General News of Thursday, 31 January 2013

Source: CitiFM

Gay right is a worldwide concern - Lawrence Amesu

The Country Director for Amnesty International, Lawrence Amesu is asking for a broader national debate on the issue of homosexuality.

He indicated that the passion with which the issue is discussed among Ghanaians should call for a clear position with regards to the constitution.

The issue of homosexually became a major issue during the vetting of Nana Oye Lithur Minister-Designate for Gender, Children and Child Protection.

In an interview with Citi News, Lawrence Amesu country Director for Amnesty International, stated “Nana Oye has not been promoting homosexuality”.

She was only articulating a United Nations convention in which Ghana is a signatory to.

According to him, “what Nana Oye Lithur as well as other Civil Society Organizations including Amnesty International has been stating is that we should not discriminate against anybody because of his or her sexual orientation.”

He indicated that the main focus is on human right which was not decided upon by Nana Oye Lithur.

He noted “it was decided by the United Nations which Ghana belongs to. We should be looking at it from the Human Rights perspective, not only from the moral and cultural perspective. We should be looking at it from both perspectives.”

He further stated that it is very important for Ghana to discuss this issue because everybody is passionate about it.

He emphasized that we cannot bury the issue so we have to talk about it and this is the right time to start thinking or talking about it seriously from various individuals and organizations that take human rights as a very serious issue.

“We should not hide away from it because it will keep coming,” he added.