Az ülések szó szerinti jegyzőkönyve

2011. február 17., Csütörtök - Strasbourg

10.3. Uganda: David Kato meggyilkolása

  Der Präsident. − Als nächster Punkt folgt die Aussprache über sechs Entschließungsanträge zum Thema: Uganda – Ermordung von David Kato⁽¹⁾.

  Ulrike Lunacek, Verfasserin. − Herr Präsident, Herr Kommissar, meine Damen und Herren! Wir alle hätten uns wohl gewünscht, dass David Kato, der vor wenigen Wochen ermordet wurde, noch am Leben ist und dass er – wie schon im vergangenen November – hier bei uns sein könnte, um über die Rechte von Lesben und Schwulen und den Mangel an Rechten von Lesben und Schwulen in Uganda zu sprechen und mit uns gemeinsam zu planen, was zu tun ist, um das zu ändern. Wir alle hätten lieber, er wäre am Leben, und wäre nicht das Opfer eines brutalen Mörders geworden. David Kato, der sich in seinem Land Uganda als Menschenrechtsverteidiger für die Rechte von Lesben, Schwulen, Bisexuellen und Transgender-Personen eingesetzt hat.

Ich bin froh, dass es uns gelungen ist, eine Sechsparteieneinigung in dieser Entschließung zustande zu bringen und die Ermordung von David Kato zu verurteilen und die Behörden, die politische Führung, die morgen in Uganda neu gewählt wird, und auch religiöse Führer aufzufordern, endlich der Verhetzung und der Gewalt gegen Lesben und Schwule und gegen andere Minderheiten ein Ende zu setzen und dazu beizutragen, dass Lesben, Schwule, Bisexuelle und Transgender-Personen auch in Uganda frei leben können.

Wir als Europäische Union haben auch die Verantwortung, uns für diese gleichen Rechte einzusetzen und in diesem Sinn das Andenken von David Kato und anderen, die in diesem Kampf um gleiche Rechte schon vor ihm ihr Leben lassen mussten, zu befördern. In diesem Sinn ist es auch notwendig, dass unsere Außenministerin, Frau Catherine Ashton, und der neue auswärtige Dienst sich für diese gleichen Rechte einsetzen, um z. B. das Toolkit für die Rechte von Lesben und Schwulen auch in jedem außereuropäischen Land zu verwenden.

  Marietje Schaake, author. − Mr President, today we have an urgent resolution on LGBT rights in Uganda for the third time in this parliamentary term. The previous two were warnings and attempts to prevent what happened to David Kato, the human rights activist who was brutally murdered.

We must condemn LGBT discrimination across the world, including in Europe and even in this House.

The murder of David Kato is a crime that needs to be fully and impartially investigated. Not only do the perpetrators have to be brought to justice, but the broader context of intolerance, discrimination and threats to LGBT people needs to be analysed, and changed. Local publication Rolling Stone and Ugandan parliamentarians have played a role of incitement rather than one of protecting citizens. Since David Kato’s murder, the authorities have been too silent.

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe has put the rights of LBGT people on the agenda over and over again and, with the support of all Members of this House, we have urged respect for their human rights – because that is what LGBT rights are – and we will not be silent.

I hope that those Members who are sometimes hesitant or even reluctant to stand up for gay rights will think again and realise that killing people is never justified and that it needs to be met with our ongoing and unequivocal condemnation, just as we address the violations of the rights of other minorities across the world, such as Christians.

The Commission and the External Action Service need to use the toolkit to promote, and protect the enjoyment of, the rights of LGBT people to the full extent with regard to Uganda.

  Charles Tannock, author. − Mr President, the murder of David Kato is the direct result of the hatred and hostility towards Uganda’s LGBT community, whipped up by certain hard-line parliamentarians in that country. Twice in the past year we have lambasted the outrageous attempts by some MPs in Uganda to mandate the death penalty for the so-called crime of same-sex activity.

It is inevitable that in a climate of such bigotry the lives of gay rights activists would be endangered, and so it has sadly proved to be the case with David Kato. He knew the risks of publicly defending gays. He and other alleged homosexuals were outed last year by a newspaper which printed their photos next to a headline which said, disgracefully, ‘hang them’. I am sure that many of my London constituents are deeply concerned about the European Union giving financial aid to a country where such disgusting sentiments are not only tolerated but sometimes apparently officially condoned.

I hope that Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament will consider carefully what action it can take to register our anger and disgust at Mr Kato’s murder and, more generally, to underline that the EU’s continuing engagement and financial aid to African countries must be reciprocated with progress on fundamental human rights on that continent.

