9/9/15: The Foreign Policy Case for Promoting LGBTI Human Rights

Posted onAuthorHumanRightsAPPG

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The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) attended this event at Chatham House, featuring Randy Berry, US Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, and chaired by Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall.

The main points raised:

  • In 77 countries around the world, discriminatory laws exist criminalising private, consensual same-sex relationships.
  • Violence and discrimination against LGBTI people are the most important issues to challenge in foreign policy.
  • Central and South America have shown positive developments in recent years, whereas other areas, such as Russia and Uganda, have been more regressive.
  • The UK Government can do more for LGBTI rights around the world by promoting good practice in the UK, raising the profile of LGBTI in DFID programming and by considering setting up a position of UK Special Envoy on this issue.

The PHRG will continue to follow developments on LGBTI rights around the world and use the Parliamentary platform to raise its concerns.