commitment against discrimination and violence – Corriere.it

The May 17th is celebrated International day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia: an opportunity to reflect on fundamental rights and to denounce all forms of violence linked tosexual orientation. In a message, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarelladefines homophobia as «an unbearable social plague still present, the cause of unacceptable discrimination and violence, in some areas of the world even legitimized by norms that trample on the rights of the person”. And Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on her way to Hiroshima for the G7, wanted to reaffirm the government’s commitment at a global level: «We can’t look the other way” he claims.

Mattarella: unanimous condemnation

Since 2007, when the European Parliament established the International Day, « the sensitivity of collective consciousness towards these issues it was accentuated – underlines the head of state -. The contrast action ai numerous incidents of violence that the chronicle continues to record cannot cease». «Against the manifestations of intolerance, dictated by the misrecognition of the value of each person – he adds – there must be an answer of unanimous condemnation. It is the task of the institutions to work out effectively prevention strategies that educate to respect for diversity and of the other, to inclusion. Abuses, violence, intolerance trample on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and our Constitution which right inarticle 3 recognizes equal social dignity, without distinction of sex, of all citizens, guaranteeing the full development of the human person”.

Meloni: release of resources for anti-discrimination centres

«The protection and defense of the dignity of every person – says Meloni – is enshrined in the Constitution and is a priority that all institutions, at all levels, must pursue. A commitment that this executive is carrying out with determination, also in terms of prevention and victim supportstarting from resource release necessary for the refinancing of anti-discrimination centres» explains Meloni who renews « Italy’s commitment in the global arena so that the international community keeps the spotlight on the unacceptable persecution and on intolerable abuses that people suffer in different countries of the world on the basis of their sexual orientation”.

Zan: the rights of the children of rainbow families

To recall the Meloni government, however, the words of the Pd deputy arrive Alexander Zan (Pd) first signatory of a bill against homotransphobia that was scuttled in Parliament. «Italy, slipped to 34th place in the list of European countries for the protection of lgbtqia+ rights also for precise political strategy And responsibility of the Meloni government, it’s going the other way. The continuous attacks and hate speeches of many government officials are responsible for a setback of our country in terms of inclusion and full equality of all citizens, in particular by affecting the rights of children of rainbow families and exacerbating hateful discrimination and unacceptable”.

The motion for universal decriminalization

And today the Senate will be discussing contrast to homophobia with the vote (expected in the afternoon) of a bipartisan motion with the first signature of the M5S senator Alessandra Majorino, with the signatures of the representatives of all groups. The text calls for the universal decriminalization conduct relating to consensual relationships between adults of the same sex. The motion recalls that the May 17, 1990 the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of mental illness, it is therefore a date with “a strong symbolic and historical value”. But despite 33 years having passed, “the international path for the affirmation of equal rights for homosexuals is still arduous and long: even today 71 countries around the world have punitive laws against homosexuality and sexual orientations» and it is «the African continent that has the strictest laws on homosexuality, so much so that people’s eyesight is endangered because of their sexual orientation». The motion commits the government to support «a broad coalition of states to promote universal decriminalization”.

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