Paramaribo, Suriname
On April 8, 2021, PGA’s National Group in Suriname met in the National Assembly in Paramaribo. After the general election held on May 25, 2020, the National Group currently consists of six members. The Group agreed to reach out to their colleagues in the National Assembly to inform them about PGA’s mission and vision to strengthen the membership while working on developing an agenda for activities in 2021.
During their discussion, the Group decided to hold a meeting with civil society organizations representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) community in the country in the first week of August. The objective is to address the concerns of civil society and explore ways to work together to defend and promote the rights and inclusion of LGBTI people in Suriname.
PGA’s National Group in Suriname held a Roundtable Discussion on Effective Anti-Discrimination Measures based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Paramaribo in October 2017, which brought together parliamentarians, LGBTI civil society representatives and other key stakeholders from Suriname and other Caribbean countries.
This Roundtable provides a strong foundation from which to build on in the upcoming August meeting and beyond. PGA’s SOGI Campaign has been actively engaging with the Suriname Group and national LGBTI organizations since 2017 and will continue supporting their dialogue and providing assistance as appropriate, to advance equality and inclusion for all in the country.
To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, I invite my African sisters and brothers to know how to relativize our certainties, whenever human rights and human dignity are at stake, as in the treatment of the LGBTQ+ issue.
If signed into law by the President of Ghana, the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill of 2021, will potentially have a devastating impact on human rights, democracy and economic development.
The bill is in contravention to the Ghanaian Constitution, which protects the rights of all persons to equality and non-discrimination, to freedom of expression, freedom of association and privacy.
