- Conference
- 2007 National LGBT Conference
- Date
- 26 July 2007
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes:
1.There is a growing climate in various countries, including members of the European Union and/or Council of Europe, for organised opposition to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) pride marches and events;
2.That in some countries, such opposition is being supported by national, regional and/or local government figures and the involvement of far-right groups is increasingly evident;
3.In a number of European cities, authorities have banned demonstrations and prides events by LGBT people and their supporters and participants in Pride events have experienced humiliation, abuse and violence;
4.In some cities, the police have failed to provide adequate protection to participants and in some cases have arrested LGBT people and supporters for defending themselves against violent attack, whilst letting the perpetrators of those attacks go free.
Conference believes that freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights. This is a basic tenet of the trade union movement and of democratic society. If these are successfully denied to one group, often this is followed by further restrictions on others.
Conference therefore welcomes:
A.The expression of serious concerns regarding the violations of the right to freedom of assembly and expression for LGBT people by intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations such as the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and many others;
B.ILGA-Europe’s campaign to mobilise support from Mayors of European cities, as well as cultural, sporting and political celebrities, through its Appeal on Freedom of Assembly and Expression for LGBT people in Europe;
C.The adoption by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe of a “Resolution on freedom of assembly and expression for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered persons”. This states that it is the paramount duty of local authorities not only to positively protect the rights to freedom of assembly and expression, but also to refrain from speech likely to legitimise discrimination or hatred based on intolerance;
D.The UK government’s stated commitment to producing a strategy to promote LGBT rights internationally;
E.The inclusion of LGBT rights on the agenda of the forthcoming UNISON delegation to Poland and of a representative of the National LGBT Committee in the delegation.
Conference instructs the National LGBT Committee to:
I.Continue its work and activities supporting LGBT rights both in the UK and internationally;
II.Work with regional LGBT groups and the TUC LGBT Committee to raise the profile of the issue of attacks on the freedom of assembly and expression for LGBT people, seek the widest support for the ILGA-Europe campaign, and encourage Prides in the UK to promote solidarity action with groups organising Pride events in hostile environments;
III.Continue to work with the National Executive Council and International Committee to develop and promote solidarity action in support of LGBT rights, especially in any international contacts with trade unions in countries where LGBT rights are under attack.