Raül Romeva i Rueda

REFLEXIONS PERISCÒPIQUES

Arxiu de la categoria: LGBT

El Parlament Europeu insta la Comissió a presentar un Full de Ruta per combatre l’homofòbia i la violència contra persones LGBTI

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El Parlament Europeu ha votat avui a favor d’un informe de la meva col.lega, l’eurodiputada Urlike Lunacek (Verds/ALE, Àustria), en què es demana un full de ruta de la UE contra l’homofòbia i la discriminació per raó d’orientació sexual i identitat de gènere.

En tant que un dels vicepresidents de l’intergrup LGTBI del Parlament, celebro enormement aquesta votació, especialment tenint en compte el massiu enviament de peticions i correus diversos en qué se’ns demanava explícitament no votar-hi a favor. òbviament, la demanda provenia del cada vegada més nombrós lobby ultraconservador que s’està constituint a la Unió Europea i que ara fa unes setmanes va protagonitzar també l’oposició a l’informe Estrela.

La columna vertebral de l’informe consistexi a reclamar a la Unió Europea que es posi les piles en la lluita contra l’homofòbia, la ransfòbia i qualsevol tipus de violència contra les persones LGTBI.

Les agressions contra persones LGBT segueixen sent nombroses a casa nostra. El col·lectiu LGBTI pateix la discriminació, assetjament i violència en escoles, llocs de treball i en situacions de la vida quotidiana. Amb aquest informe aspirem a eixamplar l’actual marc legal europeu per combatre la discriminació per orientació sexual i identitat de gènere.

El darrer 30 de gener, un grup de 15 persones del moviment LGBT de Catalunya va viatjar a Brussel·les per participar en una conferència de Verds/ALE on es denunciaven aquestes agressions arreu, prenent com a base l’informe de l’Agència de Drets Fonamentals de la UE i ens van fer arribar les seves inquietuds en relació al cas Benitez, que vàrem traduir en diverses preguntes a la Comissió Europea.

Ara és la Comissió Europea qui ha de presentar un esborrany de projecte legislatiu atorgant aquest marc a nivell europeu i incloent mesures concretes, tal com s’ha fet per a la no discriminació de la minoria romaní i de les persones amb discapacitat.

Foto: Fotografia de grup, acompanyat per les entitats que van participar en la conferència sobre discriminació de les persones LGTBI.
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Tarja roja europea a l’homofòbia en el futbol

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Publicat el 8 de maig de 2013

El febrer de 2010, George Becali, parlamentari romanès i co-propietari de l’Steaua de Bucarest, va fer les següents declaracions “Not even if I had to close down Steaua would I accept a homosexual on the team.”

Una de les banderes que duc amb més orgull, tot i que també amb força treball i suor, és la de les lluites (en plural) contra les discriminacions (també en plural). En tant que ponent del Parlament Europeu per a la Directiva sobre Igualtat de Tracte fora de l’àmbit del treball, per motius d’edat, orientació sexual, pertinença a una fe o religió o per diversitat funcional o psíquica, porto quatre anys batallant amb els governs, sobretot l’alemany, per tal que desbloquegin la normativa, actualment encallada en el calaix del Consell (de nou, el problema d’Europa no és ‘Brussel.les’, concepte, sinó algunes capitals dels Estats membres, i concretament Berlin).

La setmana passa la Cort Europea de Justíca va ensenyar la tarja roja a Becali, però el cas posa de manifest, un cop més, la urgència de dotar-nos d’un marc legal inqüestionable per poder fer front a aquesta mena de discriminacions, molt més habituals del que, segurament, molta gent podria arribar a pensar.

Adjunto la nota que en vàrem fer en reacció a la declaració de la Cort:

 

EU Court of Justice: Preliminary ruling on homophobic statement by Romanian football club owner

Last week the Court of Justice of the European Union issued a preliminary ruling on the responsibility of employers in the case of homophobic or discriminatory statements.

George Becali, a former Romanian MEP notorious for his homophobic statements and currently owner of the Steaua Bucure?ti football club, declared he did not want gay men to play on his team.

Human rights NGO ACCEPT complained about such a homophobic statement by Mr Becali as owner of the football club, and employer of its players.

EU Directive 2000/78 prohibits discrimination in employment, including on the basis of sexual orientation.

The Romanian judiciary asked the Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice (different from the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights) to indicate how the EU judges believed EU law should apply to this case.

In a statement yesterday, the EU Court of Justice explained that even though Mr Becali doesn’t formally employ his club’s players, his negative statement towards gay men could indicate a bias from his club.

According to the Directive, the club would now have to prove they do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation when hiring players.

Reacting to the preliminary ruling, Renate Weber MEP said: “I wholeheartedly welcome the Court’s interpretation. From the very beginning my understanding of this Directive was that employers could not discriminate, even if only in words. Every employer must behave accordingly, and even more so when they are a politician and Member of Parliament.”

Raül Romeva i Rueda MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup and Rapporteur on the new equality directive, added: “This shows the importance of EU anti-discrimination law. Currently such discrimination is forbidden in employment only, but we can see how necessary such a law would be outside of employment. Germany, and with it the Council of the European Union, have been sitting on this proposal for almost five years now. It’s high time they made serious progress on this file.”

Foto: lloc web footbolvhomophobia.com
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Parliament wants to ban homophobic hatespeech & hatecrimes!

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The European Parliament wants to outlaw homophobic crime and speech in the EU

March 14th, 2013

Today the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution on strengthening the fight against racism, xenophobia and hate crime. The text calls on the European Commission to add homophobia and transphobia to the list of EU-sanctioned hate speech and violence.

Since a 2008 Framework Decision, the European Union foresees specific, higher penalties for racist and xenophobic speech and crime. These measures are now in force in all 27 Member States and Croatia, due to join the EU on 1st July this year.

The European Parliament has today repeated previous calls to include homophobia and transphobia in the list of grounds covered by the next version of the 2008 Framework Decision, due for review this year.

Today’s resolution was exceptionally authored by all six main political groups, who agreed that ”expressions and acts of anti-Semitism, religious intolerance, anti?Gypsyism, homophobia and transphobia” should be punished by EU law, something the Parliament had already asked for.

The final text also calls on the Council to unblock the anti-discrimination Directive, blocked by Germany and conservative Member States for the past five years.

Raül Romeva i Rueda MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament’s LGBT Intergroup, commented: “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people face the same type of threats, violence and crimes across the EU. Racist and xenophobic crimes deserve specific punishment, and so do homophobic and transphobic ones: they target an entire group, rather than individuals.”

Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, also Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “Together with the Commission, we’re waiting for the results of the largest-ever survey on LGBT people’s lives in the EU and Croatia. Once these results are published, it will be up to Viviane Reding to translate them into effective change across EU policies.”

“I’m expecting the survey’s 93,000 respondents will have underlined how much hate they face, encouraged in some countries by political and religious leaders.”

