Council of Europe condemns violence against LGBTI people

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Council of Europe condemns violence against LGBTI people

The violence unleashed against LGBTI people, human rights defenders and journalists in Banja Luka last Saturday is a worrying and dangerous development and a violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. The authorities must investigate and condemn the incident, and prosecute those responsible, said today Dunja Mijatovi Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.

A film screening event, organised by LGBTI groups, was planned for Saturday 17 March in the city. The police issued a ban on threats from violent groups within a few minutes of the event.

The threat of violence against participants to the event is not a sufficient reason to ban assemblies. It engages the authorities in a positive obligation to ensure that participants can hold their event and exercise their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression without fear of violence or reprisals, whether from state or non-state actors. Member states of the Council of Europe have an obligation to implement human rights without discrimination. All the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have the same human rights and must be able to exercise them equally. This means that LGBTI people, like everyone else, must be able to assemble peacefully, free from violence and hate speech.

Allegations that the police didn't intervene when participants were threatened and attacked by violent groups must be investigated. The authorities must hold those responsible accountable if the allegations are confirmed. They should give clear instructions to the police to ensure the effective protection of LGBTI and other events in the future.

Those who oppose LGBTI rights don't honour their commitment to human rights in general. Their actions run counter to our common European values of dignity, equality, and respect for the rule of law. It is important for the authorities to take decisive action to condemn hate speech and intolerance, and to make clear that LGBTI people are an integral part of society, and that their human rights must be upheld. I stand in solidarity with the LGBTI community in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Vanja Stoki and all other journalists and activists fighting for their rights. I will continue to follow the developments.