Joint Statement Expressing Support for Bucharest Pride Festival

Bucharest, 4 June 2011 – On the occasion of the 2011 Bucharest Pride Festival, we express our support for, and solidarity with, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Romania. We support the right of these communities to use this traditional occasion to march together peacefully and lawfully, in order to raise awareness of the specific issues that affect them.

Human rights — including justice, equality, humanity, respect and freedom of expression — and the rule of law are the foundations upon which democratic states are built. Indeed, international human rights law is grounded on the premise that all individuals are entitled to the same rights and freedoms, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is this respect for fundamental human values that obliges governments to protect all citizens from violence and discrimination and to ensure that all people enjoy equal opportunities.

Some individuals still face discrimination, both systemic and overt, based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Our governments seek to combat such discrimination by promoting the human rights of all people. Everyone, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people should be free to enjoy the rights and freedoms to which people of all nations are entitled.

* The joint statement is issued by the Embassies of Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America.

This year we also received letters of support from Monica Macovei, MEP and H.E. Henri Paul, the Ambassador of France in Romania.