■ Jean Lambert MEP:  “I sincerely hope that this is the last time that the European Parliament has to address this issue... ”

LONDON, April 28, 2007  –  As the European Parliament debated the question of homophobia in the EU and, in particular Poland, despite attempts to get the subject off the agenda, UK Green MEP Jean Lambert spoke out against the prominent Polish politicians and ministers making public anti-homosexual statements and even promoting anti-homosexual legislation.

Ms. Lambert, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights, said yesterday she was proud to vote for the resolution against Homophobia but regretted the antagonistic approach taken by some of her colleagues towards this important motion.

“This is the European Year of Equal Opportunities in a Union which prides it self on its commitment to human rights,” she said.

“However we still have certain member states, such as Poland, where the Government has yet to realise what such a commitment means in reality.

“What it means is delivering on equality at work; not using language which incites hatred and attacks on individuals simply because of who they are; respecting the human rights of others, including their right to assembly and to be protected from violence - including state violence.

“I sincerely hope that this is the last time that the European Parliament has to address this issue as I trust that Member States will fulfill their duties under the law and under international convention,” Ms. Lambert concluded.

And UK Labour MEP Michael Cashman, the president of the Parliament’s all-party group on gay and lesbian rights, condemned what he called “Conservative cynicism” after UK Tories sided with the extreme right wingers in the attempt to suppress Wednesday’s debate.

Having failed to thwart the debate, they then feigned indifference and did not participate in the vote that followed, Mr. Cashman pointed out.

“On Wednesday afternoon, the extreme-right Union for Europe of the Nations (UEN) Group attempted to suppress the debate by tabling a procedural motion,” he said.

“Much to the disgust of many members in the chamber, Conservative MEPs chose to support the motion.

“This is just another example of the Conservatives saying one thing, and then doing something completely different,” he said.

“Despite David Cameron’s rhetoric it is clear that the Tories have not changed from the days when they were introducing discriminatory legislation in this country such as Clause 28.”

Mr. Cashman said he was “appalled” to see Tory MEP Philip Bradbourn vote with the far-right UEN Group in Wednesday’s vote.

“I would like to know how he can justify his actions,” he continued.

“Having tried to suppress the debate [on Wednesday], the Conservative whip instructed Tory MEPs to register an abstention on the issue.

“This is typical of the Tories.  Last year they refused to support a motion condemning racist, homophobic and xenophobic violence.  They also failed to support the EU’s DAPHNE programme – a set of measures designed to help the victims of domestic violence and rape."

LINKS

Jean Lambert MEP website
Michael Cashman MEP website (re-launched on May 17,2007)

website

 

Posted: 28 April 2007 at 01:00 (UK time)