Europe urged to maintain pressure to defend LGBT rights worldwide

The Kaleidoscope Trust, which supports gay men and lesbians around the world in the face of prejudice and discrimination, has strongly welcomed today’s defence of human rights for all by the European Union.

The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, today condemned the use of sexual orientation and gender identity as a pretext for serious human rights abuses. She pledged that the EU would continue to offer practical support in defence of LGBTI people around the world and to speak out against abuses.

The Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, Lance Price, said: ‘The European Union is a powerful and influential defender of the principle that human rights are indivisible and must apply to people regardless of their sexual orientation. Cathy Ashton’s record in defending these rights both here in the UK and in Europe has been exemplary. Unfortunately not all international organisations are willing to be as clear and forthright in their condemnation of prejudice and discrimination.

‘The EU’s African, Caribbean and Pacific partners rejected an explicit reference to sexual orientation in talks on a new a partnership agreement. Only when governments are willing to recognise the rights of all their citizens will it be possible to challenge many of the deep-seated cultural and historical objections to homosexuality in so many parts of the world.

‘The Kaleidoscope Trust looks forward to working with the EU and others in an effort to remind governments that prejudice and discriminatory laws not only damage individuals but also make families, communities and countries weaker and not stronger.’