Status on the Criminalisation of Homosexuality, Homophobic Tendencies in Africa, and a Resolution to the African Union for Equal Rights before the Law regardless of Sexual Orientation

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 727

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 7 OF 15 MARCH 2010

Mr KS Mubu (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

1. Whether she intends raising the issue of the criminalisation of homosexuality throughout Africa with any of her African counterparts; if not, why not;

2. Whether the government is concerned about the increasing homophobic tendencies gaining momentum over Africa; if so, when was the issue raised, (b) with which countries, (c) on what platform and (d) what was the outcome of the discussions;

3. Whether the government intends submitting a resolution to the African Union calling for equal rights before the law regardless of sexual orientation; if not, why not; if so, when will this be done? NW854E

 REPLY:

1. No. South Africa propagates the values of its Constitution, which underpin its foreign policy, in all bilateral and multilateral platforms in Africa and elsewhere.

2. One of the objectives of South African foreign policy is the promotion of human rights. South Africa uses bilateral and multilateral fora to promote this and other foreign policy goals.

3. No. The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, which is an African Union (AU) organ, is mandated by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to promote and protect human rights on the African Continent.

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