  Marie-Christine Vergiat, auteure. − Monsieur le Président, nous en sommes à la troisième résolution du Parlement européen de cette législature sur les discriminations contre la population LGBT en Ouganda. Nous traitons aujourd'hui tout particulièrement le cas de M. David Kato, dont l'assassinat a été dénoncé avec force par de nombreuses ONG et instances internationales. M. Kato était en effet un symbole de la lutte contre l'homophobie dans son pays, et notamment de la dénonciation du projet de loi Bahati qui va très loin dans le durcissement de la pénalisation de l'homosexualité puisqu'il envisage des peines allant jusqu'à la prison à vie et même la peine de mort. Nous devons lui rendre hommage, mais nous devons aussi penser à tous ceux dont les photos, les noms et les adresses ont été jetés à l'opprobre public par un torchon dont je ne donnerai même pas le nom. Le climat vis-à-vis de la communauté LGBT est insupportable, exacerbé par les autorités religieuses, et notamment les fondamentalistes évangélistes proches du chef de l'État.

Demain auront lieu des élections présidentielles en Ouganda. Bien qu'il y ait huit candidats, le président sortant se dit d'ores et déjà sûr de sa réélection et annonce qu'il mettra en prison tous ceux qui contesteront les élections. Ces élections sont sans doute une occasion de rappeler l'État ougandais à ses obligations en matière de droits de l'homme, de lui dire que la lutte contre les discriminations quelles qu'elles soient, y compris à l'égard des LGBT, fait partie intégrante de ces valeurs universelles et que nous devrions tous ensemble répondre à l'appel de M. Ban Ki-moon de faire de la dépénalisation de l'homosexualité un combat universel pour les droits de l'homme.

  Seán Kelly, deputising for the author. − Mr President, for those of us who live in the developed world, the chasm between us and the sub-Saharan area both in terms of thinking and practice is very difficult to comprehend.

The case of David Kato is an example of that. He was a man who was regarded as the father of the Ugandan human rights movement. As a founder member of SMUG, Sexual Minorities Uganda, he was condemned by a magazine called Rolling Stone, and won his case against them. The editor said that the persecution of homosexuals and their execution should continue. Sure enough, David Kato was murdered, on 26 January.

  Michael Cashman, author. − Mr President, it is always a sad moment when we have to pass a resolution on the death of a human rights defender.

For me it is even sadder because, like others in this House, I met him when he came to Parliament to plead for it to act on behalf of those living in Uganda.

As a gay man, can I personally thank this House for the way it has united in this resolution in saying that hatred against lesbian, gay and bisexual people, and the diminishing of their human rights, is totally unacceptable.

The justice that we can give David Kato is not only to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice for the crime that they have committed – the senseless murder of this young man. The real issue is that in the continent of Africa, as Mr Tannock quite rightly said, on issues of human rights and civil liberties, we have given our colleagues too far and too easy a ride on these vital matters. The best thing that can come from this is that the colonialism that we imposed through our laws, and sometimes through our religion, can actually end in the repeal of the law in the 38 countries that criminalise homosexuality and bring to an end the death penalty in Somalia, Mauritania, Sudan and Northern Nigeria.

That would be a memorial not only to David Kato, a giant amongst the pygmies who preach prejudice and persecution. It would also be a memorial to this Parliament speaking up for those who have no voice.

  Corina Creţu, în numele grupului S&D. – Într-adevăr, cred că discuţia privind încălcarea drepturilor minorităţilor sexuale din Uganda ar trebuie să depăşească stadiul de critică. Să trecem la reflectarea asupra eficienţei demersurilor noastre în favoarea drepturilor omului şi la analiza gradului de implicare a diplomaţiei europene în această direcţie.

În luna decembrie am adoptat o rezoluţie împotriva pedepsirii homosexualilor din Uganda şi a incitării la crime împotriva unei comunităţi stigmatizate pentru orientarea sa sexuală. Mă revoltă această crimă oribilă, dar în acelaşi timp mă revoltă şi reticenţa instituţiilor europene şi a statelor membre ale Uniunii Europene de a recurge la pârghiile de persuasiune şi presiune pe care le au la îndemână. Cred că este cazul să cerem ferm autorităţilor ugandeze să garanteze respectarea drepturilor fundamentale, să asigure o anchetă corectă în acest caz şi să prevină alte asemenea crime. Totodată consider că se impune un avertisment din partea noastră către Comisie pentru a se implica într-un mod mult mai hotărât în apărarea drepturilor omului.

