‘Equality for all’

In de aanloop naar de Europese verkiezingen van 4 juni bloggen komende en gaande Europarlementariërs, actieve kiezers en andere betrokkenen mee op Wie Is Er Bang Voor Brussel. Deze week VVD-Europarlementariër Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

29 april

Interviews, bijeenkomst na bijeenkomst, een berg post en een eindeloze hoeveelheid mail. Er lijkt geen einde aan te komen.

De vele twitter-, hyves- en facebook-berichten over Koninginnenacht lijken tot een andere wereld te behoren. Dit gaat (en helaas) volstrekt aan me voorbij dit jaar. Jammer.

Nu mijn collega’s in Moldavië lastig vallen. Van 7 tot 9 mei vindt daar de Gay Pride plaats. Vorig jaar werd de Pride in Chisinau wreed verstoord door een grote groep agressieve idioten. Van politiebescherming was géén sprake. Na overleg met COC Nederland bericht ik mijn collega’s aldaar dan ook als volgt:

Dear colleagues,

GenderDoc-M is organising a Pride in Chisinau Moldova on 7-9 May 2009. A peaceful parade of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) with just one objective: equality for all.

Although the Moldovan law on freedom of assembly guarantees peaceful assembly to everyone, it should be noted that the 2008 Pride was violently disrupted. And, while having an obligation to guarantee the exercise of the right and the safety of participants, the police did not intervene at any stage thereby allowing rival aggressive groups to do whatever they liked. Independent human rights observers witnessed it all. Clearly, this is contrary to fundamental rights as we understand them in Europe. All human beings must be treated equally and the rights of every citizen must be respected.

As a member of the European Parliament I promote understanding, non-discrimination and celebration of the human individual regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, belief, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation. It is not up to me to make judgements on what one believes, but I can never endorse views which promote intolerance and misrepresentation.

The events in 2008 and other factual data show that that LGBT people are suffering severe and unacceptable levels of discrimination and harassment within Moldova. I would therefore like to ask you to protect the LGBT community against violence and hatred. Indeed, I would be very grateful if you could inform me of the steps taken that are being taken to guarantee the safety of the participants of the 2009 Moldova Pride

Many thanks in advance. And please, if you have any question or remark - do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert
Member of the European Parliament
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE/VVD)