Uganda's Anti Homosexuality Act 2014: - A Perspective on The Developmental Consequences
Author
Regan, Tristan Tate Juel
Term
4. term
Publication year
2014
Submitted on
2014-06-02
Pages
63
Abstract
I 2009 blev der fremsat et lovforslag i Ugandas parlament om at forbyde homoseksualitet. Tre år efter vedtog parlamentet Anti‑Homosexuality Act 2014. Den endelige lov bevarede størstedelen af det oprindelige indhold, fjernede dødsstraf og erstattede den med livsvarigt fængsel for 'aggravated homosexuality', og udvidede det strafbare område. Loven forbyder 'fremme' af homoseksualitet og gør det strafbart for udlejere ikke at anmelde homoseksuelle lejere. Loven blev underskrevet af præsident Yoweri Museveni og trådte i kraft den 10. marts 2014. Dette speciale undersøger, hvad loven betyder for Ugandas udvikling, med fokus på livet for lesbiske, bøsser, biseksuelle og transpersoner (LGBT). Det anvender Capabilities Approach, en tilgang der vurderer menneskers reelle friheder og muligheder for at leve det liv, de værdsætter, og argumenterer for, at beskyttelse af menneskerettigheder er nødvendig for at sikre disse grundlæggende kapaciteter og friheder. Resultaterne viser, at loven bringer LGBT‑personers liv og helbred i fare, isolerer dem fra politisk, socialt og familiært fællesskab og undergraver deres følelsesmæssige ro på grund af frygt for forfølgelse. Ved at kriminalisere støttenetværk og daglige relationer fratager loven LGBT‑personer varer, tjenester og relationer, som hjælper dem med at klare sig og trives. Ud over den individuelle skade har loven bredere udviklingsomkostninger, synlige i lukning af sundhedstilbud og omdirigering af udenlandsk bistand og donationer. Samlet set skaber loven strukturelle barrierer for fremskridt og vender udviklingsgevinster i store dele af det ugandiske samfund.
In 2009, a bill to outlaw homosexuality was introduced in Uganda’s Parliament. Three years after its introduction, Parliament passed the Anti‑Homosexuality Act 2014. The final law kept most of the original bill, removed the death penalty and replaced it with life imprisonment for 'aggravated homosexuality', and expanded criminal liability. It bans the 'promotion' of homosexuality and makes it an offence for landlords not to report homosexual tenants. The Act was signed by President Yoweri Museveni and took effect on 10 March 2014. This thesis examines what the Act means for Uganda’s development, focusing on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. It uses the Capabilities Approach, a framework that looks at people’s real freedoms and opportunities to live the lives they value, and argues that protecting human rights is essential to secure these basic capabilities and freedoms. The findings show that the Act endangers the life and health of LGBT people, isolates them from political, social and family participation, and undermines their emotional stability due to fear of persecution. By criminalizing support networks and everyday interactions, the law deprives LGBT people of goods, services and relationships that help them cope and thrive. Beyond individual harm, the law has wider development costs, visible in the discontinuation of health services and the diversion of foreign aid and donations. Overall, the Act creates structural barriers to progress and reverses development gains across major parts of Ugandan society.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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