European Parliament says candidate countries must offer gays protection

[ccharles000]

The European Parliament has said that Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey must prove they can offer "genuine protection" to gay people in order to join the European Union.

The three countries have been criticised for their records on LGBT rights and reports given to the European Parliament reminded the candidates that protections such as anti-discrimination laws were "non-negotiable".

Croatia was criticised for its 2009 de facto ban on Zagreb Pride and the government's failure to implement anti-discrimination laws.

In Turkey, the country's penal code raised concerns for "allowing for the systematic persecution" of gay, bisexual and trans people, while Macedonia was told to cover sexual orientation and gender identity in its anti-discrimination laws.

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, co-president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights, said "I am happy that our amendments in favour of LGBT rights in the progress reports for Macedonia and Croatia were adopted by the European Parliament.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/02/12/european-parliament-says-candidate-countries-must-offer-gays-protection/

[Withywindle]

1. Good for them!

This is the kind of thing that international law and treaty organizations are meant for, IMO. Good for the European Parliament for putting their foot down on bigotry.

[Swede]

2. Equal rights mean nothing,if some are more equal than others.

Good for the EP.