Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-07-05-Speech-4-204-000"
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"en.20120705.23.4-204-000"2
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"Mr President, the fate of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Africa is of increasing concern. In several sub-Saharan African countries, homosexuality still carries the death penalty. In 27 countries, it is punishable under criminal law. In the case of women, the number rises to 38.
These issues are exploited for political or religious purposes. Homosexuality is denounced as a disease of the West, while homophobia was, in fact, imported from the West by religious people. Several countries are strengthening their repressive laws in this area and, although anti-discrimination legislation exists, it is poorly applied and, in some cases, not applied at all.
Women are even more discriminated against than men. They are victims twice over, as women and as lesbians. The accusation of homosexuality is even used to reduce them to silence when they dare assert their right to be different as well as their rights to autonomy and, more generally, equality, not to mention ‘corrective’ rapes.
Only a few African leaders, like Archbishop Desmond Tutu or Joyce Banda, the new President of Malawi, dare go against the tide. The situation of LGBTs is particularly difficult since they do not have a neighbouring country where they can seek refuge, with discrimination and persecution rife across virtually the entire continent. An analysis of the situation in South Africa, long considered a sort of El Dorado, is worrying.
The European Union simply must not remain silent, but words alone are not enough either. More than ever, it must support the networks that campaign against such discrimination and make these issues a key aspect of the political dialogue with African countries.
The European Union must also throw its doors wide open to those, men and women, who seek asylum because they are victims of discrimination in this area."@en1
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