Motion on LGBT Rights advancement in the Commonwealth

This House recognises that:

(1) Kigali Rwanda is hosting the 2020 CHoGM, this June.

(2) The Harare Declaration and subsequent declarations on the values of the Commonwealth contain references to equality, however neither sexuality nor gender identity have been expressly recognised as being included in this.

(3) In 33 of the 53 sovereign members of the Commonwealth same sex relations between consenting adults remains illegal. With some states maintaining life imprisonment and the death penalty on the statue books for this.

(4) HIV/AIDs is more prevalent in Commonwealth countries, and that there is a direct link between laws that criminalise same sex relations and rates of HIV in the whole population as shown by the Human Dignity Trust.

This House therefore urges the government to:

(5) Working within the voluntary and consensual model of the Commonwealth, advocate for—

(a) first an end to the death penalty in all cases as an abuse of human dignity, and

(b) the inclusion of sexual and gender identity equality provisions within future statements of values of the commonwealth.

(6) Advocate for decriminalisation of sexuality and gender identity and also for greater LGBT as part of any HIV/AIDs aid program conducted by MFAT.

(7) Support cross cultural dialogue on the issue of LGBT rights with increased funds for NGOs working in this area.

M.113 - Motion on LGBT Rights advancement in the Commonwealth was authored by /u/LeChevalierMal-Fait (Forwards!) and is sponsored by /u/ToastinRussian (Forwards!).

Debate shall end at 6 PM, 02/05/2020.