Eastern Europe update: Russia arrests blood ban protesters; EU court scolds Poland… again.
by robfojtik | September 28th, 2007 |RUSSIA
In Moscow Wednesday, six LGBT demonstrators were fined for holding an unauthorized public event in what organizers say was an entirely lawful protest of Russia’s ban on gay blood donors. Led by Alexey Davydov, the activists gathered outside the Ministry of Health and Social Development two weeks ago to protest the 2001 law prohibiting homosexuals from donating blood.
In response to the growing HIV/AIDS crisis in the former Soviet power, government officials attempted to slow the rapidly growing infection rate by placing restrictions on blood donations. According to Russian government sources, an estimated 200,000 HIV-positive people are living in the country, while UN estimates are much higher, between one and two million.
No charges were brought in relation to the blood ban, and activists say they will add this rights infringement to their mounting appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Moscow Gay Pride events for the last two years have been marred by nationalist counter protesters and police indifference, which parade organizers intend to bring before the European court.
FRANCE
The European Court of Human Rights has denied Poland’s appeal over the banning of 2005 pride events in Warsaw. Then mayor of the capital city, President Lech Kaczynski forbade the parade, only to be told by the European Court that such actions are illegal. Unfortunately, little can be done in the European system to prohibit these kinds of human rights violations other than publicly embarrass and pressure the recent EU member state to follow international guidelines.
Speaking from Strasbourg, Michael Cashman, president of the EU parliament’s gay caucus “Intergroup” said of the ruling, “It is yet another vindication of the brave efforts in favour of human rights that are being undertaken by Polish LGBT human rights defenders. 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.”
We’ll see…
2 Responses to “Eastern Europe update: Russia arrests blood ban protesters; EU court scolds Poland… again.”
Funny how Poland wants its cake and eat it too. They want all the economic advantages of being an EU member but when it comes to modernizing their social policies in everything from LGBT rights to wetlands/environmental protections, all of the sudden they’re crying foul that the EU is bullying them into things they don’t wanna do. Get with it Poles…either you’re an EU member or not. You can’t have it both ways.
By RaleighRob on Oct 1, 2007