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<p>Ministers continue to urge Commonwealth countries to uphold the universality of
human rights, to decriminalise same-sex relations and to pass laws to protect their
LGBT+ people from violence and discrimination. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting last year, the Prime Minister set out the UK's readiness to support any member
state wanting to reform legislation which makes possible discrimination on the grounds
of gender identity or sexual orientation. The Prime Minister was clear that, while
we must respect one another's cultures and traditions, we must do so in a manner consistent
with our common value of equality, a value which is clearly stated in the Commonwealth
Charter.</p><p>The Government has allocated £5.6 million to enable the Equality and
Justice Alliance – a consortium of civil society organisations – to support those
countries who wish to reform legislation which discriminates on the grounds of gender
identity or sexual orientation. Several member states have expressed interest in this
offer of technical assistance for legislative change. Due to the highly sensitive
and sometimes dangerous nature of this work, it would not be appropriate to name specific
countries.</p>
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