As of June 5th, 215 Socialist, Socialdemocrat and Labour candidates, candidates for the Party of European Socialists, in almost every of the 27 member states signed the ILGA-Europe’s European Parliament Elections Pledge. The ILGA-Pledge calls (future) members of the European Parliament to promote equality and to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

]]> http://www.queermatters2009.eu/?feed=rss2&p=235 http://www.queermatters2009.eu/?p=224 http://www.queermatters2009.eu/?p=224#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:00:14 +0000 Michael http://www.queermatters2009.eu/?p=224

Pia Locatelli, President of the Socialist International Women
24th May 2009

Dear Friends and Comrades,

I cannot be with you for this important event, for this initiative, which was organized with the support of myself and others. It is an initiative which is of absolute importance in Italy. It is important that it takes place in Italy because, even if Italy is less problematic than countries such as Poland, it also has a large problem in comfortably accepting the topic of the equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and intersex people in Europe.

Naturally, Socialists, and myself as a Socialist woman can only support your initiative and your engagement to guarantee non-discrimination. Europe has a solid history of engagement from this perspective, because article 13 of the treaty, which is to some extent a Constitution for us, precisely empowers us against discrimination which is based on age, gender, sexual orientation, belief and religion.

Hence it is a duty for everyone to respect this principle but unfortunately this is not always the case. I have fought all my life to limit, reduce and eventually eliminate discrimination between men and women, because I consider that gender discrimination is a type of discrimination which crosses over to all others, even multiplying some effects. It is for this reason we speak about multiple discrimination.

So, even if I am not present among you, I make a point of sending all my support, because there are situations which one must support absolutely. For example: as socialist women, we fought so that all families are supported, because for us, the definition of family is a place of affection, and it is for this reason we have always supported the members of Rainbow Rose and all LGBT people who must be able to exert their rights, rights which belong to all families.

And so, I am at your side, we all stand together to fight this wound which is discrimination. I work for you, and I will continue to work for you. I hope to be re-elected to the European Parliament to continue to direct it with conviction, towards influencing the future European commission, so that the directive which the Parliament has approved, which is still in a phase of negotiation, finishes the procedure quickly and becomes a constraining directive, while being transposed to all EU law.

I wish you every success in your work, I am sure that it will be good, and I am sure that this event will mark an important precedence for a future without discrimination in Italy and Europe.

Several political issues will be at stake during the next European Parliament mandate. The European Socialists support the project of a new directive to protect all the citizens against discriminations. They are fighting to achieve the mutual recognition, between all Member States, of all same-sex marriages, civil partnerships and LGBT families. They are mobilised against homophobic and transphobic hate crimes and violences, inside the European Union and in the frame of its foreign policies.

In the last terms, the European Parliament has been, among the European institutions, the more committed to the protection of LGBT Rights. Rainbow Rose stands for a left-wing majority in the European Parliament to achieve new progresses of Fundamental Rights in all Europe, and in all the fields of social life. In the national Parliaments as well as in Europe, all the LGBT Rights-friendly policies have been adopted thanks to the Commitments of the Socialists.

Over fifty years ago, the European Community set out in its founding treaties that it should combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. However, we have not yet achieved this as discrimination persists in our diverse societies.

In the last years, European citizens have expressed their pressing concerns regarding unemployment, workers’ rights, access of women to the labour market, and social justice. Shaping a better European Union is the very core of the socialists’ and social democrats’ actions. We believe that the European Union can and should create a New Social Europe.

While Europe is suffering the worst recession since the 1930s, and unemployment is rising at alarming rates, some may ask: is it really time to think about new laws and policies to tackle discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people? Shouldn’t we have other priorities than gender equality? Should we really concentrate our efforts, in 2009 and in the next years, on the full implementation of Article 13 provisions against all discriminations?

The answer is quite simple. Among the European population, the social groups most likely to be discriminated against, and all those who may have been socially weakened by such discriminations, are the first victims of social exclusion. Discriminated groups are also the first potential victims of the lack of solidarity policies under right-wing governments.

We socialists and socio-democrats are ready to fight discriminations by all means.  Tackling discrimination and fighting for equal protection in the present economic context is at the core of our agenda and work. The crisis increases the need to go ahead with the PES anti-discrimination agenda!

Therefore, we will strengthen anti-discrimination legislation to ensure equal treatment on grounds of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief, taking into account multiple discriminations. We believe that any adopted new European legislation on discrimination should benefit all discriminated groups and ensure equal rights and treatment for all. This commitment is part of the PES Manifesto and our political will.

So is our proposal to ensure equal treatment for all EU citizens, without discrimination, when they move around the Union by moving towards recognition in all EU countries of marriages, partnerships and parental rights legally recognised in one of the Member States.

