Lawmakers from more than a dozen African countries have pledged to push new bills restricting LGBT rights, after a conference in Ghana that brought together self-described "pro-family" activists from across Africa and Europe, participants said.
The African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty took place in Accra on June 3–6, a week after Ghana's parliament passed one of the continent's toughest anti-LGBT measures, a bill criminalising LGBT promotion.
The gathering reflects a broader shift toward more restrictive laws targeting LGBT people in parts of Africa that participants said was being encouraged by conservative figures in the United States and Europe, and has gained new momentum since Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Some attendees said they saw an opportunity to promote their agendas under Trump, whose administration — unlike those of Barack Obama and Joe Biden — does not promote LGBT rights as part of its foreign policy.
"When you return to your respective capitals, let the resolutions we adopt here not gather dust in the archives of our secretariats. Let them be translated into active bills, robust budgetary allocations, and rigorous oversight," Ghana Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin said in his opening remarks.
"Go home and tell your people that their representatives have resolved to protect the sanctuaries of their homes, the heritage of their ancestors, and the sovereignty of their nations."
More than half of Africa's 54 countries criminalise same-sex sexual acts. Several countries, including Uganda and Senegal, have recently gone a step further, adopting laws that criminalise LGBT "promotion" - something Ghana's lawmakers approved in late May.
WEST ACCUSED OF 'IDEOLOGICAL COLONISATION'
Organisers said lawmakers from 20 countries attended the conference held at Ghana's parliament. It was unclear how many intend to introduce new legislation based on the discussions.
Reuters spoke to five participants and reviewed more than 100 pages of presentations given at the conference. It could not determine the role of foreign activists in shaping the agenda, nor find evidence of foreign funding.
-Reuters
The African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty took place in Accra on June 3–6, a week after Ghana's parliament passed one of the continent's toughest anti-LGBT measures, a bill criminalising LGBT promotion.
The gathering reflects a broader shift toward more restrictive laws targeting LGBT people in parts of Africa that participants said was being encouraged by conservative figures in the United States and Europe, and has gained new momentum since Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Some attendees said they saw an opportunity to promote their agendas under Trump, whose administration — unlike those of Barack Obama and Joe Biden — does not promote LGBT rights as part of its foreign policy.
"When you return to your respective capitals, let the resolutions we adopt here not gather dust in the archives of our secretariats. Let them be translated into active bills, robust budgetary allocations, and rigorous oversight," Ghana Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin said in his opening remarks.
"Go home and tell your people that their representatives have resolved to protect the sanctuaries of their homes, the heritage of their ancestors, and the sovereignty of their nations."
More than half of Africa's 54 countries criminalise same-sex sexual acts. Several countries, including Uganda and Senegal, have recently gone a step further, adopting laws that criminalise LGBT "promotion" - something Ghana's lawmakers approved in late May.
WEST ACCUSED OF 'IDEOLOGICAL COLONISATION'
Organisers said lawmakers from 20 countries attended the conference held at Ghana's parliament. It was unclear how many intend to introduce new legislation based on the discussions.
Reuters spoke to five participants and reviewed more than 100 pages of presentations given at the conference. It could not determine the role of foreign activists in shaping the agenda, nor find evidence of foreign funding.
-Reuters
