Feb 23, 2007, 17:07 GMT
New York - UN human rights officials said Friday a draft bill in Nigeria to prohibit homosexual relationships could lead to arbitrary violence against its citizens.
Four UN special rapporteurs on racism, violence against women, xenophobia and related intolerance said in a statement that the draft bill is 'an absolutely unjustified intrusion of individuals' right to privacy' and goes against the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
'We are apprehensive that, if adopted, the proposed law will make persons engaging in, or perceived engaging in, same-sex relationships in Nigeria more susceptible to arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and ill-treatment, and expose them even more to violence and attacks on their dignity,' the statement said.
The bill was being debated in the Nigerian House of Representatives this week.
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