Sunday, October 16, 2011

UK Development Secretary: UK Will Withhold £ From African Nations With Homophobic Policies


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UK Development Secretary: UK Will Withhold £ From African Nations With Homophobic Policies

UK Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, has confirmed in an interview with Sky News, that the United Kingdom will be withholding foreign aid to African countries with poor gay rights.

Andrew Mitchell, the development secretary. Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian


"We have been very clear on this – where we think Governments do not have respect for human rights, it will have a big effect on the way we carry out this funding. Taking money away from Governments does not mean you do not support that country. You find other mechanisms for trying to help the poorest with food, education and health care as well as building up business structures..


"It is not about taking money away from countries but finding other mechanisms to help them. We take a very clear line. In a number of countries in Africa that discrimination against homosexuality has concerned us. In Malawi when they kicked out the British High Commissioner we looked at the whole nature of that relationship.


"We were aware there had been some expenditure by the President. We were aware there had been some lack of human rights – the intention to criminalise lesbianism – all took a part in my decision to stop funding the government centrally.


"What we don't want to do is take money away from very, very poor Malawians who England, and particularly Scotland have a strong relationship with."


Source James Park @ PinkNews

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