  Alexandra Thein, im Namen der ALDE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, sehr geehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Wir werden heute die dritte Entschließung gegen die Kriminalisierung der Homosexualität in Uganda verabschieden. Innerhalb kurzer Zeit sind Homosexuelle in Uganda zu Freiwild erklärt worden. Sogar Kinder bzw. Minderjährige sind betroffen. Dies alles aufgrund des unverantwortlichen Wirkens einer aus den USA stammenden christlichen Sekte und dem Aufruf im örtlichen Rolling Stone-Magazin, hundert namentlich bekannte Homosexuelle aufzuhängen.

Nun ist – was wir eigentlich mit unserer letzten Entschließung verhindern wollten – einer dieser öffentlich benannten Homosexuellen, David Kato, auf offener Straße mit mehreren Hammerschlägen regelrecht gemeuchelt worden. Wir fordern Uganda auf, erstens den Mord an David Kato unabhängig zu untersuchen, und nicht einfach irgendjemanden dafür festzunehmen. Wir fordern Uganda weiter auf, alle, die zum öffentlichen Mord an Homosexuellen aufrufen, strafrechtlich zur Verantwortung zu ziehen. Und wir fordern Uganda auf, seine Gesetzgebung zu revidieren.

  Raül Romeva i Rueda, en nombre del Grupo Verts/ALE. – Señor Presidente, yo me sumo a la tristeza y a la emoción, y sobre todo a la indignación, por el asesinato de David Kato y recuerdo que lo que procede ahora es mostrar una clara determinación, una voluntad firme para luchar no sólo contra ese tipo de asesinatos sino también de ultrajes, contra cualquier tipo de discriminación desde el punto de vista de la orientación sexual.

En África, sólo en 13 países es legal la homosexualidad y en 38 es considerada un delito. Eso es algo inadmisible y, además, como Unión Europea, debemos combatirlo políticamente, y económicamente también. Porque no olvidemos que, al final, tenemos la posibilidad también de contribuir, desde un punto de vista económico, a combatir ese tipo de medidas.

Es necesario también que la persecución por motivos de orientación sexual se considere como un elemento necesario para poder incluso apelar al estatuto de refugiado, al derecho a contar con una protección de la Unión Europea y de los Estados miembros que, desgraciadamente, en estos momentos no se les concede.

Si hubiéramos tenido esa posibilidad en el caso de David Kato, quizás no lo estaríamos lamentando. ¡Y cuántos muchos más tendremos que lamentar en el futuro!

  Ryszard Czarnecki, w imieniu grupy ECR. – Panie Przewodniczący! Myślę, że sytuacja w której po raz trzeci mówimy o Ugandzie w ciągu czternastu miesięcy, a po raz drugi w ciągu kilku miesięcy, jest sytuacją bardzo niepokojącą. Zgadzam się z moimi przedmówcami, tak naprawdę chodzi nie tylko o prawa człowieka jednej grupy, ale chodzi o prawa człowieka w Ugandzie w ogóle. Choć w tym kontekście wszelkie mniejszości są narażone na bardzo dotkliwe wyzwania. Myślę, że ponowny głos Parlamentu Europejskiego w tej kwestii jest szczególnie ważny. Cieszę się, że przedstawiciele różnych grup politycznych w tej kwestii mówią razem i mówią tak naprawdę to samo, choć oczywiście mogą akcentować w różny sposób. Ja bym powiedział, że w Ugandzie nie są przestrzegane w ogóle prawa człowieka, także tej grupy i tej grupy powinniśmy również bronić w tym kontekście szczególnie. Powinniśmy także bronić prawa do nieskrępowanej działalności politycznej i podkreślać również w tym kontekście prawa obrońców praw człowieka.

  Joanna Senyszyn (S&D). - Panie Przewodniczący! Brutalne morderstwo Davida Kato, jednego z najbardziej znanych w Ugandzie obrońców praw człowieka, to wynik nienawiści do osób homoseksualnych. Nawet jeśli zabójca zostanie ukarany, pozostanie atmosfera nienawiści, usankcjonowana prawem dyskryminacja osób LGBT. Aż w 38 krajach afrykańskich homoseksualizm jest przestępstwem, w czterech zagrożonym karą śmierci.

Unia Europejska aktywnie wspiera demokratyczne przemiany w Afryce. Nie możemy pozwalać, aby prawa człowieka były w tak drastyczny sposób łamane. Ile krwi musi się jeszcze przelać, ile osób musi zginąć, aby społeczność międzynarodowa wymusiła zmianę ustawodawstwa łamiącego prawa człowieka w Afryce? Trzeba przyjrzeć się także roli kościoła, który zamiast szerzyć miłość i pokój, szczuje na osoby homoseksualne, głosząc bzdurną teorię, że homoseksualizm jest ciężką chorobą, którą trzeba leczyć.

