A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has urged African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to resist pressure from the European Union (EU) to sign an agreement that includes provisions for gay marriage and LGBT rights.
Represented by the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Civil Society Organization (ACPCSO), Parents Watch Initiative, and Zarephath Aid, the CSOs have also called on ACP nations that have already signed the agreement to retract their support.
They argue that by resisting the Western pressure to endorse the LGBT rights treaty before January 1, 2024, ACP countries can fortify their national sovereignty and dispel any misconceptions about their standing compared to European nations.
"ACP countries should dismiss the EU’s cheap threats and stand firm. Instead of succumbing to EU’s intimidation, they should assert their sovereignty and break ties with the EU. They are no longer under the tutelage of their former colonial masters," said Sonnie Ekwowusi, a coordinator of the ACPCSO.
Ekwowusi criticized the proposed LGBT agreement, contending that it runs contrary to African social norms and represents a form of coercion that ACP countries should reject.
The ACPCSO coordinator further underscored the damaging impact of such initiatives on African nations, particularly in light of prevalent social challenges.
"These abnormalities are a great disservice to African nations, which are currently bedeviled by so many societal ills. Homosexuality is an acquired habit that ought to be eradicated and not be transformed into an acceptable human conduct by law; same-sex marriage is absolutely prohibited," he added.
Moreover, concerns were raised regarding the potential long-term implications of such an agreement on the upbringing of children in African countries. Omoye Olaye, from the Parents of the Future Foundation, cautioned against the potential impact on parental rights and emphasized the need for a focus on quality education over the contentious LGBT provisions.
* The "LGBT movement" is classified as extremist by the Russian authorities and is banned in Russia.