WALLASEY MP Angela Eagle has urged the UK Government to commit to preventing rising discrimination and violence against LGBTI+ people around the world. 

This week, at an event in Manchester during the Conservative party conference, the Kaleidoscope Trust - a UK-based charity focused on fighting for the human rights of LGBTI+ people across the Commonwealth - published a policy manifesto it hopes can inform the global LGBTI+ rights policy priorities of both political parties ahead of the next general election. 

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, executive director of Kaleidoscope Trust, said:  "The current climate means we really need the UK Government to step up and make a firm and repeated commitment to protecting and promoting LGBTI+ rights.

"Just this year we have seen a draconian new anti-homosexuality laws passed in Uganda, broadly criminalising LGBTI+ people and anyone who associates with them.

"We’ve seen similar legislation proposed in other countries like Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania and an exponential rise worldwide in hate speech, misinformation and violence against LGBTI+ people.

“Many of the countries that currently criminalise LGBTI+ people first enacted those laws under colonial rule. Our government has expressed deep regret for the impact of these policies, and it must continue to work for a world where all LGBTI+ people can lead free, safe and equal lives."

Priorities identified in Kaleidoscope Trust’s policy manifesto include addressing violence and discrimination, taking multilateral leadership on LGBTI+ human rights and providing sustainable and stable funding for work to uphold the human rights of LGBTI+ people through the foreign aid budget. 

The manifesto has already garnered support from MPs from both major political parties, including Dame Angela MP.

She said: "Since I entered Parliament in 1992 we've seen huge progress on LGBTI+ rights both here in the UK and around the world, in no small part due to the tenacity and bravery of LGBT+ activists who have campaigned tirelessly for change. But I know that in many places LGBTI+ people are still living in darkness and fear and in some countries we can see an increase in hatred and violence.

"We can't stand by and allow that progress to stall. We must continue to stand by those who are brave enough to campaign for LGBTI+ rights around the world, even in the face of persecution.

"This manifesto has clear strategic priorities for the UK Government to lead on LGBTI+ rights and I will be strongly recommending that they are implemented by a future Labour Government."

Although laws against same-sex relationships in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Singapore and St Vincent and the Grenadines were overturned in the last year, 66 countries still criminalise consensual sexual relationships between people of the same gender, with 11 of these having the death penalty as a potential punishment.