Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last raised LGBT+ rights with his counterparts in (a) Uganda, (b) Ghana, (c) Namibia and (d) Nigeria.

The UK plays an active role across the world in support of LGBT rights. We want to see an end to violence and discrimination against LGBT people. I made this clear when I spoke at the launch of the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives in December 2020.

We are very concerned about the criminalisation of homosexuality, and recognise that there is a long way to go before all LGBT people are able to live free and equal lives, including in some parts of Africa. We make regular representations to governments around the world on this issue including in Uganda, Ghana, Namibia and Nigeria. We work through our Embassies and High Commissions, as well as international organisations, including the UN, Council of Europe, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Commonwealth, to promote non-discrimination towards LGBT people, and to address discriminatory laws. We directly challenge governments that criminalise homosexuality at the highest political levels.