Пълен протокол на разискванията

Четвъртък, 16 януари 2014 г. - Страсбург

12.3. Неотдавнашни действия за инкриминиране на ЛГБТИ

  Der Präsident. − Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über sechs Entschließungsanträge zu den jüngsten Maßnahmen zur Kriminalisierung von LGBTI-Personen⁽¹⁾(2014/2517(RSP)).

  Raül Romeva i Rueda, author. − Mr President, all human beings are born free and equal, in dignity and rights; all states have the obligation to prevent violence and incitement to hatred based on individual characteristics including sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. This is why it is so important that as many as 76 countries still consider consensual activities between adults of the same sex a crime and five maintain the death penalty for such activities.

Consensual acts between people of the same sex are punished by 14 years’ imprisonment in Uganda and by seven years in prison or the death penalty in 12 states under Sharia law in Nigeria. This is why, in that resolution, we heavily condemn the adoption of ever more repressive laws against LGBTI persons and reiterate that sexual orientation and gender identity are matters that fall within the remit of the individual’s right to privacy, as guaranteed by international law and national constitutions.

We call on those 76 countries to stop criminalising consensual acts between adults of the same sex, and we particularly call on the President of Uganda to refrain from signing the anti-homosexuality bill into law and on the President of Nigeria to refrain from signing the same-sex marriage prohibition bill into law. But we also call on the Commission and the Council to include an explicit mention of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation in the next revision of the Cotonou Agreement, as this Parliament has frequently demanded.

  Charles Tannock, author. − Mr President, the extremely sad truth is that, while gay rights are improving across the European Union, much of the world appears to be retreating from this agenda and actually stepping up discrimination against LGBT people. It is deeply ironic that the anti-gay laws in India and parts of Africa are colonial era statutes introduced by Europeans, who themselves long ago repealed them in their own countries.

Gay people have lived in every culture throughout history, and governments must understand that this is a basic element of human sexuality. Governments, of course, have the right to make their own laws, free from outside interference, but they do not have the right to criminally prosecute and persecute innocent people who simply wish to lead alternative private lifestyles. We must therefore do all that we can to support the LGBT communities and to work with our partners around the world, particularly with reference to the recent bills before the Ugandan President and in Nigeria to criminalise homosexuality there, to encourage changes to these rather regressive and unpleasant laws.

  Marietje Schaake, author. − Mr President, while already facing multiple challenges in most countries in the world, LGBTI people have recently been faced with a wave of laws criminalising their identity, speech and behaviour – in other words, restricting their human rights. It is all the more disturbing that in this Parliament it is still difficult to get a number of Members to condemn the threats to LGBTI peoples’ human rights at all. I believe that is the shame of Europe today.

The fact that an even greater number of Members in this House is reluctant to condemn Russia and its stance on LGBTI people during the Olympics is equally disturbing and disappointing, especially in the face of so many concerns that our citizens relay to us. When governments like that of my home country, the Netherlands, show their true colours by sending the most prominent delegation possible to attend the Winter Olympics, let us clearly say: Mr Putin, being gay is not a choice, and speaking out about it is not propaganda. You should know this all too well. The Olympic Committee already regrets choosing Russia for this Winter Olympics, and I can say I too am quite sorry.

I believe that this House and all of us individually must make sure that we are part of tilting the balance of respect for the rights of LGBT people to the progressive side. That is a responsibility we share, because LGBTI peoples’ rights are human rights which we must safeguard.

  Véronique De Keyser, auteure. − Monsieur le Président, soixante-dix-huit pays dans le monde ne reconnaissent pas encore les droits des gais et des lesbiennes. Sept d'entre eux punissent ces orientations sexuelles de la peine de mort. Toutefois, en Afrique, le fait mérite d'être relevé, l'homosexualité entre adultes consentants est légale, au Burkina-Faso, au Bénin, au Tchad, en République centrafricaine, au Congo, en RDC, en Guinée équatoriale, au Gabon, en Guinée-Bissau, en Côte d'Ivoire, à Madagascar, au Mali, au Niger, au Rwanda et en Afrique du Sud.

Ces avancées sont le fruit d'un long travail de sensibilisation à la tolérance et au respect des droits fondamentaux des homosexuels que nous entendons bien poursuivre. Trois pays aujourd'hui nous causent du souci: l'Ouganda, le Nigeria et, d'une autre manière, la Russie, qui interdit aujourd'hui toute propagande de l'homosexualité. Le Nigeria et l'Ouganda ont signé et vont signer des lois qui sont de véritables appels à la haine et la délation de l'homosexualité et à sa criminalisation.

