Equality & Non-discrimination

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Equality & Non-discrimination

“All persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law “…a person shall not be discriminated against on the ground of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability”

Article 23 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights

“Every individual shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed in the present Charter without distinction of any kind such as race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or other status.”

“Every individual shall be equal before the law…every individual shall be entitled to equal protection of the law.”

Articles 2, 3 (1) & (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Adopted 27 June 1981, OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 I.L.M. 58 (1982), entered into force 21 October 1986) In spite of unprecedented progress at the national, regional and international level in enhancing the legal protection of individuals and groups of individuals against discrimination, the practice remains pervasive. The most vulnerable and marginalized groups……………………………………………………………. General Comment 18 Discrimination

“that the term ‘discrimination’ as used in the Covenant should be understood to imply any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference which is based on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, and which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by all persons, on an equal footing, of all rights and freedoms”

(General Comment No. 18, in United Nations Compilation of General Comments, p. 134, para. 1) Dr. Slyvia Tamale, Law Professor Equality Statement of principle on equality and non-discrimination

“…it is clear that we face serious and several challenges to the full realization of our civil liberties and democratic freedoms in present-day Uganda. In this respect, I welcome the establishment of ―Chapter Four Uganda because your voice is a necessary and vital addition to the many others in civil society that have been speaking out against the violations of human rights and democratic freedoms with which we are now faced. You are young, dynamic and critical.”

Dr. Sylvia Tamale, Associate Professor of Laws at Makerere University Law School (Keynote address at the formal launch of Chapter Four Uganda on March 7, 2014).

“If it becomes acceptable to target, vilify and disenfranchise the weakest of us, then it is just a short step away from us losing our basic human values; the values of compassion, of love and of basic respect for our fellow beings. This is what I call the act of re-balancing the inequalities that the structures of dominance and control seek to impose on the weak and the disenfranchised in society.”

“Lawyers have numerous avenues through which they can move to a re-engineer both the profession and the wider society…we can use litigation, legislation, mass media, and research to bring about change. All we need is a commitment to change the status quo by collaborating with the community”

Timeline for Anti Homsexuality Bill