On 19 April 2009, the newspaper Sunday Pepper published an article, described as a ‘killer dossier’, listing the names of several human rights defenders and other LGBTI people. The article contained pictures, names, physical descriptions, details about their profession and residence, and negative stereotyping and accusations of “spreading the gay and lesbian vice in schools”. As it had announced, the Sunday Pepper published a follow up report on 26 April containing new names of LGBTI people as well as pictures of SMUG members.
LGBTI defenders have been the subject of an increased level of harassment and threats in recent weeks including death threats.
What follows is Front Line’s appeal, including the text of the letter the HR defenders’ organisation proposes that you send to the President of Uganda, Lt.-Gen. Yoweri Museveni.
Dear Friends,
Thank you for signing up to take action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk.
Every day Front Line receives information about human rights defenders in danger and each week we ask the members of the urgent appeal network to take action on behalf of one defender.
Action by members of the network is a very simple and effective way of sending a message to governments that they have an obligation to respect the rights of human rights defenders. All you have to do is either cut and paste the letter or print out the attached version and sign and post it off. Remember to add your own name and address. If you receive a reply please send a copy to Head of Communications, Front Line, 81 Main St., Blackrock Co Dublin.
People sometimes ask if it wouldn’t be more efficient just to send the appeals electronically. Certainly this would be more efficient for the sender but part of the impact of letter writing is that the letter will generally have to go through several people before it reaches the office of the Head of State and so will be more effective in terms of raising awareness of the case.
If you would like information on other cases you can log onto the Front Line web site at http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/act
Your action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk can make a real difference.
Take Action
Please copy the enclosed letter and send it to the address provided.
President Lt.-Gen. Yoweri Museveni,
Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces,
Office of the President,
Parliament Building,
PO Box 7168,
Kampala
Uganda
Your Excellency,
I am deeply concerned following reports of an intense media smear campaign against human rights defenders who work in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) human rights organisations, including Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG).
On 19 April 2009, the newspaper Sunday Pepper published an article, described as a ‘killer dossier’, listing the names of several human rights defenders and other LGBTI people. The article contained pictures, names, physical descriptions, details about their profession and residence, and negative stereotyping and accusations of “spreading the gay and lesbian vice in schools”. As it had announced, the Sunday Pepper published a follow up report on 26 April containing new names of LGBTI people as well as pictures of SMUG members.
On 23 April, the Family Life Network (FLN) presented a public petition to the Ugandan Parliament requesting new laws providing harsher punishment for homosexuality. The FLN has taken the lead in organising an anti-LGBT campaign and fomenting anti-LGBTI sentiments. This campaign, which TV, radio and printed media echoed, is fostering a climate of strong hostility and is encouraging attacks against LGBTI defenders. Two of them, whose names and pictures were published on several occasions on media, were physically attacked in two different areas of Kampala on 12 April 2009.
The authorities are contributing to the climate of hostility against LGBTI defenders through repeated statements both to the media and Parliament. As an example, on 2 April, the newspaper New Vision reported comments made by Minister of Ethics and Integrity James Nsaba Buturo, who stated that defenders working on sexual orientation and gender identity, being self-confessed LGBTI people, should be investigated and punished.
LGBTI defenders have been the subject of an increased level of harassment and threats in recent weeks including death threats.
It is feared that such a smear campaign will further incite people to hatred and violence against human rights defenders and members of the LGBTI community.
I believe that the LGBTI human rights defenders have been targeted as a result of their legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular their work to promote and protect the rights of the LGBTI community in Uganda. I view the harassment and intimidation of the LGBTI defenders in Uganda as deeply worrying and wish to express my serious concern for the physical and psychological integrity of all those named and identified in media reports, as well as that of all LGBTI human rights defenders in Uganda.
I urge the authorities in Uganda to:
1.Carry out an independent, thorough and impartial investigation into all instances of assault, harassment and threats against human rights defenders working on sexual orientation and gender identity, with a view to identifying those parties responsible, publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice;
2.Take urgent and effective measures to ensure the security and the physical and psychological integrity of all LGBTI human rights defenders targeted by the media smear campaign, including in particular members of SMUG;
3.Take urgent measures to ensure that public figures and government officials refrain from making statements stigmatising LGBTI defenders, as they incite violence and abuses against them;
4.Take measures to ensure respect of ethical standards of journalism by all media outlets, in particular respect for the right to privacy when publication of personal details may expose individuals to violence and attacks. Front Line views the publication of personal information concerning LGBTI defenders, including their names, physical description and details on their residence and profession, as a violation of the right to privacy;
5.Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Uganda are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions.
Yours sincerely
Thank you for taking action on behalf of the members of SMUG Uganda.
