Mar 29, 2007News: Freedom of Assembly Belongs to Everyone
By Kyleovision
(Brussels) - The European arm of the International Lesbian and Gay Association, ILGA-Europe, has welcomed a Council of Europe resolution that condemns bans in some countries of ‘Gay Prides’. Approved [Tuesday] in Strasbourg by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the resolution reminds local and regional authorities throughout Europe that is it their duty to ensure that the freedom of assembly and expression is enjoyed by LGBT people without any discrimination.
French representative on the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Jean-Luc Roméro (Ile-de-France) said in an interview yesterday that he was “appalled” by some of the bans.
He reminded locally elected representatives that far from posing a threat to law and order, gay pride marches actually strengthen social cohesion and the rights of all members of society.
“I am appalled, especially by the decision to ban the Moscow Gay Pride parade last year, and which is liable to be repeated this year,” Mr Roméro said.
“Other rallies of this kind have been suppressed in other countries, or have been hampered by provocations to which the police have turned a blind eye. It is quite simply intolerable, and I would like to remind all local elected representatives that these events should be permitted and supervised like any other.
“It is a question of freedom,” he pointed out. “The mayors who invent excuses for banning them, such as security or morality, are violating freedom of expression and all the European instruments that safeguard that freedom.
“I would also point out that in the major European cities, the gay pride marches always go very smoothly, without any violence, such as the Paris parade which attracts 600,000 people every year and where there is never any trouble.”
Mr Roméro added that he would like to see the Congress passing a very firm recommendation denouncing the practice of banning gay pride marches in Europe.
Italian representative Valerio Prignachi said that protecting gay and lesbian rights is protecting equality and democracy.
'”The rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT) to freedom of expression and assembly are essential not only to their own individual development but also to the promotion and protection of the principles of equality and democracy',” he declared when presenting the draft resolution and recommendation to the Congress at its ‘Spring Session’.
Patricia Prendiville, executive director of ILGA-Europe, welcomed what she called an important resolution.
“The Congress is one of the main European forums for the representatives of local and regional authorities in Europe. This resolution provides further reinforcement that freedom of assembly and expression is one of the fundamental human rights strictly guarded by the Council of Europe and LGBT people must enjoy these rights in absolutely the same way as any other citizens.
“We hope that this strong signal from the European local and regional authorities will provide a significant obstacle to those few European mayors and city/town coucillors who are still contemplating banning or restricting LGBT Pride marches or any other public demonstrations and events by and for LGBT people in Europe,” she added.
Note: The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, has 46 member countries. There are two applicant countries Montenegro and Belarus, the latter being under suspension, and five countries that have observer status – the Vatican, the United States, Canada, Japan and Mexico.
The Council of Europe is NOT connected to the European Union, though the two organisations work together.
