23 Sep Belgrade Pride 2013 was opened with an International Conference
Belgrade Pride 2013 program started with the International Conference on Freedom of Assembly for LGBTIQ population at the Falkensteiner hotel.
On the first day, visitors were addressed by H. E. Michael Davenport, newly-appointed head of the European Delegation to Serbia, Ms. Antje Rothemund, head of the Mission of Council of Europe to Serbia and Mr. Goran Miletic, Programme Director for the Western Balkans, Civil Rights Defenders.
In his opening speech, Mr. Davenport stressed that „freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right essential for democracy and the rule of law, guaranteed b the Constitution of Serbia” and that even the Serbian Constitution Court has found that the prohibition of the Pride Parade is unconstitutional and that the Public Assembly Act of 1992, under which the right to assembly is governed, needs to be brought in line with international human rights standards. In his conclusion, Mr. Davenport stressed that “constitutional rights must be upheld even if it comes with some risks and that punishing those who act in contravention to this fundamental right should be instigated in order to enforce the rule of law”.
Ms. Rothemund added that all States have a duty to protect all protesters, and that human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and that freedom of assembly is “is one of these rights that need to be accepted and respected”. Goran Miletic, on behalf of the Organisational Committee pointed that “not much has improved since last year”. “Although international support has increased, it is not enough to change the willingness of national authorities to change their decision in regards to the freedom of assembly for the LGBTIQ community. In regards to the freedom of assembly the ECtHR has many times stressed that States have an obligation to assure minorities the freedom of assembly, including persons belonging to the LGBTIQ community.
The Conference continued with the session entitled „Freedom of Assembly – globally, regionally, locally“ with Ms. Snjezana Bokulic, Head of the Human Rights department at ODIHR, Ms. Natasa Vuckovic, Chairperson of the EU Integration Committee of the National Assembly of Serbia and Ms. Svetlana Logar, Ph. D, who had presented the latest research from IPSOS Strategic Marketing on public opinion about the Pride. According to this research, about 70 percent of people are not opposed to a peaceful and dignified Pride March.
First Conference day ended with activists from Uganda, Vietnam, Belarus and Canada presenting human rights development in their countries.
Source parada.rs