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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
A coalition1 of human rights groups is condemning2 a proposed amendment3 to Rwanda's criminal law that would criminalize homosexual behavior and advocacy.
Alan Boswell | Nairobi 17 December 2009
Meanwhile, Rwanda's northern neighbor, Uganda, is receiving heat for a "draconian4" anti-gay bill being debated in its legislature.
The coalition Observatory5 for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders6 says the draft language to criminalize homosexuality could be voted on in the Rwandan lower house of parliament by Friday. The draft code would then pass to the Rwandan senate for approval.
The amended7 language for Article 217 acquired by the group would give offenders8 - those who "practice," "encourage," or "sensitize" someone of the same sex towards homosexual relations - a prison term of five to 10 years in addition to a hefty fine.
Homosexuality is not currently criminalized under Rwandan law.
A spokesperson for the coalition-partner International Federation9 for Human Rights, Pouline Kimani, says the bill violates basic human rights and could threaten the health and well-being10 of those who identify as part of the gay community.
"If this bill passes then it emphasizes on state-sponsored homophobia and also community homophobia, because it almost justifies11 the use violence against LGBTI [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex] persons based upon the fact that it will criminalize their identity," said Kimani.
Politicized anti-gay sentiment has recently been sweeping12 across east Africa. Burundi earlier this year criminalized homosexuality. Uganda has been debating an anti-gay bill that includes a possible death sentence for violators. Kenya and Tanzania already have anti-gay laws, though homosexual rights activists13 fear that these laws could be expanded.
The anti-gay bills have been bolstered14 by a strengthening and organized conservative Christian15 evangelical movement in the region, as well as "anti-colonialist" emotions. Many Africans claim homosexuality is a foreign import from the West.
Kimani says that the politicians do not fully16 realize the damaging consequences that criminalization can have.
"With observation of what has happened in east Africa since 2004 when Zanzibar put in the sodomy law, each and every of these east Africa countries is rushing towards having a bill against LGBTI persons without thinking of the effects of it," he said.
Activists say that criminalization of homosexuality discourages those in the gay community from seeking testing and medical care for HIV/AIDS for fears of being suspected.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders coalition is a joint17 venture of the International Federation of Human Rights and the World Organization Against Torture.
1 coalition | |
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合 | |
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2 condemning | |
v.(通常因道义上的原因而)谴责( condemn的现在分词 );宣判;宣布…不能使用;迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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3 amendment | |
n.改正,修正,改善,修正案 | |
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4 draconian | |
adj.严苛的;苛刻的;严酷的;龙一样的 | |
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5 observatory | |
n.天文台,气象台,瞭望台,观测台 | |
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6 defenders | |
n.防御者( defender的名词复数 );守卫者;保护者;辩护者 | |
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7 Amended | |
adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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8 offenders | |
n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 );犯规者;罪犯;妨害…的人(或事物) | |
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9 federation | |
n.同盟,联邦,联合,联盟,联合会 | |
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10 well-being | |
n.安康,安乐,幸福 | |
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11 justifies | |
证明…有理( justify的第三人称单数 ); 为…辩护; 对…作出解释; 为…辩解(或辩护) | |
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12 sweeping | |
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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13 activists | |
n.(政治活动的)积极分子,活动家( activist的名词复数 ) | |
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14 bolstered | |
v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 );支撑;给予必要的支持;援助 | |
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15 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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16 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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17 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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