Fwd: UN RIGHTS CHIEF CRITICIZES LEGAL AMENDMENT IN GAMBIA TARGETING HOMOSEXUALS

Web version   New York Nov 20 2014 1:00PM   UN News Centre with breaking news from the UN News Service  High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré UN RIGHTS CHIEF CRITICIZES LEGAL AMENDMENT IN GAMBIA TARGETING HOMOSEXUALS The top United Nations human rights official today criticized a recent amendment to the criminal code of The Gambia that creates a broad and vague offence of "aggravated homosexuality" punishable by life imprisonment, and expressed alarm at reports of a wave of arbitrary arrests and detention of individuals perceived to be homosexual in the country. Read more RELATED Gambia: UN experts prevented from completing probe into torture, killings Two United Nations human rights experts were forced to suspend an integral part of their visit to The Gambia this week when they were denied access to parts of a prison and prevented from completing a torture and killing investigation during the first trip ever to the country by such an independent fact-finding team, according to a press release from the UN rights office. Read more TOPICS Peace and Security -  Economic Development -  Humanitarian Aid -  Environment -  Human Rights -  UN Affais, Secretary-General -  Women, Children, Population -  Law, Crime Prevention -  Health, Poverty -  Culture, Education United Nations News Center mailing system If you have problems reading this, please consult the web version UN News Service Contact Radio News and Media

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