Malawi gay conviction is alarming precedent: UN

By Andy Eddins
May 21, 2010 at 09:08 am

As posted by the Associated Press:

 

"The UN human rights chief on Friday slammed the "blatantly discriminatory" jailing of a gay couple in Malawi, saying that it sets an alarming precedent for the treatment of homosexuals in the region.

"'I am shocked and dismayed by the sentence and reports of the treatment of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga while in detention,' said Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"'The law which enabled the conviction dates back to the colonial era and has lain dormant for a number of years -- rightly so, because it is discriminatory and has the effect of criminalising and stigmatising people based on perceptions of their identity,' she added.

"Pillay said the conviction should be repealed and penal codes that criminalise homosexuality reformed.

"'Laws that criminalise people on the basis of their sexual orientation are by their nature discriminatory, and as such are in apparent violation of a number of key international treaties and instruments,' said Pillay."

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