Greens/EFA MEP calls for more protection to Prides in Ukraine

Brussels, 11 September 2020 - MEP Francisco Guerreiro (Greens/EFA) calls on the Ukrainian government and the police leadership to ensure the protection of LGBTI demonstrators in the upcoming Prides in the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhia.

Bearing in mind that, on 31 August 2020, peaceful demonstrators were the target of violent attacks by the far-right group “Tradition and Order” and that, despite the 16 arrests reported, “civil society claims that police forces were slow to act and did not ensure the protection of protesters in due time and with sufficient capacity”, several MEPs co-signed this letter so that this will not be the case in the referred marches in Ukraine.

The signatories recall that, in 2010, a landmark document adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe recommended that Member States should ensure that “law enforcement authorities take appropriate measures to protect participants in peaceful demonstrations in favour of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons from any attempts to unlawfully disrupt or inhibit the effective enjoyment of their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”.

Prides are “a pillar for social visibility and they are equally political demonstrations during which the community voices its concerns, highlights its achievements and gives the opportunity to its members to demonstrate in favour of equality,” the MEPs add.

Read the full letter below.

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