Uganda tables Bill to outlaw miniskirts

[Njowepo]

Wearing of miniskirts could soon land one in jail or attract heavy fines if Parliament approves a new piece of legislation that seeks to further clarify the offence of pornography in Uganda’s laws.
The government is riding on its view that pornography has become such an “insidious social problem” to get the Bill through Parliament.

It also argues that because there has been an “increase in pornographic materials in the Ugandan mass media and nude dancing in the entertainment world, there is need to establish a legal framework to regulate such vices.”



In its current form, it is proposed that those found guilty of abetting pornography face a fine of Ush10 million ($3,850) under the draft law titled: The Anti-Pornography Bill, 2011 or a jail stint not exceeding 10 years, or both.


But the draft law ran into early turbulence in the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee Thursday after some members expressed concerns about its implications for freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.


MPs in the committee also criticised the government’s attempts to legislate for sex, a course of action which could see it labelling some age-old cultural practices as pornographic.

Source:Uganda tables Bill to outlaw miniskirts - News - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

 

[tofali]

Saaafiii...mana wanawake jamani siku hizii...

 

[Njowepo]

Ila kama wanawanyima haki wadada kupiga pamba!

 

[BAK]

[h=1]Uganda proposes ban on miniskirts in move against women's rights[/h]Anti-pornography bill would outlaw 'provocative' clothing on women, censor film and TV and restrict personal internet use

• David Smith, Africa correspondent
  
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 5 April 2013 22.44 BST
  
• Jump to comments (208)

Beyoncé, centre, with Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, would be banned from TV in Uganda if bill came in. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage


Uganda is considering extraordinary measures against women's rights that would lead to arrests for those wearing skirts above the knee in public.
The proposed law would mark a return to the era of dictator Idi Amin, who banned short skirts by decree. Many Ugandans are opposed to the idea and it has spawned a Twitter hashtag, #SaveMiniSkirt.

The government-backed bill would also see many films and TV dramas banned and personal internet use closely monitored by officials.
Simon Lokodo, Uganda's ethics and integrity minister, defended the plans. "It's outlawing any indecent dressing including miniskirts," he said.
"Any attire which exposes intimate parts of the human body, especially areas that are of erotic function, are outlawed. Anything above the knee is outlawed. If a woman wears a miniskirt, we will arrest her."

Lokodo, a former Catholic priest, suggested that victims of sexual violence invited trouble. "One can wear what one wants, but please do not be provocative," he said. "We know people who are indecently dressed: they do it provocatively and sometimes they are attacked. An onlooker is moved to attack her and we want to avoid those areas. He is a criminal but he was also provoked and enticed." Asked if men would be banned from wearing shorts, the minister replied: "Men are normally not the object of attraction; they are the ones who are provoked. They can go bare-chested on the beach, but would you allow your daughter to go bare-chested?"

The anti-pornography bill contends that there has been an "increase in pornographic materials in the Ugandan mass media and nude dancing in the entertainment world". It proposes that anyone found guilty of abetting pornography faces a 10m shillings (£2,515) fine or a maximum of 10 years in jail, or both.

The likes of Beyoncé and Madonna will be banned from television, Lokodo added. "We are saying anything that exposes private parts of the human body is pornography and anything obscene will be outlawed. Television should not broadcast a sexy person. "Certain intimate parts of the body cannot be opened except for a spouse in a private place.

"A lot of photos, television, films will be outlawed. Even on the internet, we're going to put a monitoring system so we know who has watched which website and we know who has watched pornographic material."

Lokodo expressed confidence that the bill would be passed. But according to Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper, it has run into difficulty in the parliamentary committee stage after some members expressed concern about its implications for constitutional freedoms. MPs also warned that some traditional cultural practices could be labelled as pornographic, the paper added.

Lokodo has previously courted controversy by announcing a ban on 38 non-governmental organisations he accused of undermining the national culture by promoting homosexuality. Parliament is still pondering a bill that would impose harsher penalties for gay people.