The Fundamental Rights Agency will publish the results of its LGBT survey on 17th May, the International Day Against Homophobia.

 

Foto: Romeva, In´t Veld, Lunacek i Cashman, gravant missatge suport comunitat LGBT a Ucraïna. Font: LGBTI Intergroup of the European parliament.
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Reaccions Intergrup LGBT PE a la candidatura de Borg, maltès, a substituir Dalli a la Comissió Europea

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Mixed reactions to Tonio Borg on LGBT rights (Updated)

Last November 13th, 2012, Members of the European Parliament examined Tonio Borg’s bid to join the European Commission. MEPs express very mixed feelings after a 3-hour interview on the public health, environment and consumer protection portfolio.

The Intergroup on LGBT rights had made clear its concerns regarding Mr Borg’s track record, notably on women’s and LGBT rights.

After the 3-hour hearing, Presidents of the LGBT Intergroup reacted personally:

Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP (EPP), Vice-chair of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety: “Fundamental rights are not a matter of subsidiarity, they are universal. None of them are to be neglected or considered outside the competence of the EU, and I hope Mr Borg will abide by his unreserved commitment to these universal rights.

Michael Cashman MEP (S&D): “I do remain concerned about Tonio Borg’s track record. But given the reassurances he has given us on fundamental rights, I believe we could entrust him with the public health portfolio, and hold him strictly to account on the commitments he made tonight. He said his door would ‘always be open’, so we should immediately work on issues such as blood donation for gay men, the depathologisation of transgender people, and sexual and reproductive health rights.”

Update: On the day following the hearing, Michael Cashman said in a statement: “I have given this a lot of thought, and given the doubts expressed to me by many—and especially by women who feel strongly about his negative track record on sexual and reproductive health rights— I’ve come to the conclusion that I cannot endorse Tonio Borg for the European Commission […]”

Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP (ALDE): “He gets a clear ‘no’ from me. Tonio Borg said he won’t abandon his views, and I’m very much opposed to them—his Europe isn’t my Europe. The Parliament cannot ask the Commission to press ahead with better fundamental rights, and then vet a Commissioner with very different views.”

Ulrike Lunacek and Raül Romeva MEPs (Greens/EFA): “Even though Mr Borg brandished subsidiarity and the treaties when asked about his personal views, we don’t trust him to go beyond the strict minimum and actually defend the Charter of Fundamental Rights, rather than simply abide by it. The Commission must not only respect minimum standards; it must set these standards—and set them high. We do not trust him to work for all EU citizens regardless of their gender and of their sexual orientation.”

Dennis de Jong MEP (GUE/NGL), Member of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection: “Mr Borg appeared to be competent, but he fell short of expectations when he refused to endorse the horizontal anti-discrimination Directive, which the Commission proposed in 2008, and which all Commissioners stand by. Avoiding concrete answers on legal proposals is a very negative sign.”

Members of the European Parliament will now discuss Mr Borg’s performance within their political groups. The plenary of the European Parliament will then vote on his nomination next week in Strasbourg.

Photo: European Parliament

 

Foto: Borg i Schulz. Font: PE.
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My speeches on LGBTI Women rights in Africa, and on the Abortion scandal in China

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Heus ací les dues intervencions que vaig fer ahir, a Estrasburg, durant la sessió del Parlament Europeu dedicada a les Urgències sobre Drets Humans al món: la primera és sobre la situació de les dones LGBTI a l’Àfrica, i la segona sobre l’escàndol de l’avortament forçat a la Xina en el marc de la One-Child Policy.

Herewith, you will find the two speeches I did yesterday, in Strasburg, during the Urgencies period of the European Parliament:

Romeva on LGBTI Women Rights in Arica

Romeva on the Abortion Scandal in China

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Violence against LGBTI women in Africa (Debate and Resolution in the European Parliament)

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Yes. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. And all states have the obligation to prevent violence and incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and to respect the principles of equality between women and men;

However, the stigmatisation of and violence against lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, as well as against women perceived as, by state and police forces, by the women’s families, and by community members, is far from disappearing in many countries.

Today we concentrate in the situation of women in Africa, where female homosexuality is legal in 27 countries and illegal in other 27.

Thus, I am glad this Parliament strongly condemns (see resolution below) all forms of violence and discrimination against lesbians in African countries where this is taking place, including extreme forms of violence, such as ‘corrective’ rapes, and other forms of sexual violence;

And that expresses its strong support for campaigns and initiatives aimed at abolishing all discriminatory laws against women and LGBTI persons.

Please, note the PPE has finally declined to adhere to the common text.

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JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
pursuant to Rules 122(5) and 110(4), of the Rules of Procedurereplacing the motions

by the following groups: ECR (B7?0389/2012); Verts/ALE (B7?0392/2012); ALDE (B7?0397/2012); S&D (B7?0400/2012); GUE/NGL (B7?0401/2012)

on violence against lesbian women and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in Africa (2012/2701(RSP))
A.   whereas all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights; whereas all states have the obligation to prevent violence and incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and to respect the principles of equality between women and men;

B.   whereas the rights of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women are the same human rights as those of all women and all men, which must be protected regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression;

C.   whereas some African countries (…)

have been at the forefront of action to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms, whereas South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution was the first in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and whereas South Africa was the initiator of UN Human Rights Council resolution 17/19 on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity;

D.   whereas there are political movements and leaders that will be able to lead the way to changes and to the strengthening of human rights, women’s rights and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in Africa;

E.   whereas there is increasing stigmatisation of and violence against lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, as well as against women perceived as lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex, by state and police forces, by the women’s families, and by community members in Africa, which is a shared concern, as exemplified by the numerous statements by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay and by UNHRC Resolution 17/19 of 17 June 2011 on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity;

F.   whereas, in the UN Human Rights Council’s annual discussion on women human rights defenders on 25-26 June 2012, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Margret Sekaggya pointed out that violations suffered by women human rights defenders took a gender-specific form, ranging from verbal abuse based on sex, to sexual abuse and rape, that women were deemed to be challenging accepted social norms, culture or traditions or challenging religious prescriptions, and were as a consequence stigmatised, and that women human rights defenders needed specific attention because the suffering they underwent in their work sometimes exceeded that of their male counterparts;

G.   whereas women who transgress social and cultural norms are liable to be labelled lesbian and risk becoming a target for male violent behaviour and/or degrading treatment, and whereas this has the effect of repressing the expression of all women’s sexuality and freedom of choice, including that of heterosexual women; whereas sexual rights are related to the bodily autonomy and freedom of choice of all women;

H.   whereas, in Africa, female homosexuality is legal in 27 countries and illegal in 27, whereas male homosexuality is legal in 16 countries and illegal in 38, whereas homosexuality is punishable by death in Mauritania, Sudan, parts of Somalia and Nigeria, and whereas a private member’s bill before the Ugandan parliament provides for the death penalty for homosexuality;

