Geneva, United Nations human rights experts have called on the President of Ghana to veto the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024, a piece of legislation they say threatens the fabric of human rights in the country.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the bill, which has already passed its third reading in Ghana’s parliament, targets sexual and gender minorities and imposes harsh restrictions on advocacy and services supporting non-discrimination and inclusivity. The experts have highlighted that this proposed law contradicts the principles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as Ghana’s constitution, which guarantees freedoms of speech, expression, and assembly.

The bill’s provisions would criminalize the work of human rights defenders, health service providers, and could even lead to incarceration for providing housing or transportation to individuals based on their sexual or gender identity. The experts also emphasized that any public demonstration of affection between persons of the same sex could be penalized under the vague terms of the bill.

Further, the UN experts expressed concern over the bill’s broader implications, including its potential to exacerbate stigma and discrimination in healthcare, impede access to essential services, and hinder Ghana’s social and developmental progress. They cautioned that the legislation could infringe upon the right to health, as well as rights to housing, education, and fair working conditions.

The experts concluded by stressing that if enacted, the bill would starkly violate Ghana’s international human rights commitments and significantly undermine the rule of law in the country.