No to discrimination against LGBTIQ persons - EU
MAY 17 is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT).
IDAHOT was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex persons and all other persons with diverse sexual orientations, gender identity or expressions, and sex characteristics.
The date was not randomly chosen. On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organisation (WHO) decision removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders.
The European Union (EU), which brings together 27 member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden), stands up for the human rights of LGBTIQ/LGBTIQ+ persons.
Discrimination
We are currently seeing a clear backlash against the human rights of LGBTIQ/LGBTIQ+ persons, with sharp increases in hate speech and discrimination.
Equality and non-discrimination are part of our core values, as emphasised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Treaties, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The EU acts to defend these values and make them a reality.
The theme of IDAHOT 2023 is ‘Together always – United in Diversity’, in line with the EU’s motto ‘United in Diversity’.
For the European Union, all human beings are free and equal. Everyone has equal rights and should have equal opportunities to contribute and to participate in public and private life; free from violence, free from hate, free from trolling regardless of one’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics.
Our existing internal and external policies stress non-discrimination and address multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.
The LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020-2025 sets out a series of measures to step up EU’s non-discrimination action, to mainstream LGBTIQ equality into all EU policies, legislation and funding programmes and to amplify the voices of LGBTIQ people both within and outside the EU’s borders.
Globally
The EU is a strong defender of human rights of LGBTIQ/LGBTIQ+ persons globally.
In external action, the European External Action Service launched in February 2023 the Agenda for Diversity and Inclusion– a comprehensive strategy covering all grounds of discrimination and bringing together both internal and external aspects of diversity and inclusion at a time when hard-won advances for LGBTIQ/ LGBTIQ+ communities around the globe are increasingly under threat.
The power of solidarity, allyship and community across national borders, and movements has never been more important.
Between January 2020 and December 2022, approximately 850 defenders of the rights of LGBTIQ/
LGBTIQ+ persons worldwide received support from the EU.
There is no room for criminalisation and dehumanisation. As EU, we work tirelessly to protect and promote human rights, so that all individuals around the world, whether inside or outside the EU, and regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics are treated equally, with dignity and respect.
The EU has been a reliable partner for Eswatini since independence, in 1968. Last year, I was happy to meet representatives of various organisations in the country advocating for equal rights for the LGBTIQ people.
Experiences
They shared with me their concerns and their hopes, their respective experiences and their views on the way forward. Furthermore, the Delegation of the European Union was a guest of honour at the 2022 Pride event in Manzini.
The European Union is aware of a pending Supreme Court ruling on the registration of a non-government organisation (NGOs) defending the rights of the LGBTIQ.
Over the years, we have learnt that the emaSwati are open-minded and tolerant.
It is my hope that, in its wisdom, the supreme jurisdiction of the country will uphold the constitutional right of these emaSwati to freedom of association.
This will also enhance social inclusion of LGBTIQ persons, break down barriers, cast aside stigma and allow them to contribute to the country’s advancement towards a free, prosperous, democratic and equal society.