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In a meeting of the Royal Commonwealth Society in London, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird urged the 41 Commonwealth Nations that still have laws criminalising homosexuality to protect their gay citizens, equating the laws to a “hangover” from a bygone era, the Montréal Gazette reports. This declaration from the Conservative government has left some LGBT-rights activists both “stunned” and “delighted”.

During the meeting in London on Monday (Jan 23), Baird stated that the “regressive and punitive laws” criminalising homosexuality “contribute to social stigma and violence for gay people.”

He called for the governments of Commonwealth countries to follow the example of “progressive countries” like Canada and the United Kingdom, and to not “willfully ignore” their obligations to protect their citizens.

“The criminalization of homosexuality is incompatible with the fundamental Commonwealth value of human rights,” declared Baird. The minister added: “It is the role of the state to protect its people, to inform their people about the irreparable harm intolerance and hate cause, and to accept those who may be different into their society.”

With this speech, Canada maintains its diplomatic pressure on Commonwealth countries, which is not always well received by the LGBT activists of the countries concerned as it did at the last summit of the leaders of the Commonwealth.

The declaration has left LGBT activists pleasantly surprised. Helen Kennedy, director of EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere) said she was “stunned” and “delighted” to hear John Baird defend the rights of gays worldwide. She called it a “good first step”, urging the government to take more concrete action on the issue.