Stop a bill to silence millions! (Important)

Political leaders in St. Petersburg, led by President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin are about to vote on law that prohibits ‘propoganda’ of homosexuality and makes it illegal for any person to write a book, publish an article or speak in public about being gay, lesbian or transgender.

Apparently ‘the fines start at the equivalent of £20 for individual comments and up to £1,000 for organisations that ‘promote LGBT’ culture and issues.’

You don’t need to be a lawyer to see that this is a horrific violation of human rights: freedom of expression and a right to family life. Russia is the signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, yet again politicians choose to ignore it.

As a Russian, I find it hugely embarrassing.

There is a serious problem with discrimination of gay people in Russia as it is. When I was at school, teachers often made really nasty jokes about gay culture so if anyone would be too scared to come out. Even gay grown-ups live in fear of being beaten up and abused.

For girls who are bi-sexual it is a bit easier because it is seen as sexy but anything more ‘extreme’ is considered out of order and something to be ashamed of.

This is without a doubt a leap to re-criminalisation of homosexuality (which only became legal 18 years ago).

Please join the campaign against this http://www.allout.org/en/actions/russia_silenced/taf

We mustn’t let this ‘bill to silence millions’ to pass.

Emergency motion on Human trafficking

I’ve gone through the arguments on the new Directive in my previous post http://olgaivannikova.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/a-call-to-the-liberal-democrats/

Cameron’s comments at PMQs yesterday showed that the current government thinking is not to opt in to this. This may be our only chance to change it. The motion which I drafted up is on the ballot for emergency motions on Sunday.

Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported so far, but now we need to try to make sure that it is picked for Wednesday morning debate.

Ballot papers will be published in Sunday’s Conference Daily, and should be returned to the ballot box in the auditorium between 09.00 and 13.00 on Sunday 19th September. If you are in Liverpool on Sunday please support the fight against human trafficking and tell your friends

The motion itself:

‘Conference notes that on 31st August 2010 the Home Office announced that the Coalition Government will not opt in to the new draft EU Directive on Human Trafficking, which repeals Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA.

Conference notes that the new directive includes a series of measures protecting victims of trafficking, such as non-punishment of victims, measures to provide compensation and medical and psychological assistance.

Conference notes that on 16th June the Anti-trafficking monitoring body, comprising of charities such as Amnesty International, ECPAT UK and Anti-Slavery International described the Government strategy as ‘not fit for purpose’ and potentially discriminatory.

Conference believes that not opting in to the directive will harm international efforts to combat human trafficking.

Conference therefore resolves to:

1. Reaffirm the Liberal Democrats’ long standing opposition to all forms of human trafficking.

2. Call on Liberal Democrat ministers to argue strongly for the Coalition Government to opt in to the new directive.’