I.    whereas laws that criminalise same-sex relationships and sexuality contribute to creating a climate which encourages violence against women who are, or are perceived to be, lesbians;

J.    whereas killings, torture, imprisonment, violence, stigmatisation and hate speech targeting LGBTI people, sometimes legitimised by law, are reported in all regions of the world; whereas there have been repeated acts of violence and aggression against lesbians in several African countries;

K.   whereas the struggle for equality and justice and for the visibility and rights of lesbians is closely connected with the overall struggle for women’s human rights; whereas lesbians are also, like many other women, subjected to violence, both for being women and on account of their sexual orientation;

L.   whereas in Cameroon, ten women were arrested, and three charged for the first time, for practising homosexuality in February 2012; whereas arrests and beatings by the police are ongoing, with the latest recorded instance on 24 June 2012; whereas lawyer Alice Nkom has on numerous occasions been threatened with death and violence for defending people accused of homosexuality; whereas an LGBTI meeting in Yaoundé was violently broken up by a gang on 19 May 2012;

M.   whereas the Liberian Senate is currently debating a proposal to extend further the ban on same-sex relationships foreseen by current law; whereas the media and general public are increasingly seeking to intimidate LGBTI people; whereas two lesbian women in Liberia were recently attacked by armed men;

N.   whereas in Malawi, female homosexuality was newly outlawed in January 2011; whereas the new President Joyce Banda has stated that she will ask the parliament to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality;

O.   whereas in Nigeria, the ‘Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill’ seeks to criminalise  the registration, operation and sustenance of certain organisations and their meetings or processions, and outlaws activities that fall strictly within the bounds of private life; whereas discussions of this Bill have contributed to increased tensions and threats against LGBTI people;

P.   whereas in South Africa, so-called ‘corrective’ rapes of lesbian and transgender women continue unabated; whereas ongoing debates about the constitutional protection of persons victimised because of their sexual orientation are fuelling violence against LGBTI people; whereas gay activist Thapelo Makutle was recently tortured and killed, 22-year-old lesbian Phumeza Nkolonzi was shot in the head because of her sexual orientation, and Neil Daniels was stabbed, mutilated, and burnt alive because he was gay;

Q.   whereas in Swaziland, positive efforts are being made to prevent and cure HIV/AIDS in populations at risk, including women, and men who have sex with men, the country’s criminalisation of homosexuality notwithstanding;

R.   whereas in Uganda, in February and June 2012, police forces and the Minister for Ethics and Integrity, acting without warrants and in disregard of citizens’ freedom of assembly, stopped private meetings of human rights activists; whereas the Minister plans to outlaw 38 organisations understood to work for the human rights of LGBTI people; whereas the Anti-Homosexuality Bill first proposed in 2009 is still under discussion, and may include unacceptable provisions including the death penalty; whereas lawsuits and enquiries in Uganda and in the United States have revealed the role of, among others, Scott Lively and the Abiding Truth Ministries, a fundamentalist US-based evangelical group, in spreading hate and intolerance on the basis of sexual orientation, and in having the law introduced;

Discrimination and violence against lesbian women in Africa

1.   Strongly condemns all forms of violence and discrimination against lesbians in African countries where this is taking place, including extreme forms of violence, such as ‘corrective’ rapes, and other forms of sexual violence;

2.   Expresses its strong support for campaigns and initiatives aimed at abolishing all discriminatory laws against women and LGBTI persons; calls on those African countries that still have discriminatory laws in place to abolish these immediately, including laws that prohibit homosexuality and laws that discriminate against women in terms of civil status, property and inheritance rights;

3.   Confirms that the struggle for the fundamental and human rights of lesbians in Africa is closely linked to the protection of the sexual and reproductive rights and health of all women; calls, therefore, on the European Union, in its work with partner countries in Africa, to make a firm commitment in terms of resources and policy in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights;

4.   Calls on the relevant authorities in Africa to effectively protect all women from murder, so?called ‘corrective’ rape and other sexual violence, and to bring the perpetrators to justice;

5.   Notes that the stigmatisation of ,and the violence directed against, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women are often closely connected with discrimination;

6.   Expresses its solidarity with, and support for, all actors that mobilise for a stronger women’s rights agenda;

7.   Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to support women’s organisations and LGBTI organisations in Africa in their struggle for the equality, bodily autonomy and right to freedom in sexuality of all women and LGBTI persons; highlights, at the same time, the need to give special attention to lesbians within the LGBTI and the women’s movement, as well as in other social movements, in order to denounce the double or sometimes multiple discrimination faced by lesbians in African countries;

8.   Calls on the European Commission, the European External Action Service and the Member States to step up the implementation of the goals set out in the EU Plan of Action for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Development, and to pay particular attention to the rights of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, both in their relations with third countries and when lending support to non-governmental organisations and human rights defenders;

LGBTI rights in Africa

9.   Calls on all 76 countries worldwide where homosexuality is illegal, including 38 countries in Africa, to decriminalise homosexuality;

10. Denounces incitement to hatred and violence on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression; calls on the aforementioned countries to effectively uphold LGBTI people’s right to life and dignity, and condemn all acts of violence, discrimination, stigmatisation and humiliation directed against them;

11. Calls on political and religious leaders to condemn persecution and discrimination based on sexual orientation and to take a firm stance against homophobia, hereby joining Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s call against injustice and prejudice and for solidarity and justice;

12. Calls on the EEAS, the European Commission and the Member States, in their political dialogue with African countries, to remind them of their obligation to fulfil the commitments assumed under legally binding international human rights instruments and conventions, and in particular to respect and promote the right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity;

13. Welcomes the fact that some African countries, including Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, South Africa and Swaziland have made known their opposition to the criminalisation of homosexuality, have ensured access to healthcare for LGBTI people or have pledged to decriminalise homosexuality;

14. Calls on the ACP Group of States to engage in an open, constructive and mutually respectful discussion;

15. Calls on the African countries to ensure security for LGBTI human rights defenders, and calls on the EU to assist local civil society with capacity-building programmes in Africa;

16. Insists that trade agreements and development programmes include non-negotiable human rights and non-discrimination clauses, particularly under the Development Cooperation Instrument and the Cotonou Agreement, and that they must be in conformity with the new human rights-based approach to EU development policies, not least as regards action to combat  discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation;

17. Urges the European Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to make full use of the LGBT Toolkit to encourage third countries to decriminalise homosexuality, help reduce violence and discrimination and protect LGBTI human rights defenders;

18. Calls on the European Commission to continue funding non-governmental organisations working to protect the rights of LGBTI people, notably through the EIDHR;

19. Recalls the Member States’ obligation, under Directive 2004/83/EC (recast), to protect or grant asylum to third-country nationals escaping or risking persecution in their country of origin on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity;

20. Calls on the Commission, and notably on Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, to take concrete action, by mobilising all appropriate instruments, to exert pressure in order to protect people from discrimination and persecution on the basis of their sexual orientation, and to raise these issues in the course of the EU’s relations and dialogues with third countries; calls on the Commission to include these issues in the roadmap against homophobia which the European Parliament has on several occasions called on it to draft[1];

21. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative / Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Member States, the Secretary-General of the ACP Group of States, all Ambassadors of ACP states to the European Union, the South African Parliament, and the African Union and its institutions.

