Ambassador Jacobsen with (from left) Ken and Yvonne from GALCK, Stian and Åshild from Queer Youth Norway and Siv and Birgitte from The Norwegian EmbassyThe Norwegian Ambassador learns about hate motivated violence from the gay and lesbian community
26/02/2010 //
19 February 2010 Ambassador Elisabeth Jacobsen attended a work shop on hate motivated crime hosted by GALCK (Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya) to learn about the recent violent episodes including members of the gay and lesbian community in Kenya and what the people affected can do to protect themselves.
In her speech at the work shop Ambassador Jacobsen highlighted the importance of human rights and acceptance of those that are different. Protecting and promoting human rights is an important area of Norwegian Foreign Policy. Human rights apply to everyone, regardless of their sex, social and ethnic background, religion or sexual orientation. An open and rights based society is based on tolerance and does not approve of use of violence against people just because they are different or have a lifestyle that others disapprove of. The Ambassador urged the organisations present to use the ongoing Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council to get their case heard and asked the members of the community to be brave, but to also be careful.