À ce propos, nous demandons aux autorités européennes de se servir avec intelligence et tact de la révision de l'accord de Cotonou pour rendre contraignant le respect de l'orientation sexuelle. Comme je l'ai dit, c'est le respect d'un droit fondamental que la gauche défend – tout en sachant d'ailleurs qu'il y a autant d'homosexualité à gauche qu'à droite et que seule parfois la visibilité diffère dans un champs ou dans un autre.

  Alda Sousa, Autora. − Senhor Presidente, na Índia revê-se a Constituição para criminalizar a homossexualidade, no Uganda aprova-se mais uma lei homofóbica em que os reincidentes terão prisão perpétua, e o Senado nigeriano proíbe o casamento entre pessoas do mesmo sexo e ainda proíbe a existência de organizações LGBT.

Na Rússia ilegalizou-se a possibilidade de realizar qualquer manifestação ou defesa pública da causa LGBT, abrindo ainda mais o campo à extrema-direita para continuar a escabrosa caça aos homossexuais. No Estado espanhol a extrema-direita faz também caça aos homossexuais para os humilhar e torturar, enquanto sadicamente gravam os eventos e publicam nas redes sociais.

Em Portugal, neste momento, a direita parlamentar organiza-se para referendar o direito à coadoção. As famílias LGBT só o poderão ser se a maioria hetero assim o desejar. Ao ponto a que o mundo chegou! Violência, preconceito e ódio, em nome da ignorância e da indiferença. 238 transexuais assassinados em 2013. Pena de prisão por atos homossexuais. Recusa de tratamento médico. Casamento entre pessoas do mesmo sexo, nem pensar. Coadoção, nem pensar. Adoção, impossível. Referende-se tudo, diz a direita.

É absolutamente indispensável rejeitar o preconceito e o obscurantismo medieval e reconhecer a ideia tão simples de que somos todos e todas iguais. A ideia de que alguém possa decidir sobre a família dos outros é inaceitável. Porque é que a felicidade das famílias LGBT pode incomodar outros? Em Portugal, como na Europa e no resto do mundo, é preciso rejeitar a fobia LGBT.

Não há direitos a dobrar, mas também não há direitos pela metade. Nem menos nem mais: direitos iguais.

  Cristian Dan Preda, Autor. − Domnule președinte, Grupul PPE este împotriva oricărei forme de discriminare, fie ea pe baze etnice, de rasă sau de orientare sexuală. Convingerea noastră e că drepturile omului sunt universale. Cu toate acestea, nu am semnat rezoluția comună referitoare la subiectul pe care îl discutăm acum, pentru că ni s-a părut că ea e mai degrabă orientată de o intenție electorală, și nu legată de o urgență presantă, așa cum s-a întâmplat în alte cazuri. Suntem, însă, ca și colegii noștri din celelalte grupuri politice, îngrijorați de ceea ce se întâmplă în Uganda, Nigeria, India sau Rusia.

Cerem președintelui ugandez să abroge paragraful 415 din Codul Penal al acestei țări, care face din relațiile sexuale între persoanele de același sex un delict. Cerem, de asemenea, președintelui Nigeriei să abroge secțiunile 214 și 217 din Codul Penal nigerian, care se raportează în același fel la relațiile dintre persoane de același sex. Apreciem inițiativa guvernului indian de a solicita Curții Supreme să își revadă sentința referitoare la paragraful 377 din Codul Penal indian, care interzice homosexualitatea.

  Seán Kelly, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, thankfully, within Europe we do not discriminate against people based on sexual orientation. I think attitudes are improving constantly so that people are judged on their values and characteristics, rather than their sexual orientation. We must always work to spread those values across the world, in general. But actually we see situations getting worse, particularly – as has been highlighted – in Uganda and Nigeria, where LGBTI people are being criminalised.

Certainly we must use every influence we can to get those laws repealed. We have a certain amount of power, through the help we give to many of these countries, to ensure that that actually becomes the situation. Within Europe, we have Russia: a modern superpower, but a modern superpower with an outdated, narrow-minded attitude to sexuality. We can see by the laws that they are passing, particularly under Mr Putin. Certainly what they are trying to do at the Winter Olympics is despicable. I commend countries which do not accept this and which ensure that people will be going to the Olympics from all classes of society.

  Ana Gomes, em nome do Grupo S&D. – Senhor Presidente, a recente criminalização de pessoas LGBTI na Nigéria, Uganda, Índia e também na Rússia, com severas sentenças de prisão previstas, constituem ameaças gravíssimas a direitos humanos básicos como o direito à vida, à liberdade, à privacidade, liberdade de expressão e desenvolvimento da personalidade. Trata-se de uma ostracização iníqua da minoria LGBTI e de todos os seus apoiantes, pessoas que já são gravemente discriminadas, naqueles países e noutros, a vários níveis, dificultando ainda mais o combate ao VIH/SIDA. A União Europeia e os Estados-Membros devem usar todos os canais possíveis, incluindo fóruns bilaterais e multilaterais, para condenar com veemência a aprovação destas medidas e deixar claro que as relações bilaterais com estes países terão de ser revistas e serão afetadas.