 

 


[1] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0019, P7_TA(2011)0074, P7_TA(2011)0427, P7_TA(2012)0069, P7_TA(2012)0126 and P7_TA(2012)0222.

Font foto: gender accross borders.

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28 de juny: un recordatori que la lluita per l’alliberament LGBT encara vigent, i necessària

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Publicat el 28 de juny de 2012

Un any més, avui, 28 de juny, commemorem el Dia internacional de l’Alliberament LGBT.

L’Àmbit LGTB d’ICV ha escollit enguany el lema: “Pels drets LGTB. Sí a la igualtat social, no a les retallades”, amb el qual vol advertir que les polítiques d’austeritat que duen a terme els governs espanyol i català de la mà del PP i de CiU i que estan desmantellant l’Estat del Benestar afecten al conjunt de la ciutadania però de manera més greu al col·lectiu LGTB. “La destrucció de l’estat del benestar i el retrocés cap a un estat de la caritat i la beneficència són també passes enrere per als drets socials i la llibertat del col·lectiu LGBT”, adverteix la formació ecosocialista.

En aquest sentit, ICV posa de manifest que tant les retallades en educació com en salut perjudiquen doblement al col·lectiu de persones LGTB fent que, per exemple, hi hagi una menor prevenció en casos d’assetjament escolar per orientació sexual i identitat de gènere o una pitjor atenció a les persones seropositives. Igualment, el manifest que ha aprovat la formació ecosocialista denuncia que les retallades i retrocessos en l’ensenyament públic en forma de menys professorat i professionals a les escoles o més alumnes per aula, provoquen indubtablement una menor atenció a la diversitat perpetuant, per tant, la invisibilitat de la diversitat afectivosexual en els centres educatius”.

De la mateixa manera, remarca la formació ecosocialista, les retallades en la sanitat pública “dinamiten” el caràcter universal del dret a la salut posant en perill, entre altres, una adequada atenció sanitària de les persones seropositives i d’aquelles que precisen una operació de reassignació de gènere.

En matèria laboral, la reforma impulsada pel govern espanyol del PP amb el suport de CiU consagra la precarietat i la temporalitat dels contractes i preveuen l’acomiadament per absentisme laboral fins i tot amb justificant mèdic. Segons ICV, aquestes mesures obligaran a les persones LGTB a amagar-se per por a les represàlies; dificulten encara més la inserció laboral de dones i homes transsexuals i representen un greu atac a la salut del conjunt de treballadors i treballadores que afectarà de manera particular a les persones seropositives que precisin tractament o les persones transsexuals que iniciïn el procés de reassignació de gènere.

D’altra banda, la retallada en polítiques socials o la desaparició de les polítiques estatals d’atenció a la dependència, agreugen les situacions de doble dependència i invisibilitat que pateixen en molts casos les persones grans LGTB i suposen un impediment més a la seva vida plena.

Per tot plegat, enguany ICV vol reivindicar “més que mai” que no només és necessària la igualtat legal: calen i són també imprescindibles polítiques socials potents per lluitar contra la discriminació i per avançar cap a la igualtat real.

Font foto: lgbt.com
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It Gets Better (o la quotidiana lluita contra l’Homo/Transfòbia) #IDAHO

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Publicat el 16 de maig de 2012
 

En un moment en què molta gent pateix assetjament per la seva condició LGBTI, és important recordar-los que, a moltes i molts, això ens enerva, i que, en tant que representants europeus, treballem diàriament contra l’homofòbia i la transfòbia, i estem decidits a continuar fent-ho.

“In Europe, growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender can be challenging:difference often leads to bullying, self-harm, and sometimes suicide attempts.Studies consistently point to higher physical and mental health risks for LGBT young people compared to their heterosexual peers.
 
In 2012, the global theme of the International Day Against Homophobia and
Transphobia1 is youth and education. In a touching and fast-paced video message, European politicians and leaders from all EU institutions will join forces telling LGBT teenagers they are working to ‘make things better’2, and put an end to homophobia and transphobia.
 
This unique video will feature Members of the European Parliament addressing young people in 17 different languages, from Italian to Bulgarian and Swedish to Polish.

They are joined in the video by Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament; Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council; Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative; and Cecilia Malmström, Andris Piebalgs, Neelie Kroes, László Andor and Viviane Reding, Members of the European Commission.”

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#right2love (estima qui vulguis, i com vulguis)

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Publicat el 2 de maig de 2012
Des de dissabte,  i fins ahir, ha tingut lloc a Lloret de Mar la Segona Trobada Europea de Famílies Homoparentals (veure informació complerta al lloc web de la nelfa.org). Tot un esdeveniment en si mateix, i un magnífic exemple de com convertir la visibilitat i la reivindicació en un encontre amè, apte per a tots els públics, i totalment inclusiu.

Vaig tenir l’honor de poder-hi ser en el moment de la inauguració, dissabte, i encara més honorat vaig estar ahir quan, amb les emocions a flor de pell, vaig gaudir del casament que va oficiar l’Alcalde de Figueres, Santi Vila, qui va casar sis parelles d’homes i sis de dones, precedents de llocs ben diversos: Catalunya, Països Baixos, Itàlia, Suïssa, França, Anglaterra, Portugal, …

La cerimònia, i la festa posterior, va posar la cirereta a quatre dies en què la convivència familiar va deixar també espai per a la reflexió i la reivindicació.

No oblidem que, si bé avui és possible (malgrat a algú encara li pesi) que dos homes o dues dones decideixin lliurement contraure matrimoni a casa nostra, aquest no és encara un fet ‘normalitzat’ arreu d’Europa, fins i tot a països que, per a d’altres coses, considerem molt més avançats.

Així mateix, que ningú pensi que la batalla està definitivament guanyada, aquí. Ni de bon tros. Tot el que s’ha fet, es pot desfer en un tres i no res, si no vigilem, i per això és tant important recordar(nos), que encara queda molta feina a fer en el marc de la lluita pro-drets de les persones LGBT, aquí, a la resta d’Europa, i per descomptat arreu del món, on encara hi ha països on fer allò que avui han fet desenes de parelles de dones i d’homes a Lloret de mar –és a dir, fer-se un petó en públic- està perseguit i penat fins i tot amb la pena de mort.

Que aquesta foto serveixi, tal i com els contraents han demanat, per recordar tothom que, malauradament, que dos homes o dues dones es casin encara és noticia. Tan de bo algun dia, per habitual i legalment intranscendent, deixi de ser-ho. Fins llavors, jo clamo #right2love, que tothom estimi qui vulgui, i com vulgui. Tan difícil és entendre-ho, i acceptar-ho?

