News
Withdraw anti-gay law, Uganda told
Gay and proud: Members of the gay community at an exhibition in Nairobi. The Ugandan law would also impose a sentence of up to seven years for anyone who defends the rights of homosexuals. Photo/JAMES NJUGUNA
Posted Monday, December 7 2009 at 00:00
Meanwhile, despite concerns over its human rights record, Rwanda has been admitted to the Commonwealth at the summit in Trinidad and Tobago.
It was only the second country to be admitted without a British colonial past or constitutional link to Britain.
A Rwandan minister said the move showed his country’s “tremendous progress” over the last 15 years.
Mozambique is the other Commonwealth member without historic UK ties.
It joined the 54 member state organisation 14 years ago
A report in July by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) urged Rwanda to tackle a lack of political freedom and harassment of journalists before it was admitted.
It also articulated deep reservations over the country’s human rights record.
“CHRI acknowledges that Rwanda has what appears to be a well-deserved reputation for governmental efficiency and for being less corrupt than a number of other countries — but its claims about the lack of corruption appear hollow when considering its complicity in the illicit economy of the region,” the report said.
Rwanda expressed its desire to join the Commonwealth in 2008, despite its historic association with Francophone countries.
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