As members of the international community, we consider advocating for respect for universal human rights to be a fundamental aspect of our work, our mission, and our world. We affirm the principles of the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which includes the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to advance the human rights of all persons.
Among the fundamental rights of any EU citizen, including LGBTI persons, the Freedoms of Speech and Assembly, including the right to assemble in pursuit of a common cause, have a crucial role. We therefore support the rights of LGBTI and non-LGBTI persons to march together without interference during the upcoming Pride March in Kosice on September 26, the ultimate goal of which is to demonstrate that all members of a society – including LGBTI individuals – are valued and respected. We similarly support the rights of Slovak citizens to peacefully assemble anywhere in the country on the issues they hold dear.
Acknowledging the difficulties still faced by the LGBTI community, we recognize the efforts of the Slovak authorities in ensuring that fundamental rights are protected for everybody, including the LGBTI community, as set in the Human Rights Strategy recently adopted.
We believe that everyone, including LGBTI people, should enjoy the rights and freedoms laid out not only in EU guarantees, but also in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We encourage everyone to respect these principles and to ensure the human rights of LGBTI people are protected and respected fully and equally.
Signatories:
Embassy of Australia
Embassy of Austria
Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium
Embassy of Croatia
Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark
Embassy of Finland
Embassy of France
Embassy of Germany
Embassy of Ireland
Embassy of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
Embassy of the Republic of Malta
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway
Embassy of Spain
Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden
Embassy of Switzerland
Embassy of the United Kingdom
Embassy of the United States of America
Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia
