STRASBOURG, September 27, 2007  –  Euro MP Michael Cashman has welcomed the decision of the European Court of Human Rights to uphold its previous verdict against the Polish Government and the ban by the Warsaw city authorities of the city’s Gay Pride in 2005.

The ban came while Lech Kaczynski was mayor of Warsaw.  Later that year, he was elected President of Poland.

“This ruling can now be added to a growing list of actions being undertaken by the European institutions to defend the fundamental freedoms of not just Polish LGBT individuals, but of all European individuals,” Mr. Cashman, president of the Parliament’s gay and lesbian rights ‘Intergroup’,  said this afternoon.

“The ruling highlights the importance of continued British membership and active participation in the European institutions.  As it has shown many times before, the European Union and the Council of Europe are both highly capable bulwarks of values that are dear to every British citizen.”

Tomasz Szypuła from Campaign Against Homophobia, one of the five individuals who took the case to Strasbourg, told UK Gay News this afternoon that “we are very happy, especially now, when we know that EuroPride2010 will be in Warsaw”.

Mr. Cashman highlighted that the victory was that of the Polish LGBT associations who had the courage to stand up to their government.

“It is yet another vindication of the brave efforts in favour of human rights that are being undertaken by Polish LGBT human rights defenders,” he said.

“I applaud their courage and their resolve and call upon the Polish Government, once and for all, to end their discrimination of the LGBT community or face the consequences of their behaviour unbecoming of an EU Member State.”

Last May, Mr. Cashman highlighted how “extremely pleased” he was by the initial ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.

“It is a vindication of everything that we have been saying about the actions of the Government of Poland against the fundamental freedoms of Polish LGBT men and women,” he commented at the time of the initial ruling.

“Their actions were rewarded, and in doing so have become shining examples of what it is to be a human rights defender in 21st Century Europe,” he said.

Vice presidents of the ‘Intergroup’ called the verdict “a victory on the long road to equality”, while Sophie in ‘t Veld had added that, “ ...the judgement, however, extends to all local authorities in the Member States of the Council of Europe who must now abide by the fundamental principles of non-discrimination and freedom of assembly.”

SEE ALSO

Kaczynski’s Ban of Warsaw Gay Pride in 2005 Violated Euro Human Rights – Court.  The then Mayor of Warsaw, Lech Kaczynski, who is now President of Poland, violated three Articles of the European Convention of Human Rights when he banned Warsaw Gay Pride in 2005, the European Court of Human Rights ruled this morning.   (UK Gay News, May 3, 2007)

LINKS

website

Kampania Przeciw Homofobii (Campaign Against Homophobia) website - in Polish and English.

 

Posted: 27 September 2007 at 16:00 (UK time)