ABUJA—EuropeanUnion Managing Director for Africa, Dr. Nicholas Westcott,
has said the EU’s stand on same sex marriage was not meant to impose
any European morality or culture on Nigeria.
He,
however, expressed concern over the same sex marriage prohibition Act
recently signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan, stressing that
the law contradicted the 1999 Constitution, hence his concern about the
rights of all Nigerians, irrespective of sexual orientation.
This
came as British government expressed disappointment that the Nigerian
same sex marriage Bill had received Presidential assent.
Westcott,
who has been in the country since Monday during a press briefing at the
European Union Mission in Abuja, said: “Just in the last few days, the
same sex marriage prohibition Act which has been signed into law, which
provides some concerns to us, we trying to explain to you clearly what
our concerns are so that our position can be understood, just as we want
to understand Nigeria’s position on it.
European morality and Nigeria“We
are not telling Nigeria what kind of legislation it should have, that
is for Nigerian people. We are not advocating that homosexuality or same
sex marriage should be recognised. We are not trying to impose our
morality or our culture; Nigeria has its culture, Nigeria has its
approach of doing things and there should be mutual respect.
“We
are concerned about the human rights and freedoms of all Nigerians as
enshrined in Nigeria’s own constitution and as enshrined in
international conventions to which Nigeria is a party.
And our
concern is that this Act contravenes some of those provisions and puts
at risk some of the fundamental freedoms that all Nigerian people should
enjoy – the freedom of expression, the freedom of association, etc.
That is our concern.
Minorities“But I think all
minorities will be concerned about that, not just gay community, but all
minorities, to respect their freedom guaranteed by international
convention, by Nigeria’s constitution. It will be for Nigeria to respond
to this concerns but I have to express them.
“It was a concern
shared by all and I represented my boss. Catherine Aston has expressed
concern in a statement already with you today. So we believe that care
needs to be taken to preserve some freedoms of all minorities in
Nigeria. They should be protected as provided in the constitution.”
In
the same vein, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Catherine
Ashton, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the law was at variance
with international agreements to which Nigeria is a party.
“I am
concerned about the signing into law in Nigeria of the same sex Marraige
Prohibition Act. The European Union is opposed to discrimination on
the ground of sexual orientation.
“It is firmly committed to
human rights and rule of law in respect of those rights, including
freedom of association, conscience and speech and equality of persons.
It supports the respect of human rights in all countries of the world.
Contradiction with fundamental rights“I
am, therefore, particularly concerned that some provisions of the Act
appear to be in contradiction with those fundamental rights, which are
themselves guaranteed by Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, and to be
inconsistent with the legal obligations enshrined in a number of
international agreements to which Nigeria is a party,” Ashton said.
Meanwhile,
British Foreign Secretary has expressed disappointment over President
Goodluck Jonathan’s assent to the same sex marriage Bill.
Minister of
State at the Ministry of Justice, Jeremy Wright, said: “ The UK is a
close friend of Nigeria, but we are disappointed that President Jonathan
has given his assent to a Bill which will further criminalise same sex
relationships in Nigeria. The UK opposes any discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation.
“The Bill also directly infringes on
fundamental rights of expression and association, which are guaranteed
by the Nigerian constitution and by Nigeria’s international treaty
obligations.”
“We are concerned by the prospect this raises of further action against an already marginalised section of society.”
Beverly Osu, one of Nigeria's representative at Big Brother Africa
The Chase has being in the news lately, from breaking up with former
housemate Angelo to being in a relationship with Bimp.
