The Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma spoke out for gay rights last month at the opening of the Commonwealth People’s Forum in Perth.
In his keynote address, the Secretary-General said discrimination based on sexual orientation was ‘at odds with our values’.
Sharma said: ‘We recall the 2009 Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles, which includes a clear commitment to tolerance, respect and understanding’.
‘This means we embrace difference, and that includes sexual identity.
‘Discrimination and criminalisation on grounds of sexual orientation is at odds with our values and I have had occasion to refer to this in the context of our law-related conferences.’
Despite over 40 Commonwealth member countries still retaining anti-homosexuality legislation, the Secretary-General has expressed support for gay rights at previous law conferences.
OIP Staff
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