WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday denounced Uganda’s draconian new anti-homosexuality law as a serious human rights violation and threatened to cut aid and investment to the East African country. ballast.
He called for the immediate repeal of the tough new measures, which among other things stipulate that “engaging in acts of homosexuality” in Uganda would be an offense punishable by life imprisonment.
“The enactment of Uganda’s anti-homosexuality law is a tragic violation of universal human rights,” Biden said in a statement, joining a chorus of condemnation after President Yoweri Museveni signed the measures.
“No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or experience violence and discrimination,” Biden said. “It is wrong.”
american secretary of State Antony Blinken offered his own condemnation, saying the United States was “deeply disturbed” by the passage of the law.
“Uganda’s failure to protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ people is part of a broader breakdown in human rights protections that puts Ugandan citizens at risk,” Blinker said in a statement.
Biden said he’s asked his National Security Council to assess what the law means for “all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda,” including AIDS and emergency services. other aid and investment.
He said the administration would also consider imposing sanctions on Uganda and restricting entry into the United States of people who engage in human rights abuses or corruption there.
Blinken reiterated the possibility of visa restrictions and said the State Department would “develop mechanisms to support the rights of LGBTQI+ people in Uganda and to promote accountability of Ugandan officials” implicated in human rights abuses. .
He called for the immediate repeal of the tough new measures, which among other things stipulate that “engaging in acts of homosexuality” in Uganda would be an offense punishable by life imprisonment.
“The enactment of Uganda’s anti-homosexuality law is a tragic violation of universal human rights,” Biden said in a statement, joining a chorus of condemnation after President Yoweri Museveni signed the measures.
“No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or experience violence and discrimination,” Biden said. “It is wrong.”
american secretary of State Antony Blinken offered his own condemnation, saying the United States was “deeply disturbed” by the passage of the law.
“Uganda’s failure to protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ people is part of a broader breakdown in human rights protections that puts Ugandan citizens at risk,” Blinker said in a statement.
Biden said he’s asked his National Security Council to assess what the law means for “all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda,” including AIDS and emergency services. other aid and investment.
He said the administration would also consider imposing sanctions on Uganda and restricting entry into the United States of people who engage in human rights abuses or corruption there.
Blinken reiterated the possibility of visa restrictions and said the State Department would “develop mechanisms to support the rights of LGBTQI+ people in Uganda and to promote accountability of Ugandan officials” implicated in human rights abuses. .
