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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/17/jamaica-should-repeal-homophobic-laws-rights-tribunal-rules>
"The Jamaican government is responsible for violating the rights of two gay
people and the country’s homophobic laws should be repealed immediately,
according to a ruling by an international human rights tribunal.
The decision by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights sets a precedent
for LGBT rights across the Caribbean and is the commission’s first finding that
laws that criminalise LGBT people violate international law.
The two Jamaicans who brought the case, Gareth Henry and Simone Edwards, had
argued that the laws against “buggery” and gross indecency – originally imposed
by the British colonial administration – violate their rights and legitimise
violence towards the LGBT community in Jamaica. Both were forced to flee
Jamaica following violent attacks.
In its decision, which was handed down in September 2019 but could not be
reported before now, the commission said Jamaica was responsible for the
violation of multiple rights of the claimants, including the rights to humane
treatment, equal protection before the law, privacy and freedom of movement and
residence.
Téa Braun, the director of the Human Dignity Trust, who represented Henry and
Edwards, said it was a major victory. “It is a highly significant step forward
that must now accelerate the repeal of these stigmatising and discriminatory
laws,” she said."
Via Frederick Wilson II.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