Font foto: David Borrat /Ara
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Esterilització i persones transsexuals: decisió sorprenent del govern suec

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El govern suec va anunciar ahir dijous que no revisaria els requisits actuals que exigeixen que les persones transsexuals siguin esterilitzades abans que l’Estat els reconegui la seva identitat. En tant que vicepresident de l’Intergrup pro-Drets LGBT he manifestat la meva sorpresa i he instat les autoritats sueques a modificar d’actitud i de normes.

The Swedish government announced Thursday that it would not seek to review current requirements for transgender people to be sterilised before the state recognises their identity. Members of the European Parliament call on Sweden to press ahead with these changes.

The move has surprised policymakers, who normally regard Sweden as a progressive Member State. It previously pushed for positive human rights and transgender policies within the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

Forced sterilisation breaches Article 3 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which protects the right to physical integrity. The European Parliament had already called for the World Health Organization to stop classifying transgender people as mentally ill.

Raül Romeva i Rueda MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, commented: “The government’s decision is rather surprising: forcibly sterilising transgender people is one issue recognised as inhumane across the political spectrum. It’s barbaric, outdated and highly unnecessary—not to mention against Sweden’s human rights commitments.”

Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, another Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added that “Mr Reinfeldt’s government should remember that a person’s dignity and integrity are cornerstone values for Christian Democrats. For transgender people, this means being free to undergo the changes they wish to, no more and no less. I see no reason to postpone such a crucial legal reform… The current laws wreaks lives!”

In Germany and Austria, courts have already ruled that state-enforced sterilisation was a breach of fundamental right, and struck off the procedure.

Font foto: The Local
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Les persones transgènere no són persones malaltes

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Aquesta és la nota que vàrem enviar ahir després del vot al PE de la resolució sobre drets persones LGBT en el marc del Consell de Drets Humans de Nacions Unides i a la OMS. Entre d’altres coses várem insistir en la necessitat de despatologitzar la reassignació de gènere.

European Parliament tells World Health Organization transgender people are not mentally ill

STRASBOURG , 29 September 2011 — In a resolution adopted yesterday, the European Parliament has called on the World Health Organization to stop considering transgender people mentally ill. ‘Gender identity disorder’ is currently classified as a ‘mental and behavioural disorder’ in the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases.

The text adopted yesterday “calls on the Commission and the World Health Organization to withdraw gender identity disorders from the list of mental and behavioural disorders, and ensure a non-pathologising reclassification in the negotiations on the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases.”

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) serves as a global reference to define and categories physical and mental troubles. Homosexuality was classified as a mental illness in the same list until 1990. The World Health Organization currently reviews the 10th version of the ICD; the next version should be finalised after lengthy consultations, in 2015.

Emine Bozkurt MEP, Member of the LGBT Intergroup and author of the call, reacted: “Transgender identities are still considered a mental disorder by the World Health Organization. This must be changed urgently by the time the next version comes into effect in 2015. Transgender people wishing to live in a body that matches their identity are of course entitled to medical treatment and its benefits, but the negative stigma surrounding them must stop.”

Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup Raül Romeva i Rueda MEP continued: “Considering transgender people mentally ill means they are not free to decide for themselves, and are often disrespected by the medical profession, their employers and their families. This call sends one clear message to the Commission and the WHO: the pathologisation of gender identity must stop, as the pathologisation of homosexuality ended in 1990.”

The European Commission takes part in ongoing negotiations for the next version of the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases. The Intergroup on LGBT Rights will continue monitoring the Commission’s submissions.

ENDS

 

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Orientació sexual i identitat de gènere a Nacions Unides

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Un altre dels temes que portem aquesta setmana al Parlament Europeu (reunit en sessió plenària a Estrasburg) és una proposta de resolució que hem consensuat diputats i diputades de diversos grups en relació al debat a Nacions Unides sobre situació de drets humans, orientació sexual i identitat de gènere. A diferència d’altres temes, aquest ha suscitat un important consens entre la majoria dels grups. està previst que el presentem al ple aquesta tarda, i que el votem demà al migdia.

B7?0523/2011 Resolución del Parlamento Europeo sobre derechos humanos, orientación sexual e identidad de género en las Naciones Unidas

El Parlamento Europeo,

(…)

B.         Considerando que diariamente se cometen numerosas violaciones de los derechos humanos relacionados con la orientación sexual y la identidad de género tanto en la Unión Europea como en terceros países;

(…)

E.         Considerando que la Unión Europea ya incluye la orientación sexual y la identidad de género en su trabajo en las Naciones Unidas, en organismos regionales y en el marco de algunos de sus diálogos bilaterales sobre derechos humanos;

F.         Considerando que la Resolución del CDHNU sobre derechos humanos, orientación sexual e identidad de género es la primera resolución adoptada en las Naciones Unidas que trata específicamente de la orientación sexual y la identidad de género;

G.         Considerando que Estados de todas las regiones, incluidos todos los Estados miembros de la UE en el CDHNU, votaron a favor de la Resolución sobre derechos humanos, orientación sexual e identidad de género, y que veintiún Estados miembros de la UE patrocinaron la Resolución;

H.         Considerando que varios órganos de las Naciones Unidas creados en virtud de tratados de derechos humanos, relatores especiales y agencias especializadas, así como el Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas y Alto Comisionado para los Derechos Humanos han manifestado su grave preocupación por las violaciones de los derechos humanos que sufren las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgénero (LGBT) en todo el mundo;

I.         Considerando que otras instituciones regionales, incluidos el Consejo de Europa y la Organización de Estados Americanos, han adoptado recientemente resoluciones en las que condenan las violaciones de los derechos humanos por motivos de orientación sexual e identidad de género;

1.         Reitera su preocupación por las numerosas violaciones de los derechos humanos y la discriminación generalizada por motivos de orientación sexual e identidad de género, tanto en la Unión Europea como en terceros países;

2.         Reconoce y apoya el trabajo ya emprendido por el Consejo de Derechos Humanos, el Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, el Alto Comisionado para los Derechos Humanos, los órganos de las Naciones Unidas creados en virtud de tratados de derechos humanos, relatores especiales y otras agencias de la Naciones Unidas para garantizar la plena vigencia de las normas internacionales de derechos humanos, con independencia de la orientación sexual y la identidad de género de las personas;

3.         Celebra la aprobación de la Resolución A/HRC/17/19 sobre derechos humanos, orientación sexual e identidad de género por el CDHNU;

4.         Llama la atención sobre el hecho de que la resolución recibió el apoyo de Estados de todas las regiones y fue redactada por Sudáfrica; reitera que los derechos humanos son universales e indivisibles y se aplican a todos por igual, con independencia de la orientación sexual y la identidad de género;

