PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
LGBT+ People (10 March 2015)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of LGBTI people in (a) Macedonia, (b) Slovakia, (c) Malaysia, (d) Egypt and (e) Bahrain.

Asked by:
Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat)

Human rights are universal and should apply equally to all people. We work to uphold the rights and freedoms of LGB&T people in all circumstances.

We agree with the EU’s assessment that the overall framework for the protection of fundamental rights is in place in Macedonia but that much more needs to be done on its implementation. Efforts are needed to increase awareness of and respect for diversity within Macedonian society and to counteract intolerance perpetrated through the media.

We assess that Slovakia is largely a tolerant society on LGB&T issues and that the level of persecution is not significant.

LGB&T issues remain sensitive in Malaysia and we are aware of some court cases against individuals. Our High Commission in Malaysia meets representatives of NGO and human rights groups to hear their concerns including LGB&T groups. Representatives from the High Commission also observed a landmark LGB&T case last year.

Our Embassy in Cairo monitors LGB&T issues in Egypt closely. We are concerned at recent reports of increased targeting of LGB&T individuals, who are being arrested and charged with debauchery and public indecency.

Bahraini law does not criminalise same sex-activity between consenting persons who are at least 21 years of age, although sodomy is illegal. Although Bahrain is a liberal state compared with many other countries in the region many Bahrainis hold conservative social views. There are some reported cases of individuals punished for same-sexual activity but in practice, we assess that arrests for homosexual behaviour are relatively rare.

Answered by:
Sir David Lidington (Conservative)
16 March 2015