No cultural, traditional, religious values can justify hate crime and violence against LGBT people – Council of Europe participates in IDAHO Forum in Montenegro
The Council of Europe representatives are among key participants in the IDAHO Forum 2015 “Ending hate crime and violence” organised by the Government of Montenegro, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia celebrated on 17 May.
Snezana Samardžić-Marković, Director General of Democracy of the Council of Europe, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum today saying that hate crime and violence against LGBT people are among the most persistent human rights challenges, with homophobic and transphobic incidents, the so-called “corrective rapes”, forced marriages, physical and emotional violence, family and community rejection, bullying and discrimination still being a sad reality in Europe. A sound legal and policy framework is needed to effectively counter these crimes.
Today in Budva, the Council of Europe has also launched a new publication on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on sexual orientation and gender identity. The new publication looks at the key articles of the Convention under which violations of LGBT rights may fall, and also analyzes solutions applicable at the European level, and those which are decided largely by the states, e.g. related to adoptions and marriages. The publication is meant for human rights professionals, researchers and students.
Speech by Snežana Samardžić-Marković
Извор: Совет на Европа – 11.05.2015