5.         Apoya la organización de una mesa redonda durante el decimonoveno periodo de sesiones del CDHNU, en la primavera de 2012, para mantener «un diálogo transparente, informado y constructivo sobre el tema de las leyes y prácticas discriminatorias, así como los actos de violencia contra las personas basados en su orientación sexual y su identidad de género»; considera indispensable mantener un diálogo respetuoso y abierto sobre derechos humanos, orientación sexual e identidad de género entre Estados miembros de las Naciones Unidas de todas las regiones;

6.         Celebra el apoyo permanente de los Estados miembros de la UE y de la Vicepresidenta de la Comisión y Alta Representante de la Unión para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad a la inclusión de la orientación sexual y la identidad de género en los trabajos del CDHNU y otros organismos de las Naciones Unidas, incluso en el caso de anteriores declaraciones y declaraciones conjuntas;

7.         Recuerda que el Manual para promover y proteger en el futuro el disfrute de todos los derechos humanos por parte de las personas LGBT, del Consejo de la Unión Europea, también menciona entre las prioridades clave la despenalización de la homosexualidad en todo el mundo, la igualdad y la no discriminación, así como la protección de los defensores de los derechos humanos; opina que la Alta Representante y los Estados miembros deben defender sistemáticamente estas prioridades en las relaciones exteriores;

8.         Pide a la Alta Representante y a los Estados miembros que, en asociación con terceros países, promuevan sistemáticamente la protección y el respeto de los derechos humanos en lo referente a la orientación sexual y la identidad de género en las Naciones Unidas y otros foros multilaterales, y de manera bilateral en sus diálogos sobre derechos humanos;

9.         Anima a los Estados miembros a que, de manera constructiva y en asociación con terceros países, participen en el Examen Periódico Universal y en procedimientos de órganos creados en virtud de tratados para velar por el pleno respeto de los derechos humanos en relación con la orientación sexual y la identidad de género en la Unión Europea y en terceros países; anima a los Estados miembros y a la Alta Representante, con este fin, a que velen por la coherencia entre la acción interior y la acción exterior de la UE en el ámbito de los derechos humanos, con arreglo a lo dispuesto en el artículo 21, apartado 3, del Tratado de la Unión Europea;

10.       Pide a la Alta Representante, a la Comisión y a los Estados miembros que, en asociación con terceros países, también promuevan los derechos humanos en relación con la orientación sexual y la identidad de género mediante diálogos bilaterales sobre derechos humanos y el Instrumento Europeo para la Democracia y los Derechos Humanos (IEDDH);

11.       Lamenta que los derechos de las personas LGBT aún no se respeten siempre plenamente en la Unión Europea, en particular el derecho a la integridad física, el derecho a la vida privada y la vida familiar, el derecho a la libertad de opinión y de expresión, el derecho a la libertad de reunión, el derecho a la no discriminación, el derecho a la libertad de circulación y el derecho de asilo;

12.       Llama la atención sobre las constataciones expuestas por la Agencia de los Derechos Fundamentales de la Unión Europea en su informe sobre homofobia, transfobia y discriminación por razones de orientación sexual e identidad de género; pide a la Comisión y a los Estados miembros que actúen en relación con las opiniones recogidas en el informe en la mayor medida posible

13.       Pide a los Estados miembros y a la Comisión que remedien plenamente estas desigualdades; pide una vez más a la Comisión que presente un plan de trabajo exhaustivo contra la homofobia, la transfobia y la discriminación por razones de orientación sexual e identidad de género;

(…)

 

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Europa no és color de rosa

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Publicat el 28 de juny de 2011

Europa
no es de color de rosa (por Raúl Solís), para losEuros.eu

La Carta de Derechos
Fundamentales de la Unión Europea, en su artículo 21, prohíbe toda
discriminación, “en especial por orientación sexual”, y vincula jurídicamente a
los Veintisiete a construir espacios de dignidad para los seres humanos que
habitan Europa. No obstante, los europeos LGTB (lesbianas, gais, transexuales y
bisexuales) no viven bajo un espacio de libertades que garantice sus derechos
fundamentales.

 

Son
muchas las discriminaciones que padecen los europeos que tienen una orientación
sexual o identidad de género no acorde al patrón cultural de la UE. Sólo cinco
Estados juegan en la “Champions League” del respeto a las minorías
sexuales : Bélgica, España, Portugal, Suecia y Holanda. No obstante, si
los matrimonios de dos hombres o dos mujeres casados en su país de origen,
donde el ordenamiento jurídico interno lo faculta, instalan su residencia en
otro Estados de la UE, pueden dejan de ser matrimonio al cruzar las fronteras
de su país.

Algo
tan absurdo como que una pareja de mujeres casadas en Holanda dejan de estar
casadas si fijan su residencia en Lituania. Más absurdo aún, si una de estas
mujeres se va a Rumanía y se casa con un hombre puede ser bígama para las
autoridades holandesas. En Rumanía, por el contrario, sólo constaría que está
casada con un hombre rumano.

Siete
países de la UE (Austria, España, Francia, Hungría, Irlanda, Luxemburgo y
Portugal) respetan la legalidad de los matrimonios celebrados en Estados donde
sí es legal que dos mujeres o dos hombres se digan “sí quiero” ante el registro
civil de su pueblo o ciudad. Es decir, reconocen los derechos intrínsecos a la
institución matrimonial : derechos de sucesión, patrimoniales y el
reconocimiento social y cultural a la convivencia.

Este
grupo de siete, cantidad insuficiente para garantizar la libre circulación y de
residencia por los 27 países que conforman la UE, es el fiel reflejo de que los
derechos legalmente adquiridos en Portugal, Bélgica, España, Holanda o Suecia,
consecuencia del amor, se quedan al otro lado de la aduana. Rumanía, Estonia y
Bulgaria ya han dicho que no reconocerán a los residentes en sus países que
quieran exportar el estatus de personas casadas.

Raúl
Romeva
, vicepresidente del Intergrupo LGTB, eurodiputado de Iniciativa per
Catalunya Verds (ICV), sostiene que Viviane Reding, responsable de la cartera
de Justicia de la Comisión Europea, dijo que “si un ciudadano LGTB ve
conculcado sus derechos, legítimamente adquiridos en un Estado miembro, eso
vulnera el derecho a la libre circulación”.

Cerca
de alcanzar la categoría de “Champions League” se encuentran catorce países que
sí contemplan en su ordenamiento jurídico una figura legal, llamada “unión
civil”, para amparar las convivencias entre personas del mismo sexo. Aunque las
organizaciones de defensa de los derechos LGTB no se conforman con las uniones
civiles. “A mismas realidades, mismos derechos”, proclaman éstas.

Muy
lejos del respeto a los derechos humanos está Hungría, que en una reciente
reforma de su Constitución encomienda a Dios la familia y queda bloqueado “por
antinatural” la aprobación de los matrimonios homosexuales ; Lituania,
donde está en vigor una ley que impide publicaciones o el activismo en favor de
la homoafectividad o Irlanda, que consiente que los médicos se puedan negar a informar
del estado de salud si la pareja es del mismo sexo e incluso negar el régimen
de visitas hospitalarias.

