The Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation is instructing Dutch embassies in Third World countries to proactively promote gay rights. The Ministry has issued a research report into the status quo regarding treatment of homosexuals in those countries.
The Netherlands has embassies in 36 developing countries. In half of those Third World countries, homosexuality is a punishable offense, varying from jailing to capital punishment. In almost all of the 36 countries, homo’s are discriminated against. They are being followed by police and cannot organize themelves in groups.
Those are the findings of a research project by Dutch ministry of Development Cooperation. The minister who heads up the ministry has said that Dutch embassies will start to become proactive in lobbying for cancellation of punishment regimes of homosexuals in those countries.
The minister, Bert Koenders has proposed this in a letter to the Dutch Parliament. The move follows a publication of priorities of the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs, which lists Human Rights as one of the top rankings.
“We will not avoid contentious discussions”, according to Koenders. He has also said that only when local human rights organizations indicate that embassies’ actions would work counter productive, would they cease the campaign.
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