Members Parliament meeting in Geneva have voted to ban debate on the subject of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) at the Inter Parliamentary Union.
The Ugandan delegation led by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga steered the move against what they termed as a well-orchestrated machination led by Canada and Belgium who had lobbied many delegates to vote in favor of the motion. They were supported by representatives from China, Russia, African and Arab parliaments.
The LGBT agenda had been presented to the Assembly to be debated as an emergency item for the next 140th IPU Assembly. This, IPU President, Gabriela Cuevas Barron subjected the matter to a vote by member states.
The question put was on whether the standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights should hold a panel debate that will lead to a resolution entitled, “The role of parliaments in ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and ensuring respect for the human rights of LGBT persons,”
Speaking against the motion, Busiki County MP, Paul Akamba reminded the General Assembly of the IPU statute and reasons why it was formed in 1889 calling on all delegates to vote in respect of that statute.
“Article 1(2) of the IPU statute states that the Inter-Parliamentary Union shall work for peace and cooperation among peoples and for the solid establishment of representative institution and also contribute to the defense and promotion of human rights, which are universal in scope. The agenda presented here has been widely rejected by many member states hence lacking universality in scope,” he said. 689 MPs voted against the proposal while 499 legislators voted for the proposal.
“I am so happy that this battle has finally been won. It started in St. Petersburg in Russia when they attempted to smuggle this same item but today we have made a final vote that will prohibit the issue of LGBT from appearing on the IPU agenda,” said Kadaga.
Kawempe North MP, Latif Ssebaggala applauded all nations that joined the Ugandan team to vote against the debate and promised that the same strength is being brought to Uganda to awaken the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in the Parliament of Uganda.
“The decision taken today has made me so strong and as I return from Geneva, I am prepared to awaken our gay law that was nullified by court,” he said.
Uganda has over the years continued to oppose the LGBT agenda at the different international meetings that are held around the world.