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Loading ...Gay imprisonment bill dies in Burundi Senate
02.20.2009 12:10pm EST
(Bujumbura) Legislation making changes to Burundi’s criminal code that would have made homosexuality a criminal offense has been overwhelmingly defeated in the central African nation’s Senate.
The lower house adopted the measure in November, prompting sharp criticism from international human rights groups and the UN Program on HIV/AIDS.This week, the Senate stripped out the criminalization of homosexuality while maintaining other provisions to the sweeping reform of the country’s legal system.
The Senate left intact the abolition of the death penalty new laws on genocide. The bill also protects women and children from all forms of violence – especially sexual violence.
The revised legislation now returns to the lower house for final approval.
Burundi is struggling to emerge from a civil war that has resulted in more than 300,000 deaths since 1993. The provisions on genocide and the abolition of the death penalty are considered part of the healing process, but increasingly hardliners have blamed many of the country’s problems on gays.
The anti-gay provision in the original bill had the backing of President Pierre Nkurunziza. Earlier this week, prior to the Senate vote, Human Rights Watch wrote to Nkurunziza and members of the Senate saying that outlawing homosexuality “violates basic human rights.”
The Senate exclusion of the provision on homosexuality was praised by Michel Sidibe, the Executive Director of the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS.
“By rejecting this amendment, Senators in Burundi have protected the human rights of their people,” Sidibe said, adding that the provision would have blocked access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.
“They have also set a standard for other lawmakers around the world to follow their example in stopping laws that block the AIDS response,” Sidibe said in a prepared statement.
The statement also noted that countries with non-discrimination laws against men who have sex with men, injecting drug users and sex workers have provided better access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.
So Burundi doesn’t go back to the Stone Age of Homophobia, at least.
Meanwhile the Republicans in the USA and their confederacy still exists base would like us to go back to biblical times. Perhaps they could make an example of themselves, by offering their children up to their God on a Pyre.
And following Deuterotomy in the bible, where any daughter who is not a virgin at her marriage is to be stoned to death.
Neanderthals – I should be careful what I suggest to them – they might go do it.
I have no problem visiting Japan. I can eat Japanese food and I like Japamese people and their culture.
Morgan
Morgan, if you’re worried about that, I would suggest not traveling to the U.S. either, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Parts of Europe and Canada are quite safe, though, and Japan is probably the way to go for you.
Apart from the homophobia in Africa, I am not interested in being a murdered tourist in Africa, chopped up, beheaded and guts everywhere. Some of the most dangerous places in the world are in third countries.
At least IN US, Canada and Europe, I stand a greater chance of making it alive in one piece.
As someone who has been to Africa (primarily south of Zambia), I beg to differ. Travel in North America and Europe might be more comfortable. But it certainly isn’t more interesting.
Africa offers a wealth of unique experiences. Containing both the most majestic and the most depressing places on the planet, Africa is a continent of contrasts. Strikingly beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and safari lodges co-exist with shocking poverty, grittiness, and disease. As with Southeast Asia and South America, Africa seeps into your soul in a way which the “First World” countries never can.
It doesn’t matter that much whether homosexuality is legal or not either. Just don’t engage in PDA until you’re in a “safe haven” like Cape Town. I should point out that most workers in the tourist industry are not affliated with these homophobic governments. And they couldn’t care less what you do in private. They depend on tourism to survive. They won’t bite the hand that feeds them.
If I had never seen Africa in my lifetime by the time I am too old to want to travel, that is OK. I am not missing anything.
You mean somewhere in Africa(besides South Africa) there actually exists a legitimately elected senate?!?
I have to wonder if the Senate made this decision due to international pressure, perhaps fear of losing financial support from abroad, or whether they did so because it was the right thing to do. Ultimately it makes little difference – the rights of the gay community in Burundi have been protected – but if international pressure played a significant role then it increases the risk that this is something we might see resurface again in the future. I hope not, but at least for now it is a victory for human rights.