Amnesty International deplores gay pride march ban in Minsk
- 15.05.2010, 13:23
Amnesty International, an international human rights organisation, has called upon the Belarusian authorities to respect rights of sexual minorities.
The statement of the organisation of May 14 declares that.
Amnesty International has exprssed regret about the ban imposed by Minsk city executive committee on "Slavic Gay Pride 2010" planned for May 15, BelaPAN informs.
It is stated in the document that the authorities of the Belarusian capital have banned "Slavic Gay Pride 2010". Its participants planned to gather near the building of Belarusian State Philharmonic Hall and march along Independence Avenue till the building of the National Academy of Science. The organisers of the event were informed about the decision of the authorities by a letter of May 7 signed by the deputy chairman of Minsk city executive committee Mikhail Tsitsyankou. The authorities rationalized the ban by Article 9 of the law "On mass events in Belarus", noting in the letter that "holding mass events is not allowed at the distance less than 200 metres from pedestrian underpasses and metro stations".
Amnesty International reminds the Belarusian authorities that the international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly state that freedom of assembly and expression are applied to all groups including gays, bisexuals and trandgender community (LGBTs). Besides, the right for freedom of assembly and expression is clearly expressed in the Constitution of te Republic of Belarus.
"The Belarusian authorities must demonstrate greater adherence to its human rights commitments," stated John Dalhuisen, an expert of Amnesty International on discrimination in Europe. "The authorities' refusal constitutes a blatant disregard for equality and the full respect of human rights in Belarus".
Amnesty International calls upon the Belarusian authorities to authorise holding such events and that be convinced that their participants would be peacefully exercise their right for freedom of assembly and expression.