En
el mismo sentido excluyente se encuentra la República Checa, al realizar
pruebas falométricas a los solicitantes de asilo por orientación sexual. Acudir
a las manifestaciones del Orgullo LGTB en Eslovaquia, Rumanía o Bulgaria es
considerado de alto riesgo, debido a la ira de la ultraderecha que no duda en
usar todo su potencial violento contra los manifestantes.

Romeva
denuncia que la reforma constitucional de Hungría “no encaja dentro del Tratado
de Lisboa” y critica a la Comisión Europea porque “en materia de derechos LGTB
suele inhibirse”. El diputado ecosocialista es el ponente de la Directiva
Horizontal de Múltiples Discriminaciones, aprobada por los eurodiputados y
enviada para su aprobación definitiva, y su posterior entrada en vigor, al
Consejo Europeo. El diputado denuncia que los primeros ministros y presidentes
europeos la mantienen bloqueada y asegura que “Alemania está ejerciendo una
fuerte presión” para que no prospere la normativa aprobada en la sede del
Parlamento Europeo de Estrasburgo”.

La
entrada en vigor de la Directiva Horizontal permitiría ampliar el principio de
no discriminación a los ámbitos de servicio. Evitaría que el dueño de un
establecimiento expulse de su local a una pareja del mismo sexo, por
besarse ; que una compañía de seguros se niegue a asegurar a una persona
homosexual basándose en que ésta tiene más posibilidades de contagiarse del
Sida.

Según
el último informe de la Agencia Europea de Derechos Fundamentales (FRA, por sus
siglas en inglés) , sólo el 20% de los delitos motivados por prejuicios es
denunciado por las víctimas y el 50% de las personas LGTB han sido víctimas de
agresiones físicas.

De
los 27 Estados miembros, nada más que doce reconocen en su Derecho interno la
variante de homofobia en sus códigos penales (Bélgica, Dinamarca, Alemania,
Estonia, España, Francia, Irlanda, Letonia, Países Bajos, Portugal, Suecia o
Rumanía e Irlanda del Norte en el Reino Unido). En los 15 países restantes la
fobia puede campar a sus anchas, sin leyes que lo remedien.

Son
las personas transexuales las que juegan el campeonato más difícil de la
discriminación, sufrimiento y vulneración de los derechos humanos dentro de la
UE. Cuatro países no reconocen a las personas transexuales (Irlanda, Lituania,
Luxemburgo y Eslovenia) lo que les lleva a éstas, en muchos casos, a emigrar
fuera de sus países para poder ver reconocida la identidad de género que sus
genitales niegan. Por si fuera poco, la violencia de la que son víctimas las
personas trans es impune en once Estados, al no considerarse las agresiones por
identidad de género como agravante. Un limbo jurídico que deja en tierra de
nadie a los transexuales de Bulgaria, Chipre, República Checa, Estonia, Grecia,
Lituania, Luxemburgo, Malta, Rumanía y Eslovenia. Todo ello, ante la inacción
de la Comisión Europea que no se muestra tajante con los países que no protegen
a las personas transexuales.

Además,
en multitud de Estados la legislación exige el tratamiento quirúrgico de
reasignación de sexo para poder expedir un documento nacional de identidad,
coherente con el género de destino de las personas transexuales. En un 80% el
tratamiento médico del proceso transexualizador no lo cubre la sanidad pública.
En otros muchos casos el muro es el médico, al negarse éste por cuestiones
morales a tratar el caso con las diligencias profesionales que se esperan de un
profesional de la salud.

Aunque
Europa no sea de color rosa no es del color negro de los 76 Estados del mundo
que encierran en prisión a homosexuales y transexuales. Tampoco Europa viste el
luto de Mauritania, Sudán, Arabia Saudí, Irán, Yemén, Nigeria y Somalia, donde
el amor mata. Estos ciudadanos que huyen de la incomprensión e insensibilidad
pueden acudir a las representaciones diplomáticas de la Unión, repartidas por
el mundo, a solicitar asilo político “con necesidades especiales”, a merced del
nuevo Servicio Europeo de Acción Exterior, resultado de la entrada en vigor del
Tratado de Lisboa.

Esta
protección a las almas que vean perseguidas su libertad y su derecho a la vida
por razón de orientación sexual e identidad de género es uno de los avances en
materia de derechos humanos más celebrados y perseguidos por los colectivos
LGTB de nuestro continente. La alegría es incompleta. Cuatro Estados de la UE
se niegan a proteger dentro de sus fronteras a las lesbianas, gais, bisexuales
o transexuales que llamen a la puerta de Europa para salvar su vida y libertad.

A
pesar del odio visceral de los enemigos de la diferencia, el respeto hacia las
personas homosexuales y transexuales en la UE ha ganado muchas batallas en esta
guerra contra la intolerancia. La FRA considera que los prejuicios existentes
contra las personas LGTB se basan en opiniones sin fundamentos. Los argumentos
esgrimidos en contra de la igualdad con el objeto de mantener la barbarie son
que la homosexualidad es una enfermedad ; que los homosexuales son los
propagadores del Sida ; unos viciosos que cometen actos tan deplorables
como la pedofilia o una amenaza para la familia y valores tradicionales.

Por
su parte, los ciudadanos europeos parecen ir tomando posiciones favorables
hacia las minorías sexuales. Dos tercios de los europeos preguntados en la
encuesta de Eurostat respondieron que se sentirían muy cómodos con un vecino
homosexual. Suecos, daneses, holandeses y luxemburgueses son los que más
cómodos se sienten. Los más incómodos con que una lesbiana o gay resida en su
mismo bloque son los letones, búlgaros y rumanos, que en una escala de 1 al 10
(donde 1 es muy incómodo) se posicionan en el 6. Sólo un 10% de los europeos
encuestados se situaron entre 1 y 3.

Bruno
Selun
, secretario del Intergrupo LGTB del Parlamento Europeo, recuerda que la
primera tarea de las autoridades comunitarias debe ser “obligar” a los Estados
miembros a cumplir con la Carta de Derechos Fundamentales de la UE y el Tratado
de Lisboa. “Si la Comisión Europea sigue siendo pasiva en exigir el
cumplimiento de las normativas comunitarias a los 27, la Unión queda
ilegitimada para defender los derechos humanos en su política exterior”,
sentencia este joven francés que conoce al dedillo cómo es la realidad de las
minorías sexuales en cada uno de los países vinculados al Tratado de Lisboa,
que en su preámbulo dice que la Unión Europea se inspira “en los valores
universales de los derechos inviolables e inalienables de las personas, así
como la libertad, la democracia, la igualdad y el Estado de Derecho”.

 

 

Foto: Mapa Rainbow Warrior de la UE

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17 maig, IDAHO: Dia Internacional contra l’Homofòbia

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Publicat el 17 de maig de 2011

En tant que Vicepresident de l’Intergrup sobre Drets LGBT al Parlament Europeu, i com gairebé totes les institucions europees, commemoro avui, el 17 de Maig, el Dia Internacional contra l’Homofòbia i la Transfòbia.

