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| Picture taken by Andy Stoll (about the picture: Pro Democracy Protests on July 2007 in HongKong) |
Written by Sabina Strîmbovschi, Geopolitics.ro
For many of us, democracy embodies the political system that brings stability and prosperity to the nation-state and fulfillment to its citizens. It's the form of government which guarantees the separation of powers, national sovereignty, equality of all before the law, as well as the possibility to act as their own volition. Far from being considered an infallible political system, Winston Churchill argued that 'democracy is a bad political system, but the best mankind has yet invented'.
In most cases in history, democracy has been chosen and implemented in the countries in which totalitarian regime has dominated the political life of a state for a long time. This is also true for Moldova which, after a period of almost 100 years under the Soviet Union and after eight years under the 'patronage' of the Communist Party, has seen the democracy implemented successfully in the country.
A first change in this respect took place in April 2009 when the citizens, dissatisfied with the situation in their country, rebelled in the street. This moment was an end for the Moldovan society and was also a new beginning. It was the historical moment when the light at the end of the tunnel appeared in Moldova as well. Thus, after a long period of silence and obedience, the Moldovan people expressed themselves through protests their aversion to the former government, calling out their wish for a democratic government, where freedom, equality before the law, transparency, tolerance, equal rights and opportunities to prevail from now on. Although this was the choice of a majority guided by the conviction that democracy will bring prosperity and absolute freedom, some social and religious activists, as well some policy makers remain reluctant even now when there's any mention of bills to combat discrimination of Roma minorities, Muslims and more importantly, acceptance and integration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender social groups (LGBT). And to regulate this important aspect of Moldovan civil society, the international community has intervened through various means, communicating to the political leaders the importance and necessity of adopting anti-discrimination laws, if democracy and EU integration is truly the government's long-term priority.
At the same time, the requirements of the international community are legitimized by the fact that Moldova is a member of the Council of Europe, the United Nations, and this status involves not only financial support and assistance from organizations, but also carrying out the obligations set in the treaties they are part of.
Although the bill against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation was filed in the Parliament in February 2011, due to the opposition of members of social and religious movements and some policy makers, the law was not adopted.[1] Therefore, this minority continues to be deprived of the rights which are normally respected and stipulated by the Constitution in a free, democratic country. In addition, recently, in some cities of Moldova, several activists went on the streets to support stereotypes of LGBT groups, Roma and Muslim minorities, [2] to express their position against the adoption of anti-discrimination law. However, these actions have raised warning signs among international organizations, mainly among the United Nations representatives working in Chisinau.
The reason why the UN representatives didn't remain indifferent lies in the fact that the objectives of the organization are based on concepts that, as a priority, promote the fundamental human rights and, where appropriate, seek to resolve issues of discrimination, homophobia, xenophobia..., and this situation is currently present in the Moldovan society. Following the events, on February 10, 2012 a program called 'For unity in action: The UN-Moldova Partnership' has been signed for the period of 2013-2017. Through this program of cooperation worth $ 217 million, are to be supported and developed priority areas for the state's prosperity, where democratic governance, justice, equality and human rights occupy a prominent place. [3]
Important to remember, in this regard, is the remark of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, who said in a meeting of the senior UN Officials that 'no personal opinion or religious belief, no matter how deep or widespread, can justify depriving a person of its rights' [4] And here i'm referring to the aversion of the Metropolitan Church of Moldova, who is outraged by the requests made by the UN to adopt anti-discrimination law. Moreover, Bishop Vladimir believes that the acceptance and integration of these minorities would lead to the ruin and weaken of the Orthodox faith. [5] It is a tough battle but the recommendations of international institutions is pressing more and more on the Government to reaffirm its commitment to the human rights and take proactive measures to ensure diversity and equal dignity to all. This project will be completed and implemented as soon as possible, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, Iurie Leancă, [6] taking into account the fact that the anti-discrimination law is an essential criterion for Moldova to be accepted in the European Economic Area and to enjoy other significant benefits worldwide.
The main obstacles in adopting this low come from the dominant position of the Orthodox Church and the misinformed people, who built their defensive attitude towards LGBT groups based on prejudice and not on their own experience. Many argue that sexual orientation is a disease that lies from a mental or emotional disorder and this can be changed even by psychiatric treatment. Furthermore, they support the idea that access to accurate information about homosexuality and living together with such people could also affect our sexual orientation. They're unfounded stereotypes which need to be destroyed by a constructive information campaign of the society, where the misconceptions that lead both homophobic activists and the Orthodox Church of Moldova to gain new dimensions, worthy and true for a democratic state.
I conclude this article with the perfect words of Mahatma Gandhi, who believes that 'through democracy, new opportunities are given both to the weakest and to the strongest' and in a truly democratic state there is no room for discrimination.
