11/06/2013 Equality and Non-Discrimination
Strasbourg, 11.06.2013 – “The Duma has today turned prejudice against LGBTs into law,” said Hakon Haugli (Norway, SOC), rapporteur on ‘Tackling discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity’, commenting on the Duma’s unanimous adoption of the the law banning propaganda for “non-traditional sexual relations”.
“This law is in breach of freedom of expression and will particularly affect the people it is supposed to protect: young people, especially LGBTs. I regret that the Duma went ahead with the parliamentary reading in the knowledge that the Venice Commission would consider an opinion on this kind of legislation on 14 June”.
“This is a bad day for the respect of human rights in the Russian Federation,” concluded the rapporteur.
The Assembly will hold a debate on 27 June during its next plenary session, on the basis of Mr Haugli’s report. The French Minister of Women’s Rights, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, will address the Assembly in the context of this debate.