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The World Health Professions Alliance speaks for more than 41 million health professionals worldwide, assembling essential knowledge and experience from the key health professions in more than 130 countries.

Health Care Professions condemn new Brunei laws

12 April 2019

The World Health Professions Alliance has condemned new laws, recently put in place by the Brunei, which it considers to be inhumane and discriminatory, and in breach of international human rights agreements.  The new penal code, introduced on 3 April, imposes death by stoning for adultery and gay sex, as well as amputations for theft and public flogging for abortion.

“ICN joins our colleagues in the health professions in strongly condemning discrimination against and violence towards vulnerable groups, and considers the death penalty to be cruel, inhuman and unacceptable, said “Howard Catton, Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). “We call on the government of Brunei to uphold the human rights of all.”

“The World Medical Association warns all physicians in Brunei, that participating in such punishments, even advising or preparing for, would constitute a gross violation of medical ethics,” said Otmar Kloiber, Secretary General of the World Medical Association.