2013 was a year of highs and lows
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regarding LGBT* people’s rights in the regions where Civil Rights Defenders
work. While some countries took two steps forward, it seemed like others took
three steps back. Banned pride parades, draconian anti-gay laws
and hate speech dominated 2013. But there were also glimmers of hope during
an otherwise difficult year.
Western Balkans
Albania
Albania was the shining light for empowerment
of LGBT persons in the Western Balkans. Civil
Rights Defenders and its partners, Aleanca and
LGBT Pro Albania, received assurances from
the government regarding prevention of discrimination. An inclusive hate crime law was passed that prohibits homophobic motivated crimes
and bans the distribution of materials over the
Internet, which advocate violence or prejudice
towards LGBT persons. Authorities also committed to changes in the Family Code where
“Cohabitation as a de facto relationship between
a man and a woman”, will change to “between
two persons”.
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Hate speech and attacks against the LGBT community were prevalent during 2013, and the beginning of 2014 was marked by the presence of
masked intruders who descended upon the Queer
Film Festival, Merlinka, in Sarajevo. Three
people were injured and 20 other participants
were forced to evacuate.
Montenegro
In July, during the Pride parade in Budva, more
than 200 counter demonstrators hurled bottles,
stones and flares at policemen and LGBT activists.
Protestors shouted “kill the gays” and carried banners that read “Only healthy Montenegro”. There
were concerns that violence would continue when
the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, hosted its first
ever Pride parade in October. However, more than
2,000 police protected the parade and numerous
right wing protestors were arrested. This was a
mile tone for the protection of freedom of assemby
s
l
and expression for the LGBT community.
Serbia
Despite months of planning by Civil Rights
Defenders and its partners, authorities banned
the Belgrade Pride parade again this year. “The
banned parade seemed to strengthen the LGBT
community in Serbia,” said Goran Miletic, Programme Director for the Western Balkans at
Civil Rights Defenders and a member of the organising committee. “After the ban we got enormous support from people who are not openly
gay.” In protest, a successful midnight parade was
held. However, hate speech, homophobic graffiti
and physical attacks continue in the country.
East & the Horn of Africa
Uganda
The East & Horn of Africa has one of the most
oppressive LGBT laws in the world. Punitive
conditions exist in all countries in this region.
They range from prison sentences in Uganda to
the death penalty in Somalia. World attention
turned to Uganda after draconian anti-gay legislation was signed into law. LGBT Ugandans can
be jailed for life if they are caught engaging in
homosexual activities. The bill also requires persons in authority, including persons exercising
religious or social authority to report offences
under the Act within twenty four hours or else
face imprisonment for three years or a fine.
Eastern Europe
Belarus
On September 14, Natallia Mankouskaya, one of
the leaders of the Belarusian LGBT-organisation,
GayBelarus, was forcibly taken off a train at the
Ukrainian border and searched.
“The authorities were obviously targeting
GayBelarus’ activists in retribution for the
organisation’s ongoing efforts to exercise its right
to freedom of association,” said Joanna Kurosz,
Programme Director for Eastern Europe and
Central Asia at Civil Rights Defenders.
More than 70 LGBT activists from across Belarus signed an application to register the GayBelarus organisation with the authorities. Its president, Siarhei Androsenka, has had his passport
confiscated twice and was evicted from his apartment. He left Belarus following repeated threats.
Other activists were called in for questioning, had
their belongings searched at the border, and one
member of the organisation was beaten at a police
station.
Moldova
Civil Rights Defenders and its partner Gender
Doc-M in Moldova won a great victory when
freedom of assembly was officially passed into
law in February 2013. This followed 15 years of
struggle where all previous attempts to hold a
pride parade had been banned or hindered by the
authorities.
The first legally sanctioned Pride parade took
place in May in the capital city of Chisinau. EU
officials and foreign ambassadors marched in
support with the police offering protection to the
marchers in what was seen a great leap forward
for LGBT people’s rights in Moldova.
Russia
In late March of 2013, Civil Rights Defenders’
partners Coming Out and the Russian LGBT
Network submitted their complementary reports
to the United Nations Committee on the Rights
of the Child. Their commentary provided the
most recent state report on the implementation
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and
underscored that the Russian Federation completely ignored the existence of people under 18 who
identify as homosexual, bisexual and transgender.
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Anti gay legislation was passed and signed into law
by President Vladimir Putin, banning the promotion of “non-traditional relationships” toward
minors. The law has been criticised as part of a
broader crackdown on Russia’s gay community.
In December 2013, a court in Arkhangelsk found
two LGBT activists in breach of a law against
“propaganda” promoting “non-traditional” relationships to minors. Nikolai Alexeyev co-founder
of the Moscow Gay Pride Movement and a fellow activist Yaroslav Yevtushenko were arrested
and put on trial for picketing in front of the
Children’s Library. These were the first LGBT
activists who were arrested and federally charged
under Russia’s controversial propaganda law.
The organisation Coming Out was instrumental in arranging the international queer culture
festival in St Petersburg, with the support of
Civil Rights Defenders. Cecilia Rosing from Civil
Rights Defenders attended the festival, which
focused on the right to be who you are and
encouraged people to think outside the box.
Coming out highlighted the potential of culture
as a m X[