  Nicole Sinclaire (NI). - Mr President, I would just like to make a point of order before I go on to my speech. This is the third time that we have been promised speaking time but then not been listed. Just because we are independent Members of this House, it does not mean that we do not have a say as well.

Going on to my speech as I wish to give it, I would like to take the time to commend the late David Kato for his brave work in Uganda, for defending not just his rights, but also the rights of other LGBT people in Uganda, and indeed of those in Africa. It is only too sad that, although he came to this Parliament last October, we obviously did not heed his warnings – nor did the international community – and now he has been killed.

I find it unbelievable that the European Union is still giving aid to Uganda. I would hope that, after the elections in the next couple of days, we will review that. I hope that, if there is no amnesty for people being prosecuted for LGBT offences, we would withdraw all aid.

I would just like to make one final point. It is very sad that the current Presidency of the European Union, the Hungarians, have decided to ban an LGBT pride march this June. What message does that send out ... ? (the President cut off the speaker).

  Der Präsident. − Frau Kollegin Sinclaire! Mit wurde gesagt, dass von Ihren Mitarbeitern die Redezeit nicht benannt worden ist. Ich sage Ihnen gerne persönlich zu, wenn Ihre Mitarbeiter mir den Übersendungsnachweis übermitteln, gehe ich der Sache nach. Ich kümmere mich persönlich darum, wenn Sie den Übermittlungsnachweis bei mir einreichen.

  Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris (PPE). - Signor Presidente, signor Commissario, onorevoli colleghi, l'assassinio di David Kato evoca una condanna dura e decisa da parte delle istituzioni europee.

Non dobbiamo tuttavia dimenticare che questo atto violento è solo un episodio di una più ampia vicenda, quella della discriminazione subita in varie parti del mondo dalle minoranze, siano esse culturali, etniche o religiose. Soltanto qualche settimana fa, con una risoluzione urgente, abbiamo condannato quanto accaduto ai cristiani copti ad Alessandria d'Egitto, crudelmente assassinati solo perché volevano professare liberamente e rispettosamente la loro fede.

Al di là dei diritti dei gay, l'Uganda è un paese estremamente vulnerabile, vittima di una speculazione finanziaria da parte di alcune potenze interessate a lucrare profitto dalla debolezza di questo paese. L'Unione europea deve dunque dedicare attenzione all'Uganda, affinché il paese possa beneficiare della nostra capacità di promuovere democrazia e diritti civili anche paesi extra UE.

  Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE). - Mr President, hatred and human rights violations against sexual minorities continue worldwide. The recent news of the killing of David Kato in Uganda is yet another sad example of the discrimination and brutality that sexual minorities are facing.

The killing of Mr Kato has to be investigated thoroughly, and the person or persons responsible have to be brought to justice. It has been reported that certain sources, including the Rolling Stone tabloid, had publicly called for the killing of Mr Kato. These allegations need to be investigated.

I must say that I was appalled by the comments of the Ugandan Minister for Ethics and Integrity, who announced that homosexuals can forget about human rights.

  Róża Gräfin von Thun und Hohenstein (PPE). - Panie Przewodniczący! Jak myślę o Ugandzie, myślę o tym, jak ten przepiękny kraj dużo się nacierpiał od czasów Idi Amina i ciągle jeszcze prawa człowieka tam są gwałcone, to wdzięczna jestem wszystkim kolegom, którzy tak pilnie na to zwracają uwagę. Myślę, że przy tym temacie powinniśmy mówić tak samo o tym, do czego może doprowadzić język nienawiści. To w końcu język nienawiści (ten tabloid, który opublikował zdjęcia pana Kato) doprowadził do tego koszmarnego morderstwa. Ten język nienawiści funkcjonuje tak samo tutaj u nas w Unii Europejskiej. Istnieją takie strony internetowe jak np. Red Watch i na tych stronach internetowych są podawane nazwiska, czasem nawet i adresy osób o odmiennej orientacji seksualnej, o innym wyznaniu, o innym światopoglądzie. Na tych stronach internetowych właściwie otwarcie nawołuje się do przemocy wobec mniejszości. Musimy dbać o te prawa i o bezpieczeństwo mniejszości na świecie, ale też u nas.

  Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the Commission. − Mr President, let me start by paying tribute to the late David Kato. David Kato was a courageous human rights defender and fearless LGTB rights activist.

