LGBT Rights: AD welcomes The United Nations Declaration

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party welcomed the United Nations Declaration on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity,

Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, Deputy Chairperson and spokesperson for Civil Rights, said that “this is a step forward for Human Rights and for the LGBT community. It is of utmost importance to have an official UN process to certify human rights abuses against gays, including discriminatory laws and acts of violence. In 76 countries world-wide, consensual same-sex relations are illegal, while harassment and discrimination are common in many more. In some societies, such as Uganda and Iran, basic gay rights are still inexistent and being gay can actually lead to death. In Malta, even though homosexuality was decriminalised in the 1970s and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation at work was made illegal following Malta’s EU accession, people with an LGBT identity are still being discriminated in various other areas, most notably when it comes to family policy. Green parties have always been the most progressive parties when it comes to LGBT rights and that the LGBT community can rest assured on Alternattiva Demokratika’s support.”

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that “in the coming months one expects further debates in Maltese society on discrimination in general and LGBT rights in particular. As the only progressive party in Malta, AD will be ensuring that lesbians, gays, bi-sexual and transgender persons will not be excluded from such debates.”