Resolution on Uganda: the killing of David Kato

Following a debate which was held in plenary on the same day, the European Parliament adopted by 55 votes to 0, with 1 abstention, a resolution on Uganda: the killing of David Kato.

The resolution had been tabled by the Greens/ALE, ALDE, ECR, GUE/NGL, EPP and S&D groups.

It strongly condemns the violent murder of David Kato Kisule, the human rights defender and leading figure of the gay and lesbian rights group Sexual Minorities Uganda, on 26 January 2011 David Kato Kisule. Members call on the Ugandan authorities to carry out an impartial investigation into the killing and bring the perpetrators to justice, and also to investigate individuals who publicly called for the killing of David Kato, as well as their organisations, role and funding. Parliament recalls that David Kato had won the lawsuit against a local tabloid, ‘Rolling Stone’, which on 9 October and 15 November 2010 had listed the names, personal details and photographs of over a hundred people alleged to be homosexual, including David Kato, inciting readers to harm or hang them. It regrets that the Ugandan authorities have nothing to say about the discriminatory views expressed about homosexual persons, and points to their obligations under international law and the Cotonou Agreement, in particular the duty to protect all persons - regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity - against threats or violence against them.

The resolution calls on the EU to ensure that their foreign policy, including their cooperation and development policy takes into proper consideration the human rights situation of all minority groups including  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)  persons, and to ensure that tangible progress is made in this field. It also calls on the EU, its institutions and Member States, as appropriate to:

• make full use of the Toolkit to Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by LGBT People in their dealings with Uganda, provide full protection for LGBT activists in Uganda, and support their activities. Parliament calls on the Commission to include these issues in the Roadmap against homophobia which the European Parliament has requested it to draft;
• restate the principle that persons at risk of persecution should be considered for refugee status;
• include LGBT activists in their human rights defender support programmes.

Parliament also condemns the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, a private member's bill tabled by David Bahati, MP, on 25 September 2009 in the Ugandan Parliament, under which homosexual acts would be punishable by between seven years' and life imprisonment or by the death penalty. It is extremely concerned that international donors, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, humanitarian organisations and doctors would have to reconsider or cease their activities in certain fields, should the bill pass. Members note that Germany has decided to withhold half of the USD 33 million in foreign aid pledged to Malawi, because of the criminalisation of homosexuality and restriction of press freedom, which has been followed by the United States' refusal to sign over USD 350 million in foreign aid to Malawi without further talks about laws restricting individual freedoms.

Lastly, Members denounce any attempt to incite hatred and advocate violence towards any minority group, including on grounds of gender or sexual orientation. They join in the call by David Kato's organisation (SMUG), and by other organisations, for authorities, political and religious leaders and the media to stop demonising sexual minorities and creating a climate of violence against LGBT people.