The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is advocating for the revision of sections of the proposed promotion of Proper Human Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, commonly known as the anti- LGBTQ bill.
The appeal coincides with the just celebrated International Human Rights Day and the ongoing consideration of the Bill in Parliament.
The Commissioner of CHRAJ, Joseph Whittal voiced out concerns about specific clauses within the anti-LGBTI Bill in an interview with journalists.
He emphasized certain section of the bill particularly those targeting individuals supportive of the LGBTQ community seems unjust.
Mr Whittal, advocated for amendment to align these clauses with the organization’s mandate of safeguarding the rights of individuals.
“Our concerns some of them are even beginning to be addressed but the key ones that relate to freedom of expression, the rights not to sympathize with any person who professes that type of orientation and some institutions having to undertake some education on the bill when it becomes law we think is problematic.”
Amnesty International through its Country Director, Genevieve Partington has echoed similar concerns.
“Everyone should be concerned about this bill, it targets allies and when I say allies, I mean you and me. That means if you associate yourself with someone who is part of the community you can go to jail. If you are a landlord and you have persons suspected of LGBTQ activity, you can go to jail if you don’t report them. It is going to push people out on the street, there are already forced eviction happening.”
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/102.5FM
