EU local statement on the human rights abuses of gay men in Chechnya
1284th Meeting of the Committee of Ministers (19 April 2017)
EU local statement on the human rights abuses of gay men in Chechnya
The European Union would like to recall the Statement of 6 April 2017 by the EU European External Action Service Spokesperson on the human rights abuses of gay men in Chechnya:
“According to the reports by international human rights organisations and by the media, over a hundred gay men in the Russian Republic of Chechnya have been abducted in recent days, as part of a coordinated campaign. The abducted men have reportedly been tortured and otherwise ill-treated, and forced to disclose other LGBTI individuals they know. Reports also indicate that at least three men have been killed by their captors.
If confirmed, these serious human rights violations would add to the long list of human rights abuses in Chechnya. Instead of supporting the rights of the victims, some officials of the Chechen Republic have even attempted to justify the violence against them. The Russian authorities have taken international human rights commitments that bind them at all levels to ensure the safety of all persons who may be at risk in Chechnya due to their sexual orientation.
Prompt, effective and thorough investigations into the reports of abductions and killings of gay men in Chechnya are indispensable so that anyone found guilty of or complicit in such crimes is brought to justice.”
The European Union is deeply concerned by the inaction of the Russian federal authorities since the statement by the EEAS and urges the Russian Federation to comply with its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe – in particular articles 2, 3, 5, 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The European Union would like yet again to draw attention of the Member States to the fact that, regrettably, LGBTI persons in Europe are still subject to discrimination, violence and maltreatment on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. It is therefore essential to focus again on the effectiveness and implementation of antidiscrimination policies and legislation, including all relevant measures by the Council of Europe in this regard.
The European Union takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to supporting the Council of Europe’s activities to combat all forms of discrimination and hate crime, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and will continue to actively promote and protect the human rights of LGBTI persons.
We give our full support to and thank the Secretary General on his timely letter to High Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation Ms Tatiana Moskalkova, in which the Secretary General expressed his concern about the situation of the LGBT community and called on to investigate allegations of human rights violations of LGTB persons in Chechnya.
THE COUNTRIES: ALBANIA, ANDORRA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, GEORGIA, ICELAND, LICHTENSTEIN, MONTENEGRO, NORWAY, "THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA", and UKRAINE ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH THIS STATEMENT.