Navi Pillay (pictured), the United Nations’ top human rights official, has called on Uganda to drop its so-called “kill the gays” bills, which would impose the death penalty on gay men and lesbians, London’s Guardian reports.

“The bill proposes draconian punishments for people alleged to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered — namely life imprisonment, or in some cases, the death penalty,” Pillay said. “To criminalize people on the basis of color or gender is now unthinkable in most countries. The same should apply to an individual’s sexual orientation.”

Uganda’s parliament may discuss the bill as early as next week.