The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in a speech to the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) community in London hinted that in future it may be part of Britain’s policy to link aid with the extent to which homosexuals are treated in Africa. He spoke about three issues that concern him as far as human rights for homosexuals were concerned. The third important issue was Africa and the treatment of Gays on the continent. Here is an excerpt of Cameron’s speech pertaining to Africa:
“The third issue, where I think we are making progress as a government, and I think an area where we have the ability to make progress, is the fact that gay people can be appallingly treated in other parts of the world, particularly in Africa.
Now, we’ve had to make a lot of difficult decisions as a government and we’ve had to make lots of tough decisions but I’m very proud of the fact, in spite of the fact that it’s not always popular, we have made the difficult, but I believe the right, decision, to maintain a commitment to 0.7 per cent of our national income going in aid to the poorest countries by 2013. It’s a huge commitment for Britain to make, alone in the world. Everywhere is breaking their promises … we are keeping our promises to the poorest people in the world. And I think this is right morally because as a rich country, we should be helping the poorest people in the world.
But it also has a spin-off benefit of giving us some moral authority in the world to talk to other leaders and governments about our relationship with them and what we expect from them. I’m very proud of the fact we [put] huge pressure on the leader of Malawi about an issue in that country but I’m convinced we can do more. We have got the ability to speak to African leaders, African governments, about this issue that I know concerns everyone here tonight. And it concerns me.”
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