Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister and new Commonwealth Chair Patrick Manning on human rights, GLBT genocide

It “really forms no part of the agenda…it need
not detain us.” It is “a matter of domestic
policy…individual countries, people have
their own positions on these matters”.

“Can I just add something Prime Minister. I’d just like to add…One point is clear as far as the Commonwealth is concerned – Secretariat. Respect for human rights is a core Commonwealth feature…”

Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary General

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“It’s a great pity that the leader of a country with a good record on human rights would miss the opportunity to show real leadership. As the new chairman of the Commonwealth, he has failed an early test. It is not only disappointing but against all Commonwealth principles. He is dismissing the cries of ordinary citizens who are asking their leaders for basic human rights.”

Maja Daruwala, executive director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

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“The prime minister of Canada came to see me, and what was he talking about? Gays. Prime Minister Gordon Brown came to see me, and what was he talking about? Gays. Mrs. Clinton rang me. What was she talking about? Gays.”

Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda

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“As a social movement, the gay community changed AIDS
from simply another disease to an issue of justice, dignity,
security, and human rights. In my view, any attack on
homosexuality is an attack on the all aspects of the AIDS
response and a set-back to reaching universal access goals.”

Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director
World AIDS Day 2009

UNAIDS calls on governments to refrain from passing criminal laws that fuel
discrimination, prevent effective national responses to HIV and violate human rights