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(Make Lomncane),

MBABANE – “Everybody should be free to be who they are and love who they choose! No one should be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Human rights are for all!”

This is the strong message that has been conveyed by the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Eswatini Dessislava Choumelova yesterday when meeting with members of the LGBTQI community in Eswatini at the EU offices in Mbabane.

May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) and the EU reaffirmed its strong commitment to respecting and protecting the full and equal enjoyment of human and fundamental rights for all, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people.

As an expression of this commitment, the EU Delegation to the Kingdom of

Eswatini hoisted the rainbow flag alongside the EU flag in front of its premises in Mbabane.

“Solidarity, diversity, equal rights: These words are key today and we draw the attention of government, policymakers, religious leaders, social movements, the general public and the media to the violence and discrimination that LGBTQI people still face in many parts of the world, including Eswatini.

Unprovoked

Conflicts such as Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine have a severe impact on members of the LGBTQI community, who are targeted by Kremlin’s heinous disinformation campaigns,” reads a statement from the EU in part. The EU leads by example, showing solidarity locally and abiding by our commitments internationally. It is believed that six out of 10 of the world’s safest countries for the LGBTQI people are EU Member States.

“We are working hard to advance the rights of the