Sam Akaki, international envoy of Uganda's opposition Forum for Democratic Change, said: "This law will create an apartheid system by stealth. Whereas the former apartheid system in South Africa discriminated [against] people on the basis or race, this one will discriminate people on the basis of gender. Any law that discriminates people in any way is a bad law.

"If Lokodo or anyone in Uganda is serious about fighting immorality, they should fight corruption."

 

[CHUAKACHARA]

Uganda proposes ban on miniskirts in move against women's rights

Anti-pornography bill would outlaw 'provocative' clothing on women, censor film and TV and restrict personal internet use

• David Smith, Africa correspondent
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 5 April 2013 22.44 BST
• Jump to comments (208)

Beyoncé, centre, with Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, would be banned from TV in Uganda if bill came in. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage


Uganda is considering extraordinary measures against women's rights that would lead to arrests for those wearing skirts above the knee in public.
The proposed law would mark a return to the era of dictator Idi Amin, who banned short skirts by decree. Many Ugandans are opposed to the idea and it has spawned a Twitter hashtag, #SaveMiniSkirt.

The government-backed bill would also see many films and TV dramas banned and personal internet use closely monitored by officials.
Simon Lokodo, Uganda's ethics and integrity minister, defended the plans. "It's outlawing any indecent dressing including miniskirts," he said.
"Any attire which exposes intimate parts of the human body, especially areas that are of erotic function, are outlawed. Anything above the knee is outlawed. If a woman wears a miniskirt, we will arrest her."

Lokodo, a former Catholic priest, suggested that victims of sexual violence invited trouble. "One can wear what one wants, but please do not be provocative," he said. "We know people who are indecently dressed: they do it provocatively and sometimes they are attacked. An onlooker is moved to attack her and we want to avoid those areas. He is a criminal but he was also provoked and enticed." Asked if men would be banned from wearing shorts, the minister replied: "Men are normally not the object of attraction; they are the ones who are provoked. They can go bare-chested on the beach, but would you allow your daughter to go bare-chested?"

The anti-pornography bill contends that there has been an "increase in pornographic materials in the Ugandan mass media and nude dancing in the entertainment world". It proposes that anyone found guilty of abetting pornography faces a 10m shillings (£2,515) fine or a maximum of 10 years in jail, or both.

The likes of Beyoncé and Madonna will be banned from television, Lokodo added. "We are saying anything that exposes private parts of the human body is pornography and anything obscene will be outlawed. Television should not broadcast a sexy person. "Certain intimate parts of the body cannot be opened except for a spouse in a private place.

"A lot of photos, television, films will be outlawed. Even on the internet, we're going to put a monitoring system so we know who has watched which website and we know who has watched pornographic material."

Lokodo expressed confidence that the bill would be passed. But according to Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper, it has run into difficulty in the parliamentary committee stage after some members expressed concern about its implications for constitutional freedoms. MPs also warned that some traditional cultural practices could be labelled as pornographic, the paper added.

Lokodo has previously courted controversy by announcing a ban on 38 non-governmental organisations he accused of undermining the national culture by promoting homosexuality. Parliament is still pondering a bill that would impose harsher penalties for gay people.

Sam Akaki, international envoy of Uganda's opposition Forum for Democratic Change, said: "This law will create an apartheid system by stealth. Whereas the former apartheid system in South Africa discriminated [against] people on the basis or race, this one will discriminate people on the basis of gender. Any law that discriminates people in any way is a bad law.

"If Lokodo or anyone in Uganda is serious about fighting immorality, they should fight corruption."

Wanaacha mambo ya msingi kwa waganda wanashupalia upuuzi! Wacha watu watembee uchi wanavyotaka!

 

[Rapherl]

Watu wanatafuta hela wao wanaangaika na nani kavaa nini....ni ujinga itabidi na mavazi ya asili ya jamii nyingine yapigwe marufuku na Ngoma za Asili pia....

 

[Koborer]

They might need to define the word mini. I mean what size will constitute a mini skirt? Above the thigh? Below the thigh or what?