As a leading voice on LGTB rights, his life was under threat. On 2 October 2010, David Kato’s name and picture, along with the names and pictures of other alleged LGBT persons, were published by a Ugandan tabloid, the Rolling Stone, under the headline ‘Hang them’, shamelessly putting their lives at risk.

It was a success that he won an appeal against the paper. On 3 January, a court ruled that the paper had violated their constitutional rights to privacy and safety and awarded the three plaintiffs damages.

It was his last success. On 26 January, David Kato was killed. The EU, through its heads of mission in Uganda, expressed its shock and called on the Ugandan authorities to investigate David Kato’s murder vigorously and to ensure that the perpetrators of this terrible act were brought to justice.

David Kato will be a great loss to the global community of human rights defenders and to Uganda. His death also reminds us of the volatile situation for LGBT people in Uganda and elsewhere. Right after his death, on 28 January, another paper, Red Pepper, published an outrageous article with very insulting statements about homosexuals. The draft anti-homosexuality bill put before the Ugandan parliament has been temporarily shelved, but can be re-tabled once a new parliament is established after the upcoming elections in Uganda.

The EU position on LGTB rights is very clear. The criminalisation of homosexuality, as foreseen in the draft Uganda bill, goes against international human rights standards. The draft bill also goes against the EU-supported United Nations Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of 18 December 2008.

The EU heads of mission have raised this issue with the Ugandan Government on several occasions at the highest level: with the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice and the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

On 9 February, the Human Rights Working Group, which brings together several partners in Uganda, invited human rights defenders to give an update on actions undertaken by the LGBT – and broader human rights defenders’ – community, following David’s murder.

On 3 February, the EU Delegation, together with ten EU Member States represented in Uganda and Norway, launched the Local Implementation Strategy on the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders. The strategy set out, in a more practical way, how EU missions and Norway can work to assist and acknowledge the work of human rights defenders, including LGBT activists.

The EU intends to keep raising its concerns in relation to the draft anti-homosexuality bill and other cases of the persecution of LGBT people in Uganda on every suitable occasion, in dialogue with the government. In addition, the EU will continue to support local human rights organisations in their efforts to change attitudes in the country. The EU delegation will shortly meet with a protection organisation for human rights defenders to discuss ways of supporting their work for LGTB activists.

  Der Präsident. − Die Aussprache ist geschlossen.

Die Abstimmung findet jetzt unmittelbar statt.

Schriftliche Erklärungen (Artikel 149)

  Monica Luisa Macovei (PPE), în scris. – Am aflat cu multă îngrijorare despre moartea activistului pentru drepturile omului, inclusiv LGBT, David Kisule, în Uganda. Am condamnat deja în acest Parlament sancţionarea penală a relaţiilor consensuale, în privat, între adulţi de acelaşi sex şi proiectul de lege Baharti care prevede înăsprirea pedepselor până la pedeapsa capitală. Uciderea lui David Kisule dovedeşte că pericolul este major şi real şi că ura şi discriminarea costă vieţi omeneşti. Salut declaraţiile Preşedintelui Barack Obama şi ale Secretarului de Stat Hilary Clinton care au deplâns moartea lui David Kisule şi au dat vizibilitate eforturilor sale pentru o viaţă demnă în Uganda, indiferent de orientarea sexuală şi identitatea de gen. Mă alătur celor care solicită Comisiei Europene şi Consiliului să acţioneze rapid şi eficient pentru condamnarea şi stoparea discriminării din legi şi realitate.

  Kristiina Ojuland (ALDE), in writing. – Mr President, Vice-President of the Commission, the murder of David Kato Kisule was a tremendous tragedy for his family and friends as well as a great loss for the LGBT and human rights movement in sub-Saharan Africa. I find it astounding that this horrific act has been treated by the Ugandan authorities with marked indifference. The martyrdom of David Kato and the discrimination against the LGBT minorities should be addressed vocally with the Ugandan authorities.

David Kato’s efforts would have been in vain if the Bahati Anti-Homosexuality Bill were to pass in the Parliament of Uganda without a firm international reaction. The European Union must exert pressure on the Ugandan authorities to decriminalise homosexuality and reject the use of the death penalty under any circumstances.

Uganda must fulfil her obligations under international law and the Cotonou Agreement, which commits Uganda to protect all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, against threats and violence. It would be a serious infringement if the Ugandan government and judiciary were to encourage and exercise such violence themselves. The European Union and its Member States must make use of the conditionality of development assistance and cease sponsoring such governments.

(1) Siehe Protokoll.