Human Rights in the Media Jamie Cook

Anti-gay bill in gambia

Summary Gambian President Yahya Jammeh signed a bill into a law, in October of last year, that can put one in jail for a lifetime for some homosexual acts as well as identifying as LGBT As of November, no one in the government had informed the country of the new law Some parts of the new law are identical to the Ugandan bill that was also recently turned into a law

The law taregets homosexual “serial offenders” and anyone in the LGBT community living with HIV or AIDs Gambian forces may be torturing, beating, and threatening rape upon suspected homosexuals Several Gambian homosexual have been arrested an held in a secret location which violates the Constitution

It is also stated in the Constitution that all people are equal before the law, and that a law can not ‘encourage discrimination’ Jammeh stated, “We know what human rights are. Human beings of the same sex cannot marry or date.” He also threatened the Gambian LGBT community in 2008, with decapitation if they didn’t leave the country

Gambians can be charged for “aggravated homosexuality” for engaging in homosexual acts with someone who is under 18, disabled, or drugged or if the suspect is the parent or guardian of him/her Article by ‘the Conversation’, states that the Criminal Codes of the 1950’s and 60’s appear to have the opinion that “homosexuality is an evil, illegal abomination, akin to the crimes of bestiality, paedophilia, and incest.”

Human rights abused

Article 1: all humans are free and equal Article 2: ever person is entitled to rights and freedoms Article 5: no forms of torture, cruel/inhuman punishments or degrading Article 7: equal protection from the law Article 9: non one subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile Article 16: right to marry and found a family Article 18/19: right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, opinion, and expression

What contributing factors may be in play that cause such a difference in the rights of the LGBT community, from Canada to African countries such as Gambia?