Press release – 715(2006)

Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis in reaction to the election of the new head of the Latvian parliamentary human rights committee

Strasbourg, 21.11.2006 - “I am very concerned about reports that Latvian parliament has elected a leading anti-gay activist as the head of its Human Rights Committee. The parliamentarians who made this decision should realise that what is at stake is the international reputation of Latvia. The best way to clear the air would be for the Latvian parliament to ratify Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees that no-one shall be discriminated against on any ground by any public authority. This general prohibition of discrimination extends to gays and lesbians as much as religious, ethnic or any other minority groups”.

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