Joel James MS: Is Wales A Globally Responsible Nation?

Joel James, a Conservative Member of the Welsh Parliament for South Wales Central, and Shadow Minister for Social Partnership shares news of a trip to Africa with Nub news readers.

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Last month, I visited Uganda to see first-hand how the 'Wales and Africa' programme - funded through the Welsh Government as part of their commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals- was delivering on its aims. I was warmly welcomed by the organisations and projects I visited, and the positive impacts of the programme were clear to see.

During my trip, I visited The Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise supported through the Size of Wales organisation and Jenifer's Coffee Cooperative which supplies fair trade coffee to Wales.

These organisations are working to increase local resilience to climate change and improve sustainable agroforestry and I found it remarkable that these small-scale organisations challenge crucial social issues such as gender inequality. On my visits, I saw how women are now empowered to start managerial positions and leadership opportunities.

Unfortunately, shortly after my return, the Ugandan government passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, making it illegal to identify as LGBTQ, prompting me to ask how as a nation, Wales works with countries that fail to share our values. This bill will lead to multiple breaches of Uganda's human rights obligations, and it is right that we ask questions about the safety of Welsh people working on Ugandan projects.

Considering one of the fundamental aims of the 'Wales and Africa' programme is to make Wales a globally responsible nation that is working to reduce global inequalities, and, the Welsh Government have branded Wales as a nation of sanctuary and the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe, I believe that the Welsh Government needs to think very carefully whether it can morally justify supporting projects in countries that have such discriminatory laws.

The Welsh Government has been hypocritical in producing public rhetoric supporting LGBTQ+ rights yet simultaneously accepting hospitality worth thousands from Qatar, where homosexuality results in the death penalty.

Whilst I saw some fantastic projects in Uganda and believe these small-scale projects are well worthy of our support, it appears to me that the Welsh Government needs to put their money where its mouth is and make its public rhetoric synonymous with its actions.