Written declaration No. 474 | Doc. 12579 | 04 July 2011

Homophobic speech by members of Moldova’s parliament and intimidation of LGBT human rights defenders

Signatories: Mr Mogens JENSEN, Denmark, SOC ; Mr Mörður ÁRNASON, Iceland, SOC ; Mr Lennart AXELSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Doris BARNETT, Germany, SOC ; Mr Tor BREMER, Norway, SOC ; Mr Michael CONNARTY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Viola von CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Germany, SOC ; Mr Geraint DAVIES, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Jim DOBBIN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Tuur ELZINGA, Netherlands, UEL ; Mr Gvozden Srećko FLEGO, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Paul FLYNN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Pernille FRAHM, Denmark, UEL ; Ms Annette GROTH, Germany, UEL ; Ms Carina HÄGG, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Håkon HAUGLI, Norway, SOC ; Mr Jim HOOD, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Andrej HUNKO, Germany, UEL ; Mr Jean HUSS, Luxembourg, SOC ; Mr Michael Aastrup JENSEN, Denmark, ALDE ; Mr Mats JOHANSSON, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Jaakko LAAKSO, Finland ; Mr Aleksei LOTMAN, Estonia ; Ms Muriel MARLAND-MILITELLO, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Dragoljub MIĆUNOVIĆ, Serbia, SOC ; Ms Ingela NYLUND WATZ, Sweden ; Ms Maureen O'SULLIVAN, Ireland, UEL ; Mr John PRESCOTT, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Andreja RIHTER, Slovenia, SOC ; Mr Indrek SAAR, Estonia, SOC ; Mr Ludo SANNEN, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Christoph STRÄSSER, Germany, SOC ; Ms Tineke STRIK, Netherlands, SOC ; Mr Björn von SYDOW, Sweden, SOC ; Lord John E. TOMLINSON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Nataša VUČKOVIĆ, Serbia, SOC ; Ms Katrin WERNER, Germany, UEL

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

In Moldova a proposal for anti discrimination legislation which includes protection on the grounds of sexual orientation has been withdrawn following opposition in recent weeks by members of parliament. This opposition has all too often been expressed in language marked by homophobia and intolerance, for example, characterising homosexuals as a danger to society, as trying to impose their “abnormal” practices on others, and as a danger to the survival of the family unit.

During this time two human rights defenders working for the rights of LGBT people have experienced intimidation at the hands of members of the public, with violent behavior and attacks on property.

We call upon all Moldovan members of parliament to accept, in accordance with Recommendation No. R(97) 20 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on “hate speech”, that they have a particular responsibility to refrain from statements which are likely to produce the effect of legitimising, spreading or promoting discrimination or hatred based on intolerance, and to recognize particularly that such speech can endanger the safety and well-being of others.