Cameron's office clarifies statement on gay rights

UK PM David Cameron

The Office of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, says threats made by the Prime Minister to suspend aid to African countries that prohibit gay rights was in the context of the efforts of the British government to promote human rights around the world.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic in London, Ms Helen Bower, a spokesperson at the Number 10 Downing Street Press Office, said "the UK Government is at the forefront of work to promote human rights around the world, and regularly criticises governments which violate those rights".

Reacting to media reports in Ghana in respect of United Kingdom's financial aid to the Third World and respect for human rights, Ms Bower explained that efforts by the British government included working to end religious intolerance and persecution, as well as discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexuality.

She said the issues were not only on gays as the Ghanaian media had contextualised it.

At the just-ended summit of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Perth, Australia, British Premier David Cameron threatened to withhold UK aid from governments that did not reform legislation banning homosexuality, saying that those receiving UK aid should "adhere to proper human rights".

"Our new approach, set out in detail in July, this year, means we only provide aid directly to governments when we are satisfied that they share our commitments to reduce poverty; respect human rights; improve public financial management; fight corruption; and promote good governance and transparency," Ms Bower stated.

The Number 10 spokeswoman said in Ghana, homophobic remarks from a regional government prompted a swift reaction from Mr Stephen O'Brien, the UK Minister in charge of the Department of International Development.

During his visit to Ghana in June, this year, Mr O'Brien made it clear to the Presidency and opposition leaders that the remarks were unacceptable and could undermine UK domestic support for aid to Ghana.

She disclosed that many actions had been taken in respect of human rights and British aid and noted that some countries had already been affected.

For example, in Malawi, UK took the decision to suspend some £19 million of general budget support in July, this year, following concerns about deteriorating economic governance, poor progress on human rights and media freedoms, as well as concern over that government's approach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans gender (LGBT) rights.

"In January, Development Minister O'Brien challenged the President of Malawi on his moves to criminalise consensual female same-sex relationships," the spokeswoman observed, adding that the introduction of a private member's bill to Parliament to extend the death penalty in Uganda to homosexuality prompted the UK Government to raise serious objections with the Government of Uganda.

Ms Bower added that although the bill was not discussed or passed during the last Parliamentary session, it could be reintroduced in the next session.

credit: myjoyonline