The United Nation’s has said that the passage of Nigeria’s Anti-Same Sex marriage bill could hinder efforts to combat HIV in Africa and the world at large.
Speaking at the tail end of her four day working visit to Nigeria, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Navi Pillay said the law was “draconian and illegal”, she also stated that the UN would not relent in efforts to make Nigerian government repeal the law.
Her statement: “in the twenty years since the office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights was created, this is the first time any High Commissioner has visited Nigeria. I am grateful to the government for inviting me.”
“This is a very important country, with easily the largest population in Africa, big ambitions and huge potential. On the international level, Nigeria has been playing an increasingly significant role in the Human Rights Council in Geneva and is currently a member of the Security Council. It can, and I believe should, play an even more significant role on the international stage in the years to come, and its embrace of human rights will be a major element in deciding its future course both internally and internationally.
“One of the groups living in fear is Nigeria’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The new law known as the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition Act) goes far beyond prohibiting same sex marriage- which was illegal anyway.”
“The law violates international law in that it is discriminatory and seriously impinges on freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and could lead to human rights defenders advocating for the rights of LGBT people receiving draconian prison sentences.
“There is also concern among medical specialists that it will have serious negative consequences for public health in Nigeria, by driving LGBT persons underground and deterring them from signing up for HIV educational programmes, prevention, treatment and care services. Given that Nigeria currently has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world, this would be a heavy blow to the efforts to combat HIV.
“The law already appears to be having other dangerous side effects, even before it comes into force, with my office receiving reports of widespread arrests of LGBT people in some states, some physical attacks, including by mobs, and other forma of harassment such as a rise in blackmail and extortion. It is for these reasons, among others, that this law has aroused such controversy on the international level.”
“As someone who grew up in South Africa under apartheid, and was discriminated against both because of my colour and my gender, I am acutely aware of the terrible effects of discrimination and intolerance.
“The UN Secretary General had roundly condemned the same sex marriage Act because we believe that it contravenes international laws and the African Union Charter which Nigeria signed to.
“Such international laws upholds equality and speaks of none discrimination. These are universal values that should be respected and adhered to even in the face of contrary cultural beliefs and practices some of which I enumerated earlier as harmful cultural practices.
“However, the UN will not take any action against this country except to continue to express its concern with regard to this arbitrary law which the international communities have condemned for various reasons”, she added.
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