Open letter to Lithuanian Parliament: Reject bill targeting LGBTI people
The Parliament of Lithuania will vote tomorrow on a bill that seeks to introduce fines for any public denigration of “constitutional family values.”
According to the proposal, actions as carrying out public speeches, demonstrating goods, posters, slogans and audio-visual materials, as well as organizing public events such as Baltic Pride would result in an administrative fine which can get as high as €1800.
The Intergroup wrote to the Parliament today, urging them to reject the bill.
To: Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas; Members of the Seimas
Concerns: Reject bill targeting LGBTI people
Brussels, 11 November 2015
Honourable Speaker,
Honourable Members of the Seimas,
We are writing to express our grave concern about a legislative proposal presently considered in the Seimas. It concerns a proposed amendment to the Code of Administrative Violations (Bill XIP-4490(3)), which discriminates against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. The final vote is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
As fellow law-makers and fellow Europeans, we urge you to reject this bill.
According to the bill, carrying out public speeches, demonstrating goods, posters, slogans and audio-visual materials, as well as organizing public events, which “denigrate” “constitutional family values”, would be made punishable with an administrative fine ranging from €300 to €900. In case of a repeated violation this may be increased to €1800.
We wish to emphasize that this is an unacceptable breach of fundamental rights, and stands at odds with European values of freedom, non-discrimination and equality as enshrined in Article 2 TEU, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and Lithuania’s obligations under European and International law.
Not only does the bill infringe Lithuanian citizens’ right to freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of media particularly in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, we also worry that it poses a serious threat to Lithuanian citizens’ freedom to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority (Articles 10 & 11 ECHR). Furthermore, for its discriminatory content against LGBTI people, the bill violates Lithuania’s obligation to prohibit discrimination as enshrined in Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 14 of ECHR and Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Back in 2013 the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has already clearly stated that statutory provisions prohibiting so-called ‘homosexual propaganda’ are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and international human rights standards.
We hope the Seimas will look into the above issues as a matter of priority and adopt all necessary measures in order to respect and uphold fundamental rights, including the right to non-discrimination, the right to information as well as the right to freedom of assembly and association.
Yours sincerely,
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Greens/EFA
Daniele Viotti MEP, S&D
Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, ALDE
Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP, EPP
Tanja Fajon MEP, S&D
Ian Duncan MEP, ECR
Isabella Adinolfi MEP, EFDD
Malin Björk MEP, GUE/NGL
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