Gostaria de referir ainda a frustração que sinto quando vejo leis como estas serem aprovadas em Estados Parte do Acordo de Cotonu, nossos parceiros privilegiados, levando-me a questionar a utilidade destas relações avançadas, designadamente no que respeita a direitos humanos.

Peço por isso à Comissão que inicie o processo de revisão do acordo, tendo em conta as exigências do Parlamento Europeu.

  Phil Bennion, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Mr President, I strongly welcome this resolution, given the very worrying trend of the criminalisation of LGBTI people around the world. It is horrifying that seven countries still have the death penalty in place as punishment for consensual activities between adults of the same sex. 78 countries consider it a crime.

I read something from Mr Cashman this morning that questioned the relevance of the Cotonou Agreement. We have to remember that this partnership is aimed at reducing and eradicating poverty in Africa, so I do not believe scrapping the agreement is a solution. However, the European Commission does need to do much more, not only through pressure in diplomatic and trade relations – and it should then use agreements such as Cotonou to leverage that pressure – but also through capacity-building and development aid projects.

One example that we have in Birmingham, from Birmingham LBGT, is toolkits for schools to prevent prejudice and discrimination in this respect. The European Commission needs to follow such examples and develop similar projects for the developing world.

  Marije Cornelissen, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, right now all eyes are on the Olympic Games in Russia – quite rightly so – but meanwhile the situation is also worsening on other continents.

In Uganda, where a month ago the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was adopted, I had the privilege of meeting some of the activists from that country, who are among the bravest people that I know. They pleaded desperately for our help. In Nigeria, where the Senate adopted a bill to criminalise all LGBTI activities and relations, we can still prevent that.

In India, a Supreme Court ruling has made homosexuality a crime again. I had hoped that the kind of development we have seen in India over the last decade would, logically, go hand in hand with more respect for human rights. But that does not automatically happen.

The EU still has a lot to do itself to further the human rights of LGBTI people, but we have enshrined equality in our Treaties. We have a duty to do all we can to help those who are oppressed. The worth of the EU does not lie primarily in its single market or its economy; it lies in its values. Our values of equality need to guide us in our relations with countries like Uganda, Nigeria, India and, definitely, Russia.

I call on the EU institutions to do all in their power to decriminalise homosexuality around the world and to further the cause of equal rights.

  Philip Claeys (NI). - Voorzitter, als voorstander van het traditionele gezin en als vader van twee jonge kinderen stoor ik mij soms aan de opdringerige manier waarop sommige LGBTI-groepen tewerk gaan. Bijvoorbeeld in het onderwijs, elke vorm van voorbehoud hiertegen wordt algauw weggezet als homofobie. En dat is een term die ik afwijs.

Want laat ons duidelijk zijn, het is een schande dat in het jaar 2014 mensen omwille van hun geaardheid nog worden gecriminaliseerd en vervolgd. In meer dan 70 landen is homoseksualiteit een misdaad. Het gaat vooral om Afrikaanse en Islamitische landen. Het heeft geen enkele zin om the inconvenient truth weg te moffelen.

De vele collega's in dit Parlement die zich laven aan politieke correctheid en cultureel relativisme zouden zich dringend hierover moeten bezinnen, in plaats van schijnheilig krokodillentranen te plengen en dan verder hun wereldbeeld ongewijzigd te laten. Het is de eerste stap in de richting van een echte aanpak van de problemen.

  Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (S&D). - Panie Przewodniczący! W 78 krajach na świecie dobrowolne akty seksualne pomiędzy osobami dorosłymi tej samej płci uważa się za przestępstwo. W siedmiu z nich jest ono karane śmiercią, w pozostałych więzieniem.

Osoby z grup LGBT są bardzo często dyskryminowane, padają ofiarami przemocy w wielu częściach świata. Niepokoją niezwykle represyjne ustawy przeciwko członkom tej społeczności uchwalone w ostatnim czasie np. w Ugandzie, Indiach i Nigerii.

Prawa człowieka są powszechne i nienaruszalne, dlatego muszą być chronione i gwarantowane bez względu na orientację seksualną danej osoby czy jej tożsamość płciową. Unia Europejska, walcząca u swych podstaw o bezwarunkowe poszanowanie praw człowieka, powinna zrobić wszystko, co w jej mocy by chronić i wzmacniać zasadę niedyskryminacji ze względu na orientację seksualną. Komisja Europejska, Służba Działań Zewnętrznych oraz państwa członkowskie muszą brać pod uwagę prawa człowieka także w relacjach z państwami, których problem ten dotyczy i które są często stronami umów z Unią.

