■ Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London:  “... an unacceptable attack on universal human rights in clear defiance of national and international human rights law.”

LONDON, April 19, 2007  –  The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has this morning called for the Chisinau City Council to allow the Gay Pride Parade in the Moldovan capital.

Last week, the Chisinau authorities banned the all public events, including the march, at the Pride which is scheduled to be held between April 27 and 29, despite a Moldova Supreme Court decision in February that the City Council had acted illegally in banning last year’s public events.

“I strongly condemn the decision by Chisinau City Council to ban the city's gay pride march,” Mr. Livingstone said.

“This is an unacceptable attack on universal human rights in clear defiance of national and international human rights law.  It also contravenes a recent decision by the Moldovan Supreme Court, which robustly defends the right of all Moldovan citizens, including LGBT people, to freedom of expression, assembly and peaceful protest.

“It is completely unacceptable that violent threats to public safety, including anti-gay counter-demonstrations by religious and far right organizations, can override basic human and civil rights,” he continued.

“The Moldovan authorities control security and their police forces have a responsibility to take all steps to protect citizens from violence and ensure that demonstrators are able to exercise their right to peaceful protest.

‘The European Parliament has made clear that lesbian and gay people should be treated with respect, dignity and protection”.

“Moldova is clearly not doing this.  I urge Chisinau City Council to comply with national and international law, reverse this ban and ensure that the march can take place safely and without obstruction.”

LINK

Moldova Pride website

 

Posted: 19 April 2007 at 14:00 (UK time)