____________________________________________________________________________
References:
1. Gonţa, Valeriu Gay în Moldova: Societatea noastră nu este gata să accepte diferite tipuri de dragoste, 16.03.2012, found at http://social.moldova.org/news/gay-in-moldova-societatea-noastra-nu-este-gata-sa-accepte-diferite-tipuri-de-dragoste-229090-rom.html
2. ONU: Guvernul trebuie să-şi asume angajamentul pentru diversitate, 12.03.2012, found at http://discriminare.md/eveniment/onu-guvernul-trebuie-sa-si-asume-angajamentul-pentru-diversitate/
3. Naţiunile Unite şi Guvernul Republicii Moldova au semnat un nou program de cooperare, found at http://www.un.md/news_room/pr/2012/undaf/index_ro.shtml
4. Organizaţia Naţiunilor Unite susţine drepturile persoanelor LGBT, 09.03.2012, found at http://www.darkq.net/stiri/organizatia-natiunilor-unite-sustine-drepturile-persoanelor-lgbt/
5. Biserica ortodoxă simte că pierde teren, 13.03.2012, found at http://discriminare.md/discriminarea-in-moldova/biserica-ortodoxa-simte-ca-pierde-teren/
The reason why the UN representatives didn't remain indifferent lies in the fact that the objectives of the organization are based on concepts that, as a priority, promote the fundamental human rights and, where appropriate, seek to resolve issues of discrimination, homophobia, xenophobia..., and this situation is currently present in the Moldovan society. Following the events, on February 10, 2012 a program called 'For unity in action: The UN-Moldova Partnership' has been signed for the period of 2013-2017. Through this program of cooperation worth $ 217 million, are to be supported and developed priority areas for the state's prosperity, where democratic governance, justice, equality and human rights occupy a prominent place. [3]
Important to remember, in this regard, is the remark of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, who said in a meeting of the senior UN Officials that 'no personal opinion or religious belief, no matter how deep or widespread, can justify depriving a person of its rights' [4] And here i'm referring to the aversion of the Metropolitan Church of Moldova, who is outraged by the requests made by the UN to adopt anti-discrimination law. Moreover, Bishop Vladimir believes that the acceptance and integration of these minorities would lead to the ruin and weaken of the Orthodox faith. [5] It is a tough battle but the recommendations of international institutions is pressing more and more on the Government to reaffirm its commitment to the human rights and take proactive measures to ensure diversity and equal dignity to all. This project will be completed and implemented as soon as possible, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, Iurie Leancă, [6] taking into account the fact that the anti-discrimination law is an essential criterion for Moldova to be accepted in the European Economic Area and to enjoy other significant benefits worldwide.
The main obstacles in adopting this low come from the dominant position of the Orthodox Church and the misinformed people, who built their defensive attitude towards LGBT groups based on prejudice and not on their own experience. Many argue that sexual orientation is a disease that lies from a mental or emotional disorder and this can be changed even by psychiatric treatment. Furthermore, they support the idea that access to accurate information about homosexuality and living together with such people could also affect our sexual orientation. They're unfounded stereotypes which need to be destroyed by a constructive information campaign of the society, where the misconceptions that lead both homophobic activists and the Orthodox Church of Moldova to gain new dimensions, worthy and true for a democratic state.
I conclude this article with the perfect words of Mahatma Gandhi, who believes that 'through democracy, new opportunities are given both to the weakest and to the strongest' and in a truly democratic state there is no room for discrimination.
____________________________________________________________________________
References:
1. Gonţa, Valeriu Gay în Moldova: Societatea noastră nu este gata să accepte diferite tipuri de dragoste, 16.03.2012, found at http://social.moldova.org/news/gay-in-moldova-societatea-noastra-nu-este-gata-sa-accepte-diferite-tipuri-de-dragoste-229090-rom.html
2. ONU: Guvernul trebuie să-şi asume angajamentul pentru diversitate, 12.03.2012, found at http://discriminare.md/eveniment/onu-guvernul-trebuie-sa-si-asume-angajamentul-pentru-diversitate/
3. Naţiunile Unite şi Guvernul Republicii Moldova au semnat un nou program de cooperare, found at http://www.un.md/news_room/pr/2012/undaf/index_ro.shtml
4. Organizaţia Naţiunilor Unite susţine drepturile persoanelor LGBT, 09.03.2012, found at http://www.darkq.net/stiri/organizatia-natiunilor-unite-sustine-drepturile-persoanelor-lgbt/
5. Biserica ortodoxă simte că pierde teren, 13.03.2012, found at http://discriminare.md/discriminarea-in-moldova/biserica-ortodoxa-simte-ca-pierde-teren/
6. Conferinţă susţinută de Iurie Leancă şi Kaarina Immonen, Coordonatorul Rezident al ONU la Chişinău, 13.03.2012, found at http://www.privesc.eu/Arhiva/9406/Conferinta-sustinuta-de-Iurie-Leanca-si-Kaarina-Immonen--Coordonatorul-Rezident-al-ONU-la-Chisinau
Translated in English from Romanian language, Original Article appeared on our Partner Website Geopolitics.ro
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