination laws and prohibition. You are not the problem here. The problem is failing governments who are using you as a scapegoat. Stay strong, because you have the support in the solidarity of people here. This is a struggle throughout the world, not just in Africa, not just in Asia, this is a struggle everywhere and we share that struggle, and we stand with you. And repeal those colonial laws.

Διαδικασία «Catch-the-Eye»

  Jiří Pospíšil (PPE). – Pane předsedající, já chci poděkovat autorům tohoto usnesení a chci poděkovat všem, kteří vystupovali, protože ten hlas Evropského parlamentu je jednotný a jasný. Naprosté odsouzení politické reality v Ugandě.

Zákon, který byl nastolen, je naprosto skandální, a je to pane komisaři asi ne už o Vás, ale o příští Evropské komisi. Není možné do zemí, kde je takto šíleně šikanována homosexuální menšina, posílat evropské peníze. Toto musí mít dopad na rozvojovou pomoc, kterou Evropská unie poskytuje Ugandě.

Bylo již řečeno kolegy, že ta pomoc není vůbec malá, a my posíláme peníze vládám, které uvažují o tom, že homosexuální styk bude trestán trestem smrti. Navíc vězení v Ugandě jsou plná homosexuálních aktivistů, bojovníků za lidská práva a takovéto zemi posíláme naše evropské peníze. To je opravdu skandální a já si myslím, že toto usnesení, které dneska přijmeme, musí být vodítkem pro Evropskou komisi, aby změnila svoji praxi a podporu Ugandě jako takové.

  Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D). – Señor presidente, comisario Mimica, los jueves del Pleno de Estrasburgo debatimos las violaciones de los derechos humanos, y es un momento de rara unanimidad porque, quienes estamos presentes, estamos muy motivados: comprometidos contra la pena de muerte, contra toda forma de discriminación, contra las violaciones de los derechos humanos más ominosas... Y todo esto se mezcla en este caso aberrante de criminalización —con amenaza de pena de muerte— de la homosexualidad en Uganda.

África es la prioridad absoluta de la política exterior europea por buenas razones, y también de la cooperación al desarrollo: es la parte del león del presupuesto europeo de cooperación humanitaria. Pero la diplomacia europea tiene que emplearse a fondo para remover esas inaceptables violaciones de los derechos humanos consistentes en la criminalización del derecho a amarse de personas del mismo sexo.

Por eso, exigimos que el Acuerdo de Cotonú sea hecho valer, de modo que, si hay un país completamente incompatible con la causa del respeto a los derechos humanos más elementales, ese país sea excluido de las ayudas cuantiosísimas que la Unión Europea invierte en cooperación al desarrollo y ayuda humanitaria; y no puede ser a cambio de nada.

  Barbara Ann Gibson (Renew). – Mr President, I’d like to ask a question of not only my colleagues, but all those listening. What gives you the right – any right: the right to live, to love, to work, to freedom, to health? What gives you your rights? And what gives anyone, any government, any religion, the right to take that away from you – to take away your human rights?

By signing this resolution, by my vote today, and my continuing work as an activist, as an MEP in my own country and area, I say: No. You do not have the right. You can’t take away human rights of LGBTI people – in Uganda or anywhere.

I urge this Parliament and people everywhere to join me in this fight in Uganda, in Europe, and in our home countries.

  Stanislav Polčák (PPE). – Pane předsedající, já se připojuji k odsudkům, které zde byly dnes proneseny od mých kolegů. Samozřejmě brutální útoky na lidi, kteří jsou pouze nějací, jsou podle mého naprosto nepřijatelné. A nepřijatelné je i chování ugandské vlády.

Pokud tyto útoky nepřímo podporuje, pokud mění zákon a předkládá zákon, který má kriminalizovat, dokonce trestat trestem smrti právě jenom to, že jsem nějaký, tak to je myslím, že ve dvacátém století, nejen ve dvacátém století, nepřijatelné. To je návrat do středověku.

