Intergroup calls Janis Smits unfit to Chair Latvian Parliament's Fundamental Rights Committee
18/12/2006
By
ILGA-Europe
Press Release from the Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights in the European Parliament
Following revelations of further homophobic remarks made by Mr. Janis Smits, the new Chair of the Latvian Parliament's Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee, the Intergroup described its dismay. The LGBT Intergroup reminded Mr. Janis Smits that whilst he is perfectly entitled to his personal views, these views should not be used as platforms to infringe upon the rights of other groups. In his role as Chair of a Committee tasked with fundamental rights, his actions should be inclusive of all, and should promote the rights of all with equal strength and motivation. The Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights had previously decried the nomination of Mr. Janis Smits due to his outspoken hatred of LGBT peoples. Mr. Janis Smits has not hesitated to take the lead in legislative manoeuvres designed to limit and undermine the fundamental rights of the LGBT community. Similar acts led to the rejection of Mr. Buttiglione for the post of Commissioner for Justice, Freedom, and Security, the EU equivalent of Mr. Janis Smits' post.
In recent statements to the press, Mr. Smits has expressed his belief that gays should not be covered by human rights law, and that they were sinners.
"Such statements to the press are absolutely unacceptable; Mr. Smits is the leading representative of human rights for his country. Such statements are leading many to question Latvia's commitments to the values enshrined by the European Union's founding treaties. I remind Mr. Smits, human rights are universal and cannot be stripped away from one group or another just because he happens to hold religious beliefs he wishes to universalise," Alexander Stubb, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup and President of the Baltic Europe Intergroup said.
"Mr. Janis Smits, in his new position, is already setting an unacceptable tone for a man of his position," Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup remarked, "Mr. Janis Smits, as a consistent man, should realise that his post requires him not to use his position to raise the media profile of those who hold unacceptable views of the LGBT community."
Mr. John Bowis, a member of the Intergroup and a member of the EPP-ED Christian Right political grouping of the European Parliament, recently visited Latvia as a keynote speaker for the IGLYO Annual Conference taking place last week. He reminded Christians and Europeans like Mr. Janis Smits that their role was not to ostracise the LGBT community, "In many parts of the European Union, LGBT people are not included completely, this is anti-Christian, this is anti-European," Mr. Bowis said. Mr Bowis called upon European Christians to follow Jesus' example and to work against prejudice rather than contributing to it.
ENDS
Board of European Parliaments Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights; Michael Cashman (President), Sophie in 't Veld, Raül Romeva and Alexander Stubb.
For further information on the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights, please visit our website at http://lgbt-ep.eu.
A copy of our press release decrying Mr. Smits' election as Chairman of the Latvian Parliament's Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee is available on our website in our Documentation Centre located at http://lgbt-ep.eu/download.php.
Following revelations of further homophobic remarks made by Mr. Janis Smits, the new Chair of the Latvian Parliament's Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee, the Intergroup described its dismay. The LGBT Intergroup reminded Mr. Janis Smits that whilst he is perfectly entitled to his personal views, these views should not be used as platforms to infringe upon the rights of other groups. In his role as Chair of a Committee tasked with fundamental rights, his actions should be inclusive of all, and should promote the rights of all with equal strength and motivation. The Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights had previously decried the nomination of Mr. Janis Smits due to his outspoken hatred of LGBT peoples. Mr. Janis Smits has not hesitated to take the lead in legislative manoeuvres designed to limit and undermine the fundamental rights of the LGBT community. Similar acts led to the rejection of Mr. Buttiglione for the post of Commissioner for Justice, Freedom, and Security, the EU equivalent of Mr. Janis Smits' post.
In recent statements to the press, Mr. Smits has expressed his belief that gays should not be covered by human rights law, and that they were sinners.
"Such statements to the press are absolutely unacceptable; Mr. Smits is the leading representative of human rights for his country. Such statements are leading many to question Latvia's commitments to the values enshrined by the European Union's founding treaties. I remind Mr. Smits, human rights are universal and cannot be stripped away from one group or another just because he happens to hold religious beliefs he wishes to universalise," Alexander Stubb, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup and President of the Baltic Europe Intergroup said.
"Mr. Janis Smits, in his new position, is already setting an unacceptable tone for a man of his position," Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup remarked, "Mr. Janis Smits, as a consistent man, should realise that his post requires him not to use his position to raise the media profile of those who hold unacceptable views of the LGBT community."
Mr. John Bowis, a member of the Intergroup and a member of the EPP-ED Christian Right political grouping of the European Parliament, recently visited Latvia as a keynote speaker for the IGLYO Annual Conference taking place last week. He reminded Christians and Europeans like Mr. Janis Smits that their role was not to ostracise the LGBT community, "In many parts of the European Union, LGBT people are not included completely, this is anti-Christian, this is anti-European," Mr. Bowis said. Mr Bowis called upon European Christians to follow Jesus' example and to work against prejudice rather than contributing to it.
ENDS
Board of European Parliaments Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights; Michael Cashman (President), Sophie in 't Veld, Raül Romeva and Alexander Stubb.
For further information on the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights, please visit our website at http://lgbt-ep.eu.
A copy of our press release decrying Mr. Smits' election as Chairman of the Latvian Parliament's Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee is available on our website in our Documentation Centre located at http://lgbt-ep.eu/download.php.
