Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 29th Feb. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Wednesday described a parliamentary bill in Ghana which introduced new criminal sanctions against LGBTQ+ citizens as “profoundly disturbing”, urging lawmakers to halt its passage.
Volker Türk said the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024 would broaden criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual and queer people “simply for being who they are”.
He warned the bill also “threatens criminal penalties against perceived allies of LGBTQ+ people ”.
“I call for the bill not to become law. I urge the Ghanaian Government to take steps to ensure everyone can live free from violence, stigma and discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity”, said Mr. Türk.
He noted “Consensual same-sex conduct should never be criminalized.”
Volker Türk expressed deep alarm that the bill criminalizes the legitimate work of human rights defenders, teachers, medical professionals, landlords and people seeking healthcare.
“The bill is contrary to Ghana’s own Constitution and freely undertaken regional and international human rights obligations and commitments, to leave no one behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” he said.
Mr. Türk stressed that the bill is corrosive and will have a negative impact on society as a whole.
He reiterated his office commitment to work with the Government of Ghana and its national partners to ensure it fulfils its human rights commitments and obligations.
