Written question asked by Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 January 2010.

Uganda

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they had at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Trinidad in November 2009 about the Commonwealth's human rights agenda in the light of the Ugandan anti-homosexuality Bill.

Answer: The Commonwealth's human rights agenda was discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad in November 2009. During the meeting, leaders agreed to adopt the Trinidad and Tobago Affirmation on Commonwealth Values and Principles which reaffirmed the Commonwealth's commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and human rights covenants and instruments. The affirmation also commits the Commonwealth to strengthening its work in implementing human rights through support for Governments, state institutions and civil society organisations. The UK remains deeply concerned about the proposed introduction of a Private Member's anti-homosexuality Bill in Uganda. We used CHOGM as an opportunity to raise our concerns, including by the Prime Minister to President Museveni and I also raised it with the Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 1231; 716 c272-3WA
Session: 2009-10
Subjects: Commonwealth Homosexuality Human rights Discrimination Uganda Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk