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Romania: Romanian version of the Yogyakarta Principles launched in Bucharest
05/26/2009

A Romanian version of the Yogyakarta Principles was launched in Bucharest on May 22, 2009. The launch and accompanying discussion was organized by ACCEPT Romania, a human rights group promoting and protecting the rights of LGBT people, the Romanian National Council on Combating Discrimination, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

Romanian and foreign participants at the event included representatives from government institutions, including the Ministry of Interior and the Ombudsman, NGOs, and foreign embassies, including the Ambassadors of the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Human rights lawyer Iustina Ionescu moderated the discussion, which featured a range of speakers from throughout Europe. Romanita Iordache, vice-president of ACCEPT, explained the legal importance of the Yogyakarta Principles, and Asztalos Csaba, President of the National Council for Combating Discrimination, described the work of the Council to combat homophobia in Romania. Human Rights Watch’s Boris Dittrich noted that, if Romania adopts a current draft law to prevent the recognition of same-sex marriages or civil unions from other EU-countries, then international companies that protect their employees from discrimination would hesitate to invest in Romania. Michael Cashman, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the United Kingdom and chair of the LGBT Intergroup in the European Parliament, emphasized that religious beliefs should be kept private and should not interfere with state affairs. Michel Teychenne, MEP for France, addressed the importance of political leadership in combating prejudice toward LGBT people.

Several speakers said they would use the Principles as a benchmark to assess whether authorities adequately respect and protect human rights related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

The event was part of the 2009 Gay Fest, a weeklong LGBT festival held for the fifth consecutive year. A copy of the Romanian version of the Yogyakarta Principles can be downloaded here; other languages are available at www.yogyakartaprinciples.org

Romania: Lansarea la Bucuresti a versiunii in limba romana a Principiilor de la Yogyakarta

Versiunea in limba romana a Principiilor de la Yogyakarta a fost lansata la Bucuresti la 22 mai 2009. Evenimentul care a inclus si o dezbatere, a fost organizat de Asociatia ACCEPT, organizatie de drepturile omului care promoveaza si protejeaza drepturile persoanelor LGBT, Consiliul National pentru Combaterea Discriminarii (institutie nationala pentru combaterea discriminarii) si Comisia Internationala de Drepturile Omului pentru Gay si Lesbiene.

Intre participantii romani si straini s-au aflat reprezentanti ai autoritatilor publice din Romania, cum ar fi Ministerul de Interne si Avocatul Poporului, ONG-uri si ambasade straine, inclusiv ambasadorii Republicii Cehe, Olandei si Suediei.

Dezbaterea a fost moderata de Iustina Ionescu, avocat de drepturile omului. Romanita Iordache, vicepresedinta a Asociatiei ACCEPT, a explicat relevanta legala a Principiilor de la Yogyakarta; Asztalos Csaba, Presedinte al Consiliului pentru Combaterea Discriminarii, a vorbit despre activitatea Consiliului si despre homofobie in societatea romaneasca; Boris Dittrich, director pentru advocacy, programul LGBT al organizatiei Human Rights Watch, s-a referit la cariera sa de membru al Parlamentului Olandei si initiativa sa legislativa cu privire la casatoriile intre persoane de acelasi sex in Olanda. Boris Dittrich a mentionat ca firmele internationale, care isi protejeaza angajatii impotriva discriminarii, vor ezita sa investeasca in Romania, daca va fi adoptat proiectul de lege care interzice recunoasterea casatoriilor sau parteneriatelor civile intre persoane de acelasi sex incheiate in alte state membre ale UE, proiect aflat in prezent pe agenda Parlamentului Romaniei. Michael Cashman, membru al Parlamentului European (MPE) din Marea Britanie si Presedinte al Intergrupului LGBT al Parlamentului European, a subliniat ca credintele religioase trebuie sa ramana in viata privata si sa nu influenteze statul de drept. Michel Teychenne, MPE din Franta, s-a referit la rolul important al clasei politice in schimbarea prejudecatilor cu privire la LGBT.

Unii participanti au declarat ca vor folosi Principiile ca referinta cu privire la drepturile omului, orientare sexuala si identitate de gen.

Evenimentul a facut parte din Gay Fest 2009, festival de o saptamana organizat pentru al cincilea an consecutiv. Varianta in limba romana a Principiilor de la Yogyakarta se afla alaturat.