Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's international development programme is focused on support for countries and communities most acutely in need. Ireland's total Official Development Assistance for 2024 will amount to some €2 billion. €775.3 million has been provided for the international development assistance programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. This support is delivered through our bilateral development country programmes (managed by our Embassies in sub-Saharan Africa, in the occupied Palestinian territory and Vietnam), through civil society and humanitarian organisations, and through multilateral organisations, including the United Nations.

The promotion and protection of LGBTI+ rights is a foreign policy priority for Ireland. LGBTI+ people continue to suffer disproportionate levels of violence and face systematic discrimination in many countries across the world.

Same-sex relations are criminalised in many of the countries where we operate bilateral development programmes, often under colonial-era laws which have not been repealed. Enforcement of such laws varies considerably.

In certain African countries, including Botswana and Angola, same-sex relations have recently been decriminalised. Against that, on 28 February, Ghana’s parliament passed a bill that increases criminal penalties for consensual same-sex conduct and criminalises individuals and organisations which advocate for the rights of LGBTI+ people.

On my visit to Ghana during the St Patrick’s Day period I directly raised Ireland’s deep concern and opposition to such legislation with Ghana’s Deputy Foreign Minister. Similarly, during my visit to Uganda last November, I was able to express Ireland’s deep concerns to my Ugandan counterpart at the adoption of an ‘Anti-Homosexuality Act’ in March 2023, criminalising consensual same-sex relations.

Ireland recognises and supports the vital role played by civil society and human rights defenders in building peaceful, inclusive and prosperous societies and the central importance of a human rights-based approach. We advocate for the rights of LGBTI+ people in partner countries as part of this approach.

Ireland is continuing to provide ongoing support to advocates for LGBTI+ rights across a range of countries, including in Malawi, Liberia and Nigeria, while also providing funding to international human rights organisations which advocate for and support LGBTI+ rights across the globe.