We aim to build up a strong centre-left majority in the European Parliament for a New Social Europe for the benefit of Europe’s citizens. We, the European socialist, social democratic, labour and democratic progressive family, are ready, together with other progressive forces, to provide real answers to people’s concerns and aspirations in this new phase based on what we have heard from citizens throughout our work. We are the change for a better Europe to guarantee the real implementation of the four freedoms of Europe.

LGBT Activists and social-democratic speakers from many European countries (Greece, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Romania, Portugal, Spain, France, Belarus) will gather to deliver a message of equality and commitment to the promotion of LGBT Fundamental Rights, and to secular politics.

See the programme in English

Il programma in italiano

Le programme en français

At 12.00, statements by the two Italian PES member parties will be released. Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the PES President, and Zita Gurmai, PES Women President, will send a statement to enhance the Socialists’ commitment to our fights!

• LGBT Rights at stake in Europe!

The European election is a crucial time for the improvement of LGBT Fundamental Rights in Europe. The European Parliament has been, in the last years, a Human Rights-friendly institution, as well as a LGBT-rights watchdog. It is extremely important that the political direction of the EU remains as progressive as possible, since it is the greatest help for LGBT-rights activists in many policy fields and in many Member States.

• Tackling discrimination: Let the European Union deliver!

Many political issues will be decided during the next term of the European Parliament and of the new European Commission. The Council will have to adopt a new directive to deliver equal protection against all discriminations. Progresses must be made to achieve mutual recognition of registered same-sex marriages, partnerships and LGBT families in all Member States – as a condition for EU-wide free movement. New policies should be implemented to tackle homophobic and transphobic violence and hate crimes. The EU foreign and neighborhood policies should include means to improve rights standards.

• Socialists in Europe, the backbone of progressive majorities!

In national Parliaments as well as in the European institutions, no progressive policies and no LGBT-friendly legislation have been adopted without the commitment of the Socialists. Steps in the promotion of equal rights for LGBT people are always and everywhere the result of coalitions where the PES member parties are central in building successful coalitions.

Rainbow Rose believes that only a lef-wing majority can further strenghten the role of the Parliament. This is why we call on voters to choose the Party of European Socialists (PES) and its member parties, in all EU member States.

The PES Manifesto brings to European politics clear commitments to equality. Rainbow Rose especially supports its proposals 26 and 27, to support in all EU institutions a legislation against all discriminations, and to open the way to mutual recognition of all registered civil partnerships, marriages and parenthood rights by the Member States!

Rainbow Rose will campaign hard. A Campaign meeting for LGBT rights and secularism is scheduled in Rome, May 24th, at the International Women’s House.

We also use a campaign document that is available here in many European languages:

• Rainbow Rose campaign tract (Ireland)
• Rainbow Rose campaign tact (UK)
• Tract de Rainbow Rose (France)
• Tract de Rainbow Rose (Belgium)
• Rainbow Rose campaign tract (Germany)
• Rainbow Rose campaign tract (Finland)
• Rainbow Rose campaign tract (Spain)
• Rainbow Rose campaign tract (Portugal)
• Rainbow Rose campaign tract (Italy)
• Rainbow Rose campaign tract (Netherlands)

• Read the Manifesto in French
• Read the Manifesto in German
• Read the Manifesto in Spanish

The PES Council adopted the Socialist Manifesto for the 2009 elections to the European Parliament: “People First, a New Direction for Europe”. Rainbow Rose has been proactive during the months of consultation and preparation of this political programme for the European Union.

We are now glad to see that our voice was heard, and that the PES, conform to its historical commitments, will be fighting in 2009 for equality and diversity!

In order to protect all citizens’ rights, Proposal 26 of the Manifesto, referring to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, supports the enhancement of EU anti-discrimination legislation to ensure equal treatment on the grounds of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief. This is a strong commitment to the achievement of the comprehensive directive that all progressists have been asking for in the last years.

Proposal 27 of the Manifesto ensures that the PES will be united to move towards mutual recognition, in all EU countries, of marriages, partnerships and parental rights legally registered in one of the member States. This is a concrete and ambitious change that is strongly needed to fully implement the freedom of movement. Too many LGBT citizens and families will be facing dramatic problems till such a measure is implemented.

This report includes various recommendations to EU institutions and the member States. Eight of these recommendations are aimed at improving gay and lesbian rights to make them match all EU citizen’s rigths. You can read the complete text of these recommendation at the end of this article.

