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homosexual propaganda

Seta and Amnesty Finland: The “homosexual propaganda” law breaks human rights

Demonstration against Russia’s “homosexual propaganda” law on Tuesday in front of Russian embassy (Tehtaankatu 1B), Helsinki.

LGBTI Rights in Finland – Seta and Amnesty Finland
Helsinki

Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland and Amnesty Finland demand the State Duma of Russian Federation to withdraw the proposed article 6.13.1 – also known as the “homosexual propaganda” draft law. The first hearing of the law was supposed to be today, but it was postponed for the second time. On Thursday, January 24, the Russian State Duma will approve a new date for consideration. Seta and Amnesty Finland have long campaigned against anti- LGBTI laws in different parts of Russia that put LGBTI people at risk.

The adoption of the article 6.13.1. would violate the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly of LGBTI people and organizations extensively. On some regional and local levels, such as in St. Petersburg, similar legislation has already increased discrimination and persecution of LGBTI people and their organizations.

The law can be used to ban activities that inform the public about diversity of sexual orientation and gender. Passing the law would put LGBTI human rights defenders at risk.

Seta sent a statement addressed to the speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sergey Naryshkin and reminded that the law goes against the constitution of Russia as well as international human rights agreements.

– Decision makers carry responsibility for severe consequences such as increasing intolerance towards LGBTI people, hate crimes, violence and arbitrary arrests if they vote for this legislation, says Seta´s Chair of the board Juha-Pekka Hippi.

Demonstrators claim that everyone has the right to access correct information about the diversity of gender and sexual orientation as well as the right to be protected against discrimination.

– The law puts at risk not only activities of human rights defenders, but also well-being and lives of LGBT people in general, who will be exposed to even greater violence and discrimination due to institutionalized stigmatization, declares the Russian LGBT Network.

Demonstrations are being held in several countries on Tuesday.

Media contact information:

Juha-Pekka Hippi, Chair of the board, LGBTI Rights in Finland – Seta, +358 50 593 4100

Aija Salo, General Secretary, LGBTI Rights in Finland – Seta, +358 50309 8108

Anu Tuukkanen, Policy Officer, Country issues, Amnesty Finland, +358 40 833 0485

See also: Speech by LGBTI Rights in Finland – Seta´s Secretary General Aija Salo at Vimeo

Seta is a national human rights organization, established in 1974. Seta’s goal is a society where everyone can live equally, free of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Seta is the umbrella organization for 21 LGBTI associations all over Finland. Seta is a member of international LGBTI organizations ILGA-Europe, IGLYO and Transgender Europe.

Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights to be respected and protected. Al´s vision is for every person to enjoy all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

Seta: The federal “gay propaganda” law in Russia has to be turned down

Seta published a statement against the article 6.13.1, the federal anti-lgbt draft law in Russia. The statement is addressed to the speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Sergey Naryshkin.

(Letter in Russian here pdf)

Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland joins human rights organisations around the world in expressing deep concern regarding the proposed article 6.13.1 in the Parliament of Russian Federation, also known as the “homosexual propaganda” draft law.

Seta urges You and all Russian legislators in federal, regional and local levels to protect the human rights of everyone, including LGBTI people, in line with the international commitments of Russia. We stand in solidarity with the Russian LGBTI community and all human rights defenders.

Banning activities that inform the public about diversity of sexual orientation and gender will send the whole Russian and international community an unacceptable signal of intolerance and exclusion. Passing the law would put human rights defenders increasingly at risk. Such a law would not only violate the human rights what comes to freedom of speech, assembly and association of LGBTI people and their allies in Russia but would also violate the right of everyone, including minors, to access correct information about the diversity of gender and sexual orientation.

By making decisions based on wrong information and prejudices, decision makers carry responsibility for severe consequences such as increasing intolerance towards LGBTI people, hate crimes, violence and arbitrary arrests.

On December 19th, numerous protests against the law are organized throughout Russia and Europe. According to Seta’s knowledge, the first reading of the law will be in January 2013.

Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland

Seta is a national human rights organization, established in 1974. Seta’s goal is a society where everyone can live equally, free of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Seta is the umbrella organization for 21 LGBTI associations all over Finland.

Poltavchenko is “Rat of Honour”

Finnish LGBTI organization Seta gives its annual anti-award to Governor of St. Petersburg.

Seta ry 30.6.2012
Helsinki, Finland

Seta awarded today the governor of St. Petersburg, Gergiy Poltavchenko, with Seta´s annual anti-award called the “Rat of Honour”. Poltavchenko received the anti-award because he signed the notorious anti-LGBT law of St. Petersburg in March 2012. Seta´s awards were a part of Helsinki Pride, the biggest LGBT event in Finland.

Seta wants to raise awareness about the human rights situation of LGBTI people in areas close to Finland. The distance between Helsinki and St. Petersburg is four hundred kilometres only.

“Poltavchenko could have refused to sign the law. The law goes against the constitution of Russia as well as international human rights agreements and recommendations, such as the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers recommendation to member states to combat all discrimination against LGBT people. The situation in St. Petersburg is worrying especially as a similar development is spreading elsewhere in Russia” stated Outi Hannula, the chairperson of Seta, in her speech.

Seta has arranged protests and events and written letters to Russian and Finnish authorities against the censorship laws of St. Petersburg and other areas of Russia also before. In April, when governor Poltavchenko visited Helsinki, Seta organized a public demonstration together with Amnesty Finland.

Seta gives the “Rat of Honour” anti-award annually to a person or organisation that has expressed discriminatory opinions about LGBT people or has discriminated against them. In addition, Seta gives a positive award, the “Apple of Good Information”, to a person or organization that has promoted the human rights of LGBTI people. This year, the recipient of the Apple is the Gender equality ombudsman Pirkko Mäkinen who actively and strongly defends the human rights of trans and intersex persons.