Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Tuesday 23rd April 2019

The UK has repeatedly expressed concern to Brunei about the discriminatory impact of its laws on the LGBT community. We call on Brunei to uphold its human rights commitments.

The UK strongly supports, defends and champions the rights of LGBT people in the UK and around the world. We oppose discrimination in all its forms, and this includes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It is our belief that LGBT people are not asking for special rights, merely to be accorded the same dignity, respect and rights as all other citizens.

We are committed to the ‘Leave No One Behind’ promise made at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015. Every person should have a fair opportunity in life no matter who or where they are.

The UK is deeply concerned about the introduction of the Sharia Penal Code and hudud punishments, including the discriminatory impact on LGBT people in Brunei.

The UK has expressed our concerns to Brunei candidly and openly at both government and diplomatic levels. The Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Asia and the Pacific met Brunei’s Foreign Minister and Finance Minister in London on 11 April. This followed a call between the Foreign Secretary and the Foreign Minister on 4 April. The Foreign Secretary expressed the UK’s deep concern following the implementation of the final phases of the Sharia Penal Code and was clear that the UK strongly opposes corporal and capital punishment. He also made clear that no one should face persecution or discrimination. Every person should have a fair opportunity in life no matter who or where they are. We remain deeply troubled by the potential impact of the Sharia Penal Code, and encourage all Commonwealth partners to protect and promote the values in the Commonwealth Charter.

As a fellow Commonwealth member, The UK will continue to express our deep concern to Brunei, and urge Brunei to protect LGBT people from all forms of discrimination and punishment. The Sultan of Brunei attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in 2018. As host of CHOGM 2018, we ensured that equality issues were raised throughout the week. In her speech to Commonwealth Forums, the Prime Minister made clear that nobody should face persecution or discrimination because of whom they are or who they love. She set out the UK’s readiness to support any Commonwealth member wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office.