While acknowledging Kenya’s constructive role in hosting large numbers of refugees, the European Parliament on Thursday 16 September expressed its deep concern about the humanitarian situation and the ongoing threats to LGBTIQ+ people in the Kakuma refugee camp.
In a resolution on human rights in Kenya adopted by 377 votes (115 against and 192 abstentions), it condemned the 15 March arson attack on two LGBTIQ+ refugees and called on the authorities to continue to investigate the crime.
Parliament urges the Kenyan government, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the international community to commit themselves to cooperating in finding alternative and appropriate solutions to the refugee situation in the country.
It calls on the Kenyan government to maintain the refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab, at least until the situation in the region stabilises.
Ahead of the vote, EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson said that the announced closure of Kakuma and other refugee camps in Kenya was a matter of great concern.
“Together with UNHCR and international partners, the European Union will continue to seek orderly and durable solutions that respect the rights of refugees”, she assured. She also mentioned the exploration of resettlement possibilities, as well as possible additional protection measures for LGBTIQ refugees.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/3hI10aK (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)