The Parliament asks all authorities to fight discrimination, hate speeches and violence; it welcomes the publication of the 2008 Fundamental Rights Agency report “on homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation”, that also includes a chapter on the discriminations on grounds of gender identity; it asks member States and the European Commission to work urgently on the mutual recognition of existing same-sex civil partnerships and marriages, and urges them to prevent all discrimination against couples on the ground of their sexual orientation. The European Parliament also calls on all relevant authorities to grant asylum to persons fleeing persecutions in their country of origin.

A Rainbow coalition majority for the Catania report!!

Less than 5 months before the next European Parliament elections, it is important to notice how the Catania report was voted. The clear majority it achieved was formed by an alliance all left-wing and liberal groups of the Parliament. The majority of the right-wing MEPs didn’t vote the resolution. The Parliament published the detailed results of the final vote, including the position of all present MEPs.

• 177 out of 183 members of the PES Group (Party of European Socialists) voted the resolution: the Socialists are the backbone of the Catania report’s majority;

• 36 out of 37 members of the EUL Group (European United Left) voted the resolution;
• 37 out of 38 members of the Greens Group voted the resolution;
• 72 out of 82 members of the ALDE Group (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) voted the resolution;

• Only 68 out of 263 members of the EPP Group (European People’s Party, conservative) voted the resolution. 142 of them voted against the Catania report, and 53 abstained. The EPP proved once again to be a major brake when it comes to Human Rights in general, and LGBT rights in particular.

Read the European Parliament resolution of 14 January 2009 on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union 2004-2008.

The European Parliament’s recommendation on sexual orientation and fundamental rights (quotation from the resolution):

• “71. Takes the view that discriminatory comments against homosexuals by religious, social and political leaders fuel hatred and violence, and calls on the relevant governing bodies to condemn them;
• 72. In this regard, wholeheartedly endorses the French initiative, which is supported by all the Member States, for the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality, as in 91 countries homosexuality is still a criminal offence, and in some cases even a capital offence;
• 73. Welcomes the publication of the first thematic report by the Agency, drawn up at Parliament’s request, on “homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the EU Member States” and asks the Member States and EU institutions to urgently follow the Agency’s recommendations or state their reasons for not doing so;
• 74. Reminds all Member States that, in line with ECtHR case-law, freedom of assembly may be exercised even if the opinions of those exercising that right go against the majority, and that, accordingly, a discriminatory ban on marches and any failure to meet the requirement to give appropriate protection to those taking part breach the principles guaranteed by the ECtHR, by Article 6 of the EU Treaty on common EU values and principles, and by the Charter;
• 75. Calls on those Member States who have adopted legislation on same-sex partnerships to recognise provisions with similar effects adopted by other Member States; calls on those Member States to propose guidelines for mutual recognition of existing legislation between Member States in order to guarantee that the right of free movement within the European Union for same-sex couples applies under conditions equal to those applicable to heterosexual couples;
• 76. Urges the Commission to submit proposals ensuring that Member States apply the principle of mutual recognition for homosexual couples, whether they are married or living in a registered civil partnership, in particular when they are exercising their right to free movement under EU law;
• 77. Calls on those Member States who have not yet done so, and in application of the principle of equality, to take legislative action to overcome the discrimination experienced by some couples on the grounds of their sexual orientation;
• 78. Calls on the Commission to make sure that Member States grant asylum to persons fleeing from persecution on the grounds of their sexual orientation in their country of origin, to take initiatives at the bilateral and multilateral level to stop the persecutions of persons on the basis of their sexual orientation, and to launch a study on the situation of trans-sexual people in the Member States and candidate countries, with regard inter alia to the risk of harassment and violence;”

To celebrate the 20th International Day against AIDS, we choose to emphasize the need to maintain and improve our common commitment to the fight againt HIV/AIDS.

The fringe meeting was introduced by the President of the PES Women, MEP Zita Gurmai, and moderated by Rodrigo Martin Galan and Joël Le Deroff, from Rainbow Rose.

• Socialist women, homosexuals and transsexuals considered of crucial relevance to speak together, as women and LGBT people are among the most vulnerable groups of the epidemic in the world. And also, as a consequence, among the main HIV fighters.
• We also share the deep conviction that HIV fighting is an issue closely linked to non-discrimination, non-stigmatization, and shared responsability. That is why it is so important to define a Socialist strategy in this field.

The following speakers were invited to explain their associative, medical and political experience:

• Florence MANGUYU, a paediatrician, represented the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), a NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Anna ZAKOWICZ, an academic and a writer, represented the European Aids Treatment Group (EATG), an advocacy organization based in Brussels.
• Arwa MEIJER represented the European Programme Associate GCM - Global Campaign for Microbiocides, an organization based in Brussels.
• Pilar ESTEBAN represented the HIV/AIDS Group of the Spanish Socialist Party PSOE.