Welcome to the website of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights grouping Members of European Parliament and their support staff working on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equal rights issues.
Malawi: “Stop harassing LGBT minorities!”, say Members of the European Parliament
Malawian police recently arrested Peter Sawali, 21, for putting up posters stating “Gay rights are human rights” on a busy road in Blantyre, the country’s commercial capital. The posters were confiscated. Sawali faces a fine of MWK 5,000 (EUR 25) and up to three months in prison.
This arrest follows the case of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who performed a traditional marriage ceremony in December 2009, and now face up to 14 years’ imprisonment. Responding to widespread international criticism of their prosecution, Kondwani Nankuluma of the Malawian Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee recently declared to Africa News: "We are following our laws and proceeding with the case for the two in the courts. [...] Why do they keep pestering us to release the two?"
Michael Cashman MEP, Co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, commented: “Malawi is a sovereign nation, and its laws should be respected; but using post-colonial laws to oppress citizens instead of protecting them is unworthy of any sovereign nation in the world. If Malawian authorities want to stop being ‘pestered’, they must first live up to the legal commitments they made when signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights, and enacting the Bill of Rights in their constitution.” Michael Cashman continued: “Given that Malawi is now chairing the African Union, it is incumbent upon them to uphold the human rights of all their citizens, and that includes lesbian, gay and bisexual people.”
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-president of the Intergroup, added: “It isn’t just about the rights of sexual minorities, as reminded in the UN Joint Statement of December 2008, which was signed by 67 countries including Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius and São Tome and Principe. It’s also about freedom of expression, which is universally recognised in all the international treaties to which Malawi is signatory.”
The trial of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga is set to continue with a hearing today. Its outcome will be decisive in influencing the country’s stance towards LGBT minorities.
Macedonia backtracks on protection from discrimination for sexual minorities
The Government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia today announced a revised proposal for anti-discrimination legislation that will not refer to sexual orientation in the list of covered grounds.
Deputy Minister for Social Policy Spiro Ristovski confirmed the change from earlier drafts, assuring that lesbian, gay and bisexual people would still benefit from the protection guaranteed to all citizens by the proposed law, under the heading of "other grounds" of discrimination.
The move has angered Macedonian LGBT activists, and came after earlier drafts included sexual orientation in their provisions. The government is understood to have bowed to pressure from national conservative groups, who assimilated anti-discrimination measures to same-sex marriage and adoption.
Michael Cashman MEP, Co-president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights, declared today: "If Macedonia is serious about joining the European Union, it must ensure that its laws match those of the European Union—and that explicitly includes non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. There is no opt-out on fundamental rights."
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-president of the Intergroup on LGBT Rights, argued that the move was "unacceptable coming from a candidate country", and did not comply with EU anti-discrimination standards. She continued: "The government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has to acknowledge that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are protected from discrimination in the European Union. We urge the Macedonian government to reconsider their draft. Otherwise, we call on the Parliament to take a strong and explicit stance for the right to non-discrimination of all Macedonian citizens'—including LGBT people."
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is a candidate country to enter the European Union since 2005. Periodic reports on accession progress include the situation for sexual and gender minorities.
Cecilia Malmström commits to a European Union respectful of fundamental rights
During the hearings of European Commissioner-Designates by the European Parliament, the Intergroup on LGBT Rights will release short bulletins on issues relevant to LGBT rights raised during the top-level interviews of future Commissioners.
Between the 11th and 19th January, the European Parliament is conducting 3-hour interviews with European Commissioner-Designates. This exercise of democratic scrutiny allows Members of the European Parliament to raise issues related to Commissioner-Designates' portfolios, relay civil society's concerns to future Commissioners, and secure commitments from Commissioner-Designates for their five years in office.
Today, the Parliament heard Ms Cecilia Malmström (Sweden), Commissioner-Designate for Home Affairs. Following a question on the importance of EU anti-discrimination efforts, Ms Malmström expressed regrets the horizontal Anti-Discrimination Directive had not yet been ratified by the European Council, and assured that horizontal anti-discrimination efforts would occupy a high place in her portfolio.
Raül Romeva i Rueda MEP, Vice-president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights, declared after the hearing: "We know about the compromise of Commissioner-Designate Malmström on fundamental rights, notably with regards to LGBT rights, and we expect to work closely with her to combat all kinds of discrimination." On anti-discrimination efforts at the EU level, Mr Romeva i Rueda continued: "We appreciated her performance as Swedish Minister for European Affairs during the past Swedish presidency, and we hope she will keep pushing upcoming Presidencies, starting with Spain's."
A final vote on the 2009-2014 European Commission will take place on the 9th February in Brussels.
Štefan Füle commits to a European Neighbourhood Policy in line with EU values
During the hearings of European Commissioner-Designates by the European Parliament, the Intergroup on LGBT Rights will release short bulletins on issues relevant to LGBT rights raised during the top-level interviews of future Commissioners.
Between the 11th and 19th January, the European Parliament is conducting 3-hour interviews with European Commissioner-Designates. This exercise of democratic scrutiny allows Members of the European Parliament to raise issues related to Commissioner-Designates' portfolios, relay civil society's concerns to future Commissioners, and secure commitments from Commissioner-Designates for their five years in office.
Today, the Parliament heard Štefan Füle (Czech Republic), Commissioner-designate for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy; the post is responsible for EU relationships with its Eastern neighbours.
During his hearing, Mr Füle agreed that the EU Neighbourhood Policy should not exist at the expense of EU values. He emphasized that the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms should be at the basis of the European Union's Neighbourhood Policy.
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights, welcomed the Commissioner-designate's stance on fundamental rights. She declared: "I welcome Mr Füle's positive response to my inquiry on the issue of fundamental rights. We took note of his commitment, and MEPs will certainly hold him accountable to it. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration working towards more rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people—everywhere, and especially in the countries covered by the EU's Neighbourhood Policy."
The Intergroup on LGBT Rights will follow future hearings closely. A final vote on the 2009-2014 European Commission will take place on the 26th January in Brussels.
Viviane Reding speaks out against homophobia without committing to action
During the hearings of European Commissioner-Designates by the European Parliament, the Intergroup on LGBT Rights will release short bulletins on issues relevant to LGBT rights raised during the top-level interviews of future Commissioners.
Between the 11th and 19th January, the European Parliament is conducting 3-hour interviews with European Commissioner-Designates. This exercise of democratic scrutiny allows Members of the European Parliament to raise issues related to Commissioner-Designates' portfolios, relay civil society's concerns to future Commissioners, and secure commitments from Commissioner-Designates for their five years in office.
Today, the Parliament heard Viviane Reding (Luxembourg), Commissioner-Designate for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Her portfolio includes key areas for LGBT rights, such as the mutual recognition of same-sex unions across EU countries, and the adoption of a horizontal directive banning discrimination outside of employment.
Referring to same-sex unions, she affirmed that citizens must retain rights acquired in one country wherever they are in the EU. Although Commissioner-designate Reding declared that “homophobia has no place in Europe”, she also avoided responding to specific questions on the rights of LGBT people.
For Sophie In’t Veld MEP, Vice-president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights, “Commissioner-designate Reding spoke out convincingly against homophobia and discrimination, and in favour of recognising same-sex unions.” Yet Ms In’t Veld added, unconvinced: “But she also remained completely silent on what she will do to combat homophobia and discrimination.”
The Intergroup on LGBT Rights will follow future hearings closely. A final vote on the 2009-2014 European Commission will take place on the 26th January in Brussels.
