In three separate letters, to the authorities of Bosnia and herzegovina, Kenya, and Uganda, the Human Rights House Foundation has expressed its concern today with recent manifestations of intolerance against homosexuals. In all three cases, the verbal abuse and harassment, threats, incitement to violence and unlawful arrests have only resulted in silence from the authorities. Read all three letters, providing insight into the cases in question, below. (19-SEP-08)

Based on information received from several different sources, this article has been edited and prepared for publication here by HRHF / Niels Jacob Harbitz.

Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Prime Minister
Mr Nikola Spiric
Fax: ++387 (33) 211 464

19 Sept 2008

Re: Harassment of sexual minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dear Minister, 

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) is deeply concerned about recent manifestations of intolerance against homosexuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Earlier this month, some religious and political leaders in BiH expressed their intolerance against homosexuals in relation to the announcement of the first Queer festival ever in the country, from the 24th to the 28th of September. The festival, that will take place in Sarajevo, is arranged by the civil society organisation ‘Q Association’. In and around Sarajevo, posters expressing the same intolerance are inciting violence against homosexuals.

HRHF strongly condemns all hate speech, and takes this opportunity to express its disappointment with the BiH authorities’ silence with which the campaign against the Festival and its organisers so far has been met. HRHF urges the BiH authorities to observe their primary responsibility to protect all their citizens, without exception. HRHF urges the same authorities to reiterate the universal right to freedom of assembly and provide protection to all participants to the forthcoming Queer festival.

Yours sincerely,


Maria Dahle
Executive Director
Human Rights House Foundation

Copies to:
Ministry of civil affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Sredoje Novic
Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Tarik Sadovic
Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Safet Halilovic
Prime Minister of Canton Sarajevo, Mr Samir Silajdzic
Speaker of the Parliamentary Assembly of Canton Sarajevo, Mr Denis Zvizdic
Mayor of Sarajevo, Ms Semiha Borovac
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Section for the West Balkans
The Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Norwegian Parliament
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Norwegian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Norway

Kenya:                            

Hon. Mwai Kibaki
President of Kenya
PO Box 30510-00100
Nairobi, Kenya

19 Sept 2008

Re: Harassment of sexual minorities in Kenya

Your excellency, 

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) is deeply concerned about recent manifestations of intolerance against homosexuals in Kenya.

Since her participation in the first ever televised discussion on homosexuality in Kenya, 23 August this year, Pouline Kimani, a leading member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community has suffered verbal abuse, harassment and received death threats.

HRHF urges Kenyan authorities to lead by example in developing a society of inclusion and equality, tolerance and solidarity, in particular with regards to minorities and marginalised groups, among them the country’s LGBTI community. A proactive policy in this regard will imply explicit condemnations of all expressions of discrimination and intolerance and the allocation of sufficient resources to make genuine attempts to bring those responsible for such acts to justice. Finally, HRHF urges Kenyan authorities to observe their primary responsibility to protect all their citizens, without exception.  

Yours sincerely,


Maria Dahle
Executive Director
Human Rights House Foundation

Copies to:
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Commissioner of Police
Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
Kenyan Embassy in Sweden
Norwegian Embassy in Kenya
Swedish Embassy in Kenya
Danish Embassy in Kenya
the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Kenya
Finnish Embassy in Kenya

Uganda:

Hon. Yoweri Museveni
President of Uganda

19 Sept 2008

Re: Harassment of sexual minorities in Uganda

Your excellency, 

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) is deeply concerned about recent manifestations of intolerance against homosexuals in Uganda.

On 10 September, Oundo George and Kiiza, both members of the LGBTI community, were arbitrarily detained. Until yesterday, 18 September, they were held at Nabweru Police Station. The two have now been ordered to present themselves at the police station again on 24 September. It is not known if any charge will be brought against the two, as during their detention, neither of them appeared before a court in accordance with the 48-hour constitutional limit on detention.

David Kato, a human rights defender and member of the LGBTI community himself, has been informed that the police are looking to detain him as well.

HRHF urges Ugandan authorities to

· to observe their primary responsibility to protect all their citizens, without exception.
· not to raise charges against George Oundo and Kiiza, but rather investigate the grounds for their arbitrary detention, as it is believed that these measures were taken against them solely because of their sexual and gender identity.
· to safeguard all members of the LGBTI community from harassment, threats and violence, and, under the circumstances, provide David Kato with particular protection.

Yours sincerely,


Maria Dahle
Executive Director
Human Rights House Foundation

Copies to:
Minister of Justice in Uganda
Inspector General of the Ugandan Police
Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission
Ugandan Embassy for the Scandinavian countries, in Denmark
Norwegian Embassy in Uganda
Swedish Embassy in Uganda
Danish Embassy in Uganda
the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Uganda’
the Finnish Embassy in Uganda