Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Paragraph: 59
The UK Government should use its diplomatic influence, including its new Special Envoy on LGBT...
Conclusion
The UK Government should use its diplomatic influence, including its new Special Envoy on LGBT Rights, to persuade the Pakistani Government to not enforce anti- LGBT+ legislation, and to encourage a change in social attitudes. It should also make clear to all providers and the Pakistani Government that aid programmes must be allowed to be fully inclusive.
Paragraph Reference:
59
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Response: The UK Government is fundamentally opposed to all forms of discrimination. We continue to champion the rights of LGBT+ people and urge the international community, including Pakistan, to address discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to promote diversity and tolerance. LGBT+ issues are highly sensitive in Pakistan and we carefully manage our interventions to ensure that we use diplomatic engagement and programme interventions carefully and in collaboration with communities and likeminded partners so as to avoid doing harm. We regularly engage members of the Pakistani transgender – Khawaja Sera – community to understand the challenges they face and ensure that we are designing appropriate interventions based on need.