To Sanction or Not to Sanction? Normative Dilemmas in the Promotion of LGBTI Human Rights

Abstract

Reconsidering European Contributions to Global Justice (GLOBUS) is a research project that critically examines the EU's contribution to global justice.

A Break from the Past or Business as Usual? EU-ACP Relations at a Crossroad

“…They can advocate for international actors to exert pressure on their oppressors, which might include their own state, transnational companies or international organisations. One illustrative example is how LGBTI human rights activists have managed to influence powerful donors such as the United States to exert pressure on their own governments when adopting anti-gay laws (Saltnes, 2020).…”

“…For instance, on 13 March 2014, the EP adopted a resolution requesting the Council to launch 'consultations to suspend Uganda and Nigeria from the Cotonou Agreement in view of recent legislation further criminalising homosexuality' (European Parliament, 2014). Consultations were never initiated, and the EU continued its aid to Uganda and Nigeria (Saltnes, 2020). In practice then, the decision to initiate Article 96 is restricted to representatives from the executive authorities (diplomats) of the EU's member states.…”