South Korea: 8 June, 2023: Dr. Frank Habineza, Member of Parliament of Rwanda, President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Presidential Candidate for the 2024 elections, stood up at the 5th Global Greens Congress to condemn Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine and Uganda’s harshest anti-LGBTQ law, which includes the death penalty. He called for stronger unity and respect for diversity.

Dr. Frank said "I know that we all come from different cultures, religious beliefs and other social differences, but I request you as the Global Greens community to remember that in our Global Greens Charter we agreed that death penalty should be eliminated globally. We need to adopt a resolution in this congress condemning this anti-LGBTQ law in Uganda.”

He also appreciated the Rwanda state’s policy of unity and reconciliation. “The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda appreciates the new Rwanda state policy of unity and reconciliation which has helped people of Rwanda to co-exist within their diverse differences and have been able to build their country together."

"With this experience, I fully understand what state-sponsored violence and homophobia can bring and strongly condemn it. When any hateful acts of violence occur to one of us, we are all affected. I hope the recent events happening in Africa will instead unify, strengthen and empower us in our diversity." He added.

Further more, "Our global peace message and non-violence should be heard. And the slogan ’Never Again’ to another genocide should become real, because we live in a world where political actors have no shame of practicing genocide against their people.” He emphasized.

Dr Habineza asked the congress to look at the suffering happening to Ukrainian people because of the "Russian war of aggression that must stop" and called all to remain united in condemning it and standing strong with Ukraine.

The 5th Global Greens Congress will be closed on 11th June.

Juliet Batsinda