BABELNOR is a network of LGBTQ*-youth
organisations from the Nordic Countries, Ukraine, Belarus and the Balkans. The BABELNOR
workshop - annual event took place in Tirana 25th to 27th
of September 2014 with 28 participants from 13 countries.
The
BABELNOR workshop stands in solidarity with Belgrade pride taking place the 29th
of September 2014. With the message “Pride for everyone” the BABELNOR workshop
points out that expressing our identity as human beings is a fundamental part
of the freedom of expression. The expression of your identity is an inseparable
part of having one.
Creating an
environment where each individual’s rights can be respected and protected is
one of the challenges all contemporary societies in Europe face today. Serbia,
together with the 47 other members of the Council of Europe have signed The
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The rights
of the LGBT(QI)* individuals are still not being protected equally as others by
many member states of the Council of Europe. Therefore now more than ever it is
important for each member to show that they stay dedicated to the core principles
of the ECHR. That all human beings are born with inherent dignity and equal
rights (check).
The unfortunate
events that marked Serbia’s attempts to organize a safe Pride parade clearly shows
that LGBT(QI)* people are not free to express themselves in Serbian society
today. This is in violation with article 11 of the Convention on freedom of
assembly and association which is also in misalignment with the EU-aquis on equality of all its citizens.
- The
Police refrains the right to ban the gay parade at any moment. Therefore, I
call on the citizens to maintain the constitutional order, the peace and
stability, while respecting the right of every citizen, the Minister of
interior of Serbia quoted.
On the
other hand, the Prime Minister announced that he will not show his support on
the streets of Belgrade tomorrow, and that he doesn’t feel the need to court to
anyone, referring to the immense pressure of the international community upon
Serbia to finally protect all of its citizens. - If there will be a parade at
all, those who wish to, may go, that is their right. I won't go, and I don’t
have the need to court anyone, he said.
Providing
stable and peaceful environment in which everyone can practice their rights is
a responsibility that can’t be reduced to simple courtship, that none Member State
can ignore or diminish. Serbian Government must understand that LGBT(QI)*
rights are human rights. Now.
The
BABELNOR workshop asks the government to undertake the necessary measure to ensure
the security and right to freedom of assembly of all its citizens, regardless
of sexual orientation and gender identity.
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