These developments have been met with stern reaction from the West – often manifested in almost the halt of foreign aid or conditional foreign Aid. While the arguments from the West/donors (like for instance Sweden’s stern reaction to Uganda’s Lesbian, Gay and Trans-gender (LGBT) bill/national debate) have been attributed to the respect for human rights to argue against the criminalization of homosexuality, the African debate has often focused on CULTURAL VALUES that are claimed to be in opposition to the gay movement and the subsequent western interpretation of human rights. Some commentators have even attacked this Western rational as unfair and several donors have been accused of ignoring other blatant acts of violations of human rights, corruption and bad governance by African governments like Uganda.
Taken from this point of departure, the presentations and debate within this seminar will revolve around, but not limited to:
Is the indigenous African culture under threat by the Western donor countries through Conditional Foreign Aid?
Does the selective approach to democratic values hurt Africa's social, economical and political development?
Are the existing human rights instruments truly universal or do they favor “Western” value-systems? Is the African approach justifiable and sustainable?