El Parlament Europeu, la Comissió Europea, el Consell Europeu, el Servei d’Acció Exterior Europeu, així com l’agència de drets Fonamentals, han expressat el seu suport i han emès comunicats al respecte. L’única excepció enguany ha estat el Consell de la UE, presidit per Hongria.

La data commemora la decisió de l’Organització Mundial de la Salut (OMS) de desclassificar l’Homosexualitat com una malaltia mental (va passar el 17 de maig de 1990). (veure diverses noticies anteriors).

 

A continuació adjunto alguns extractes de les declaracions que han fet les institucions europees:

European Commission

Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European
Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship
issued a statement condemning homophobia as “a blatant violation of human
dignity”:

Homophobia is a
blatant violation of human dignity and is incompatible with the principles upon
which the EU is founded. I am fully committed to combating homophobia and
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The principle of equal treatment is a
fundamental value for the EU. This principle is guaranteed by the Charter of
Fundamental Rights. The Charter prohibits any discrimination based on sexual
orientation. Yet, sadly, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across
the EU are still victims of exclusion, hate speech, hate crime, discrimination
and other forms of intolerance. This is confirmed by the available data collected
by the Fundamental Rights Agency, by Member State institutions and by civil
society.

Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for
Development, will address the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of EU and African,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, currently meeting in Budapest. The text
of his intervention will be made available later today.


European Council

Herman van Rompuy, President of the European
Council, published a strong statement fully endorsing comments by UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon against violence and the discrimination of LGBT
people:

Last December, on Human Rights Day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
declared: “When individuals are attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their
sexual orientation, we must speak out.” He added: “Yes, we recognize that
social attitudes run deep. Yes, social change often comes only with time. Yet,
let there be no confusion: where there is tension between cultural attitudes
and universal human rights, universal human rights must carry the day.” I can
fully endorse the Secretary General’s statement.

In particular, when individuals are victims of
discrimination, attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their sexual
orientation or other reasons, we must speak out. Such attacks do not just
affect the individual victims – they are attacks on all of us. They devastate
families. They pit one group against another, dividing larger society.

We have a collective responsibility to stand
against discrimination, to defend our fellow human beings and our fundamental
principles.


European Parliament

Jerzy Buzek, President of the European
Parliament, read a moving speech while opening an exhibition on gay prides in
Europe, at the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament on 10 May. He
declared:

Homophobia is deplorable because it aims to denigrate people and deprive
them of these rights on the basis of their sexual orientation.

But as we celebrate the International Day
Against Homophobia, we must also remember, which may be of special importance,
that some people are not only deprived of their basic rights, but may be
tortured and punished because of their sexual orientation. In some countries
they may even face the death penalty.

We have a duty to protect human rights, wherever
they are, and in whatever form they take.

Louis Michel, Co-President of the Joint
Parliamentary Assembly of EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)
countries, opened the joint parliamentary assembly’s meeting in Budapest
yesterday by reading strong remarks to parliamentarians from African, Caribbean
and Pacific countries:

I wish to say with the greatest determination
that we will never accept that governments or politicians may use, or even
exploit, any ‘cultural’ argument in an attempt to justify the hunt and
demonization of homosexuality.

Any minority, regardless of what makes it one,
must benefit from identical rights.

I would like to take this opportunity to urge
all European and ACP parliamentarians not to be carried away by misleading
approximations. The sexual difference between consenting adults, love between
two men, or two women, or between a man and a woman definitively belongs one’s
intimacy, which is a sacred entitlement for any human being.
 

The European Parliament website also features
a special report on the International Day.

European External Action Service

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the
EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will publish a written statement
condemning the harassment and violence faced by LGBT human rights defenders.
(Statement coming soon.)


Fundamental Rights Agency

The Fundamental Rights Agency announced it
would start working on a EU-wide survey of discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity:

Today, on the International Day against
Homophobia and Transphobia, in some EU countries, lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) people are better protected than before. However, in others
they are not, underlining the need for the relevant governments to act to treat
all citizens equally across a variety of issues. The Agency will provide policy
makers with concrete evidence of unfair treatment, abuse or violence following
the launch of its survey of LGBT people in early 2012.

The EU-wide online survey will capture the
actual experiences of discrimination and hate crime felt by LGBT people,
something that has never been done on this scale before. In 2012, the Agency will
also identify good practice by authorities in preventing and addressing
discrimination and abuses against LGBT people.

Foto: Pride a Brussels, 15 Maig Font: ©www.flickr.com/esdanitoff

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LGBT could be sentenced to death in Uganda

1

Aquest és el text en el qual vaig fonamentar la meva intervenció, ahir a la tarda, durant l’habitual sessió d’avaluació de diverses situacions de vulneracions de drets humans al món que té lloc a Estrasburg els dijous per la tarda, i de la qual, com sabeu, en sóc especialment assidu.

LGBT rights in Uganda: The Bahati Bill and discrimination against LGBT population

A.   whereas the Anti-Homosexuality
Bill tabled by private Member David Bahati MP on 25 September 2009 in the Ugandan
Parliament foresees the punishment of homosexual acts by terms of imprisonment between
seven years and a lifetime as well as the death penalty, whereas the Bill foresees
the punishment of a failure to disclose a child’s or patient’s homosexuality by
up to three years of imprisonment, whereas the Bill is still under consideration
despite repeated condemnations by the international community,

B.  whereas on 9 October and 15 November 2010 the local newspaper
Rolling Stone  listed the names and
personal details of people alleged to be homosexual, inciting readers to harm or
hang them, whereas the Ugandan High Court temporarily ordered the newspaper to cease
publication,

C. whereas in Africa homosexuality is legal in
only 13 countries and a criminal offence in 38 countries, whereas Mauritania, Sudan
and northern Nigeria punish homosexuality by death,

1. Reiterates the fact that sexual orientation
is a matter falling within the remit of the individual right to privacy as guaranteed
by international human rights law, according to which equality and non discrimination
should be promoted, whilst freedom of expression should be guaranteed;

2. Endorses the statement made in response to the
ACP Declaration of 28 September 2010 and reiterates its commitment to universal
human rights, inter-religious tolerance and the peaceful co-existence and mutual
respect among all religious and LGBT communities;

3. Denounces any attempt to incite hatred and advocate
violence towards any minority group, including on grounds of sex or sexual orientation;

4. Welcomes the fact that the Ugandan High Court
ordered the newspaper to cease publication; nevertheless, remains concerned that
many Ugandans have been attacked as a direct result of the article, with many still
fearing attacks;

5. Reminds the Ugandan authorities of their obligations
under international law and under the Cotonou Agreement, which call for universal
human rights to be respected;

6. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the
European External Action Service to make full use of the Toolkit to Promote and
Protect the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
(LGBT) People in their dealings with Uganda;

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