JfGA welcomes Commonwealth Sec Gen’s statement against homophobia

Justice for Gay Africans is pleased to acknowledge that Secretary General of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma spoke out strongly against sexual orientation discrimination at a meeting of foreign law ministers in Australia last week. Citing the well-known pro-LGBT-rights Delhi High Court decision of his native India as a positive example, Mr Sharma explained that “vilification and targeting on ground of sexual orientation are at odds with the values of the Commonwealth”.

Mr Sharma’s bold statement was not the first he has made on LGBT rights, but it is the most direct. JfGA applauds Mr Sharma and hopes to see a material commitment to this statement by the Commonwealth in the months and years to come. We are committed to facilitating meaningful dialogue on human rights challenges facing sexual minorities in Africa and look forward to helping the Commonwealth Secretariat position itself in this important time.