  Michael Cashman (S&D). - Mr President, the increasing criminalisation of LGBTI people is reprehensible. During the last 48 hours in Nigeria, up to 12 people have been arrested in their homes simply for being gay. They are the sons and daughters of ordinary men and women, dragged away to face time in prison – simply for being gay. Mr Bennion, last June this House questioned the relevance of the Cotonou Agreement and its human rights dialogue paragraphs. These new laws are an unfortunate testimony to Cotonou’s impotence, because there is absolutely no dialogue on the rights of LGBTI people. It is high time to evoke Article 96, which foresees an exclusion procedure in cases of grave human rights breaches when all other solutions have been adopted.

There are no other options. We must show that we take these grave, systematic human rights abuses seriously. Therefore, the Commission must initiate a third revision which meets our demands and start reflecting on our relationship, after the ACP Cotonou Agreement, with the ACP. Finally, let me say this, Mr President: history shows us that if we sacrifice the rights of …

(The President cut off the speaker)

Catch-the-eye-Verfahren

  Mitro Repo (S&D). - Arvoisa puhemies, ihmisen ja elämän pyhyys on koskematon ja rikkomaton. Kaikilla valtioilla on myös velvollisuus estää yksilön ominaisuuksiin, kuten seksuaaliseen suuntautumiseen ja sukupuoli-identiteettiin perustuva väkivalta, kaikenlaisen vihan lietsominen ja leimaaminen.

Samaa sukupuolta olevien aikuisten vapaaehtoista seksuaalista kanssakäymistä pidetään kuitenkin vielä rikoksena kymmenissä ja kymmenissä maissa. Tällaisista rikoksista voidaan langettaa jopa kuolemanrangaistus. Viimeksi tällainen perustavanlaatuinen ihmisoikeuksia loukkaava laki on hyväksytty Ugandassa ja Nigeriassa. Myös Venäjällä on hyväksytty laki, jolla kielletään epämääräinen ”homoseksuaalinen propaganda”.

Poliittiset ja uskonnolliset johtajat pyrkivätkin usein pelottelemaan kansalaisia ja rajoittamaan heidän oikeuksiaan täysin kyseenalaisilla tavoilla. Valitettavasti kyseisissä yhteiskunnissa ovat myös samalla lisääntyneet seksuaalivähemmistöihin kohdistuneet väkivallanteot.

Hyvät ystävät, meidän on kohdeltava toisiamme ihmisinä ja vertaisina. Meidän on puolustettava jokaisen ihmisen oikeutta ihmisarvoiseen elämään ja omaan identiteettiin.

(Ende des Catch-the-eye-Verfahrens)

  Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the Commission. − Mr President, the EU shares the concerns expressed by Parliament with regard to the violation of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. As recent examples show, issues of gender identity and sexual orientation continue to be used as a pretext for serious human rights violations. LGBTI people are still subject to persecution, discrimination, ill-treatment and violence in many parts of the world.

Around 80 states still criminalise same-sex adult relations, the latest example of a country introducing repressive anti-LGTBI legislation being Nigeria. A number of states even impose the death penalty, and recently we have also seen worrisome examples of re-criminalising consensual same-sex relationships between adults. We want to be clear: this is incompatible with international human rights law and we have an obligation to act on it. It also applies to laws that criminalise public discussion and/or expression of homosexuality. These are an unacceptable limitation to the freedom of expression, association and assembly.

As you know, on 24 June 2013 the Council adopted guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by LGBTI persons. These are at the core of our human rights policies and provide different tools as part of the EU’s external action, such as procedures by EU delegations and statements by the High Representative/Vice-President including, for example, in June on the adoption of the ‘anti-propaganda law’ in Russia, in December on the ruling of India’s Supreme Court re-criminalising homosexual acts, on 20 December on the Anti-homosexuality Bill in Uganda, and yesterday on the signature of the same-sex marriage bill in Nigeria.

LGBTI rights are also raised in political and human rights dialogues with third countries, including Russia and Nigeria, and we continue to support civil society, also through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. A new EUR 5 million call for proposals to promote and protect LGBTI persons’ rights was launched in August 2013 and will be concluded in 2014.

We are well aware that the promotion of human rights on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity can lead to sensitive discussions and tensions in our relations with third countries. However, this does not justify silence where one should speak out, and we will not stay silent.

With regard to the suspension of Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, I think the Commission’s position at this moment is that we should explore all other possible ways of influencing developments before coming to very-last-resort and nuclear options.

  Der Präsident. − Die Aussprache ist geschlossen.

Die Abstimmung findet heute im Anschluss an die Aussprachen statt.

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