Council of Europe speaks out against continuing gay discrimination (Enfield Liberal Democrats)

Enfield Liberal Democrats <info@enfieldlibdems.org.uk>

Council of Europe speaks out against continuing gay discrimination

January 27, 2010 11:00 AM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is to debate and vote today on a report on equal rights for Europe's LGBT community. The report includes recommendations for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships and the adoption of children in homosexual relationships.

MEP for London Sarah Ludford, who is Vice Chair of the Liberal Democrat LGBT group (DELGA) and an active member of the European Parliament lesbian & gay rights intergroup, said:

"This is an important step towards really implementing the equal rights and opportunities embedded in the European Convention on Human Rights. It is disgraceful that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people across our continent continue to face deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination despite nearly 60 years of European human rights measures. If we can't fix bigotry at home, we can't fight it effectively in the wider world."

"Areas the Parliamentary Assembly wants addressed include legal recognition of same-sex relationships and partners' 'next of kin' status, and the right for same-sex couples to be joint guardians and adopt each other's children. These are very important issues with sensible solutions. The EU, which represents the most 'advanced' 27 states of the Council of Europe membership, should also be looking seriously at what it can do to make progress on them."

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe is a 47-country international organisation that works in support of human rights and the rule of law, including through its European Convention and Court of Human Rights. It is distinct from the 27-member European Union although they regard each other as 'sister' organisations. The Council of Europe has a parliamentary assembly, made of national MPs from all the member states, that debates and votes on resolutions.