Podle mého názoru náš hlas by měl být naprosto slyšet. Já se připojuji k tomu, co říkal kolega Pospíšil. Tato naše rozhodnutí, toto naše rozhořčení musí být promítnuto do našich politik, do naší rozvojové pomoci. My musíme zvednout náš hlas k obraně těchto lidských práv.

A zároveň si neodpustím i poznámku na adresu České republiky. My jsme urazili dlouhou cestu, ještě v šedesátých letech minulého století byla homosexualita u nás trestná. Já pevně věřím, že i český parlament udělá rozhodné kroky v ochraně rovnosti práv.

  Tudor Ciuhodaru (S&D). – Domnule președinte, problema secolului XXI este respectarea drepturilor omului, pentru că dacă acestea nu sunt respectate, acest secol nu va mai fi deloc. Remarc cu îngrijorare că unele țări se întorc în Evul Mediu și că drepturi fundamentale, precum dreptul la viață, la educație, la sănătate, la a te exprima liber, sunt încălcate, ca într-un ev mediu întunecat.

Solicit astăzi viitoarei Comisii Europene, Parlamentului actual și Consiliului să găsim un set de măsuri comune și de criterii clare pentru ca astfel de lucruri să nu se mai întâmple și să avem o atitudine unitară când aceste drepturi sunt încălcate, fie în spațiul european, fie în cel extra-european, pentru că, uitați-vă și dumneavoastră, uneori vedem mai simplu paiul din ochiul altuia decât bârna din ochii noștri. Este momentul să avem o atitudine fermă ca acest Parlament European, noii aleșii, împreună cu noua Comisie, să facă ca acest secol XXI să fie într-adevăr un secol în care drepturile omului sunt respectate.

  Radka Maxová (Renew). – Pane předsedající, jsem velmi ráda, že Evropský parlament připravil silné usnesení proti přijetí legislativy, která zavádí trest smrti za odlišnou sexuální orientaci. Troufám si říci, že je teď trošku míček na straně Evropské komise, která by se k tomu měla postavit tak, jak hovořili kolegové přede mnou.

Odlišná sexuální orientace není zločin. Není to krádež, není to znásilnění, není to vražda, není to zabití. Zastrašování, ukamenování nebo hrozby trestem smrti za odlišnou sexuální orientaci je přece proti pravidlům Evropské unie, která velmi hlasitě vystupuje proti jakékoliv diskriminaci. Jsem ráda, že Evropský parlament má takto silnou pozici a že vzkazujeme lidem z LGBTI komunity v Ugandě, že za nimi stojíme a že uděláme maximum, aby nebyli trestáni za to, jak se narodili.

(Λήξη της διαδικασίας «Catch-the-Eye»)

  Neven Mimica, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, we are well aware that LGBTI people in Uganda have for many years faced discrimination and violence, including hate crimes. The latest personal comments expressed by a Ugandan State Minister regarding the possibility of presenting a new anti-homosexuality law to the Ugandan Parliament, with the possibility of imposing the death penalty against homosexuals, is a sad example of this harsh reality.

The prompt official reactions from the Ugandan Government and the Office of the President – also transmitted through diplomatic channels to the EU delegation and Member States’ ambassadors – have since then confirmed, without hesitation, that such a law is not in preparation. Therefore, we should consider this comment as highly concerning but not reflective of the official policy of the Government of Uganda. At the same time, it is clear that such a public statement from a Cabinet Minister of the Ugandan Government could spark regrettable reactions and further discrimination, hostility or violence against LGBTI people in Uganda.

The European Union encourages states to take all necessary steps – in particular, legislative or administrative measures, to ensure that sexual orientation, gender identity or sexual characteristics may not under any circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties – in particular executions, which the EU strongly opposes in any circumstances.

Discrimination against LGBTI persons undermines the most basic human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I can assure you that all our services, and particularly our EU delegation in Kampala, are closely following the situation and will convey our messages, including this Parliament’s declaration, at the appropriate levels.

  Πρόεδρος. – Η συζήτηση έληξε.

Η ψηφοφορία θα διεξαχθεί σήμερα, Πέμπτη 24 Οκτωβρίου 2019.