Mozaika media release announcing co-operation with Amnesty International
It is the second year in the row that, upon an invitation from the Alliance of LGBT People and Their Friends “Mozaīka”, the Friendship Days in Riga, Latvia are attended by Amnesty International representatives and activists.Approximately 100 people from 24 countries, including from the CzechRepublic, Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova, Russian, Slovenia, Poland, and Slovakia, will attend the Friendship Days.
Amnesty International Researcher on Europe Anders Dahlbeck noted that the organization stands against discrimination and for observance of human rights regardless of the type of discrimination. “If nurses in Latvia were to call a demonstration, and it would be countered by violent protests, we would also stand for their right to freedom of assembly and expression”.
This week Amnesty International celebrates its 47th anniversary. The origins of the organization are linked with human rights abuses in Eastern Europe. Two of the six human rights cases which marked the beginning of the activities of Amnesty International pertained to political prisoners of communist regimes—that of Archbishop Beran in the Czech Republic and Cardinal Mindszenty in Hungary. The work of the organization does not pertain only to LGBT issues, but encompasses all types of discrimination and promotion of universal observance of human rights. “In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Human Rights Declaration, we would like to place special emphasis on freedom of assembly”, noted Dahlbeck.
Amnesty International representatives also noted that, compared with 2005 and 2006, last year’s proceedings were satisfactory. The Latvian State Police demonstrated preparedness to ensure freedom of assembly of all Latvia’s residents. “We hope that this year’s march will proceed in a peaceful and safe atmosphere. We consider such marches to be celebrations of freedom of assembly and expression which should not take place in the shadow of violence”, said David Diaz Jogeis, Deputy Director of Amnesty’s Department for Europe.
Amnesty International hopes to cooperate with Mozaika in the future as well and is already planning concrete activities for 2008 and 2009.
