PES Manifesto

Lesbian, gay and transgender families: civil society conference in Slovenia

Publié lundi 10 mars 2008 à 09h41
par joelld (vu 709 fois et 0 commentaires)

From Tuesday, March 4th to Thursday, March 6th, the NGOs federation ILGA-Europe has organized a conference on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families in Europe. The conference took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in order to deliver a message on the EU agenda during the Slovenia’s Presidency of the EU. ILGA-Europe and its national members pointed out the juridical and social insecurity which is still a very concrete threat for millions of European families and children.

High level exchanges have taken place during three days, with the participation of a number of social researchers, law experts, and delegates of NGOs and trade unions. Rainbow Rose was represented, some of its member associations being also members of ILGA-Europe. The speakers stressed the necessity to address the problems and discriminations LGBT people and their children still face in day-to-day life.

Rainbow Rose wants to make clear that a strong message was sent to national law-makers, who are in the position to facilitate the evolution of civil law on matters such as marriage and civil partnership, as well as adoption and the juridical definition of parenthood in the case of adults who do take care of their children without having a biological link with them. Such evolution are needed by millions of families, whether LGBT or not.

At the same time, Rainbow Rose believes that the institutions of the European Union must deliver. It’s of their responsibility to ensure that the European citizenship and the free-movement of European citizens and workers are given their full dimension. This means that the EU’s task is to make sure each state recognizes the legal couple and parenthood links citizens have gained in other Member States. The EU should also monitor the enforcement of all relevant decisions of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the European Human Rights Court (ECHR) in the equality field.

Rainbow Rose believes that the PES Manifesto should promote the clearest political will to put an end to obstacles put in the life of millions citizens, families and children.

See the conference webpage here.

Tags: discrimination, diversité, droits fondamentaux, égalité, gay, LGBT