I would like to give my thumbs up to the Biden-Harris Administration for re-instating the United States’ status as the beacon of the world especially when it comes to promoting and protecting human rights. Once again, America is the leading force for good in the world.
This was evident in President Joe Biden’s inaugural speech and the Executive orders he signed within the first days as the President of the United States.
In his speech, President Biden stated;
“We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but today’s and tomorrow’s. We will lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example”.
He also promised the world’s oppressed that the dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. For this to be realised, President Biden said we must be willing to stand in the other person’s shoes just for a moment.
“There are some days when we need a hand. There are other days when we are called on to lend one. That is how we must be with one another” President Biden said.
Talking about justice, it is a fact irrefutable that in countries like Uganda where LGBTQI+ people are criminalized, discriminated, stigmatized and targeted, access to justice is largely denied.
Now that the human rights movement has an ally in the White House, we expect a strong and sustained partnership that will ensure access to justice for all.
To demonstrate America’s leadership on promoting and protecting LGBTQI+ rights, President Biden signed an Executive Order on 20th Jan 2021, Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.
Notably, Biden called on all federal agencies to enforce a US supreme court decision from last year that expanded the definition of sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity.
This was followed by a Presidential Memorandum directing all U.S. government departments and agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons around the world. The memorandum was signed on 4th Feb 2021.
The Biden-Harris Administration went further by announcing a $10 million fund for the Global Equality Fund (GEF). The GEF provides emergency assistance to human rights defenders and human rights programming support to grassroots LGBTQI+ organizations to catalyze positive change and draws its strength from the support and partnership of an international coalition of like-minded governments, businesses, and foundations. `
President Biden also instructed the Department of State to reengage immediately and robustly with the UN Human Rights Council.
On 8th Feb 2021, the U.S Department issued a statement in which Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken noted that the Council can help to promote fundamental freedoms around the globe, including freedoms of expression, association and assembly, and religion or belief as well as the fundamental rights of women, girls, LGBTQI+ persons, and other marginalized communities.
“To address the Council’s deficiencies and ensure it lives up to its mandate, the United States must be at the table using the full weight of our diplomatic leadership” Secretary Blinken stated.
With these developments initiated and led by the U.S government, I am hopeful that the civil society and activists around the world will be supported to further inform humanity that LGBTQI+ rights are human rights that are protected by national constitutions and the international law.
As President Biden clearly stated in his inaugural speech, it is time for enough of us to come together to carry all of us forward.
At East Africa Visual Artists (EAVA Artists), we remain dedicated to using the power of the media to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons, and now that the U.S is back, we feel more energized, more willing and more ready to engage.
