The banning of Serbia's first LGBT Pride march since 2001, when it was attacked by violent homophobic thugs, is a real setback for LGBT rigths in that country. Serbia is moving slowly towards applicant status to be a member of the EU and such developments show that it still has a long way to go. This is in stark contrast to Hungary, where Budapest Pride went ahead successfully this summer after the authorities agreed to offer full protection to Hungary's LGBT population as well as visitors. Budapest Pride was also attacked last year.
The European Green Party has issued the following statement about Belgrade Pride and it is a reiteration of the fight for LGBT rights in Europe which the Green parties, together with other progressive political forces are leading. There can be no place in our continent or in a future EU member state for such surrendering to the naked forces of homophobia and intolerance.
25.09.2009
EUROPEAN GREENS CONDEMN DE FACTO BANNING OF BELGRADE PRIDE
The Spokespersons of the European Green Party have expressed their dismay that the Pride event due to take place on Sunday 20th September was de facto cancelled by the Serbian authorities as a result of threats of violence and intimidation by far-right extremists.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek, who is also an Austrian Green MEP and is herself a lesbian, said: “Last Sunday’s Pride event in Belgrade should not only have been a real celebration for Serbia’s LGBT community but also an important sign of progress regarding the human rights situation in Serbia as a whole. However, by retracting their earlier promises to ensure the protection of all those taking part in the Pride event in the face of threats of violence from extremist ultra-nationalist groups, the Serbian authorities have effectively handed those very groups a victory and have shown that they are not able or willing to guarantee their citizens their Human Rights as covered by the European Convention. This is an extremely worrying situation for everyone who cares about human rights in Serbia and in the Balkans and Europe as a whole.” Several members of the LGBT Intergroup in the European Parliament, including Lunacek, have formulated some critical questions to the Commission about its reaction to this denial of the freedom of assembly by the Serbian authorities.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts, who is also a MEP for the French-speaking Green Party Ecolo, continued: “We European Greens will continue to scrutinise the situation in Serbia and work alongside LGBT activists and human rights defenders to keep up the pressure on the Serbian authorities to so that people are no longer denied their right to gather and demonstrate peacefully because of the government and police’s inability or lack of will to guarantee security for Pride or similar events. What is clear is that the Serbian government must take urgent measures to strengthen legislation so that those who incite violence are charged and punished, and not rewarded as they have been in this case. Any failure to do this promptly will show that Serbia still has a huge amount of progress to make regarding human rights, equal opportunities and anti-discrimination measures before it can be considered ready to join the EU.”
Graham Burgess
Media and Communications Officer
European Green Party
Office no: +32 (0)2 626 0724
Mobile no: +32 (0)477 902 023
graham.burgess@europeangreens.net
http://www.europeangreens.eu/
EUROPEAN GREENS CONDEMN DE FACTO BANNING OF BELGRADE PRIDE
The Spokespersons of the European Green Party have expressed their dismay that the Pride event due to take place on Sunday 20th September was de facto cancelled by the Serbian authorities as a result of threats of violence and intimidation by far-right extremists.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek, who is also an Austrian Green MEP and is herself a lesbian, said: “Last Sunday’s Pride event in Belgrade should not only have been a real celebration for Serbia’s LGBT community but also an important sign of progress regarding the human rights situation in Serbia as a whole. However, by retracting their earlier promises to ensure the protection of all those taking part in the Pride event in the face of threats of violence from extremist ultra-nationalist groups, the Serbian authorities have effectively handed those very groups a victory and have shown that they are not able or willing to guarantee their citizens their Human Rights as covered by the European Convention. This is an extremely worrying situation for everyone who cares about human rights in Serbia and in the Balkans and Europe as a whole.” Several members of the LGBT Intergroup in the European Parliament, including Lunacek, have formulated some critical questions to the Commission about its reaction to this denial of the freedom of assembly by the Serbian authorities.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts, who is also a MEP for the French-speaking Green Party Ecolo, continued: “We European Greens will continue to scrutinise the situation in Serbia and work alongside LGBT activists and human rights defenders to keep up the pressure on the Serbian authorities to so that people are no longer denied their right to gather and demonstrate peacefully because of the government and police’s inability or lack of will to guarantee security for Pride or similar events. What is clear is that the Serbian government must take urgent measures to strengthen legislation so that those who incite violence are charged and punished, and not rewarded as they have been in this case. Any failure to do this promptly will show that Serbia still has a huge amount of progress to make regarding human rights, equal opportunities and anti-discrimination measures before it can be considered ready to join the EU.”
Graham Burgess
Media and Communications Officer
European Green Party
Office no: +32 (0)2 626 0724
Mobile no: +32 (0)477 902 023
graham.burgess@europeangreens.net
http://www.europeangreens.eu/
It is not only that LGBT manifestations are banned in Tadić's "pro-European" Serbia: human rights are massively violated, media freedom is supressed, the judiciary produces one scandalous decision after the other...
ReplyDeleteIs that what Zoran Djindjić died for?