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Protecting women's rights is not bigotry

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Protecting women's rights is not bigotry

An open letter to the Council of Europe following their decision to condemn the United Kingdom for 'virulent attacks' on the rights of LGBTI people

Sarah Phillimore
Feb 11, 2022
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[EDIT - call for signatures ended on 28th February]

We the undersigned are women and men who live in the United Kingdom. We are ‘gender critical’. We believe that sex is real and immutable and should be retained as a protected characteristic in the UK Equality Act 2010. We do not deny the right of anyone to claim a ‘gender identity’ and to be free from abuse or harassment for so doing, but we assert that gender identity cannot be given automatic primacy over the protected characteristic of sex. We fear that the elevation of ‘gender identity’ over sex has particularly harmful consequences for women and children.

On the 25th January 2022 you adopted a resolution based on a report by Fourat Ben Chikha (Belgium, SOC), to condemn ‘extensive and often virulent attacks’ against the rights of LGBTI people. The UK Hungary, Poland, The Russian Federation and Turkey were named as those countries particularly worthy of condemnation.

We are writing to express our serious concern at the unevidenced assertions and hyperbolic rhetoric adopted in the report as criticism of the UK. We fear this displays ignorance of, or even contempt for, the decisions of our courts, and provides fuel to an already emboldened and prevalent misogyny that operates in the UK.

We are very concerned at the consequences of this, some of which we note in more detail below. Simply denying the tension between the different consequences that flow from the characteristics of biological sex and claimed gender identity, will do nothing to resolve that tension. Rather, unevidenced assertions that ‘gender critical’ men and women are simply ‘bigots’ and the lawful reliance on their existing legal rights is an ‘attack’ on gay or trans people, will only increase and cement divisions in societies and harm efforts to promote increasing acceptance for those who wish to express a variety of gender identities.

It is particularly sad to note the rhetoric deployed by the Council of Europe, against those who have done no more than seek legal recognition of their most fundamental human rights, as protected by the European Convention - an instrument largely drafted by UK lawyers. We hope that there can be more thoughtful reflection to come regarding how we protect the rights of all without dangerous demonising and dehumanising of those who seek only to protect their existing rights.

We write to ask

  • for your commitment to protect and uphold the human rights of all

  • a recognition of the harmful consequences of attempting to set one group against another, on the basis of unevidenced and hyperbolic assertions.

  • Recognition that asserting the reality of biological sex and the consequences this has for women and children is not and can never be ‘bigotry’ or ‘transphobia’.

Criticisms of the report

We first note that the report apparently ignores the 2020 UK ranking by ILGA Europe – the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - which placed the UK 11th out of 49 countries, scoring 65% on commitment to LGBTI rights. This is better than France (57%) and Germany (52%) and significantly better than Poland (13%) Russia (10%) Hungary (33%) and Turkey (4%), with whom the UK is placed.

We are curious therefore as to what evidence was provided to you to justify the UK’s listing along those countries which scored so dismally in terms of commitment to LGBTI rights. We are unable to discern any such evidence in the report itself.

A fundamental difficulty with this report is the ‘forced teaming’ of sexualities (lesbian, gay and bi sexual people) with claimed gender identity (transgender) people and those with differences of sexual development (intersex).  The objections made by ‘gender critical’ people to ‘gender ideology’ - i.e. the assertion that a chosen ‘gender identity’ should receive greater legal recognition and protection than immutable biological sex - has nothing to do with gay or intersex people, who have either a sexual orientation or a medical condition.

The report provides no definition of what is meant by ‘trans’ or ‘transphobia’ - a particular weakness, which we note is reflected in other attempts at commentary on these issues. ‘Transphobia’ appears to mean any rejection of the notion that gender identity is automatically more important than sex and some recommend that it is seen as a ‘security concern’ - i.e. that we are on par with terrorists. This is an astonishing state of affairs.

The report simply denies the existence of an obvious tension between those who seek to elevate ‘gender identity’ above sex - the ‘gender ideologists’ against the ‘gender criticals’.

For example para 5

The Assembly condemns the highly prejudicial anti-gender, gender-critical and anti-trans narratives which reduce the fight for the equality of LGBTI people to what these movements deliberately mis-characterise as “gender ideology” or “LGBTI ideology”. Such narratives deny the very existence of LGBTI people, dehumanise them, and often falsely portray their rights as being in conflict with women’s and children’s rights, or societal and family values in general. All of these are deeply damaging to LGBTI people, while also harming women’s and children’s rights and social cohesion.

An assertion that it is ‘false’ to argue that rights exist in conflict in this area, is unsustainable or requires evidence which this report does not provide. This conflict has been explicitly recognised in a number of court rulings in the UK and by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

For women to assert their right to female only spaces or express concern over the medical transition of children, cannot reasonably be seen as an attempt to ‘dehumanise’ gay, trans or intersex people or ‘deny their very existence’. The assertion that women who wish to speak about and organise around their rights protected pursuant to the Equality Act 2010 as ‘harming women’s and children’s rights and social cohesion’ is an unevidenced and incoherent assertion. On the contrary, we argue that determined efforts to prevent the ‘gender critical’ from speaking and organising in the UK, have caused serious harm to social cohesion by reducing trust in such fundamental state institutions such as the police, and have required significant efforts from individuals restore the rule of law by successful challenge in the domestic courts.

Paragraph 14 of the explanatory memorandum is highly critical of those movements which object to the imposition of ‘gender ideology’ 

Whatever their motivations, these movements work to maintain unequal gender relations in the name of “tradition”, “family values”, “Christian values”, or a so-called “natural order”. Attacks on abortion, access to contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, same-sex marriage, gender, legal gender recognition, access to transition-related medical care, trans and intersex persons’ participation in sport, and ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention all form part of this agenda

This has no applicability to the UK which is a secular democracy. Those campaigning groups in the UK which seek to protect single sex female spaces recognise and condemn gender stereotypes which operate to deny people the freedom to make their own choices about who they love, what work they do or how they dress. Female reproductive rights are seen as a very important part of the necessary protection of women and are supported. The report wrongly conflates the UK with those countries where bigotry and hatred to towards gay or trans people is indeed a serious problem We assert this arises largely from patriarchal cultural norms which seek to control women’s bodies and stigmatise homosexuality. We are proud to say this has no relevance to the UK in 2022.

Para 52 states

In the United Kingdom, anti-trans rhetoric, arguing that sex is immutable and gender identities not valid, has also been gaining baseless and concerning credibility, at the expense of both trans people’s civil liberties and women’s and children’s rights.

….. There is intense and ongoing social, political and legal debate about what constitutes harmful discourse when it comes to trans people and their rights, and arguments defending freedom of expression have been – and are still being – used as a tool to justify transphobic rhetoric, further penalising and harming already marginalised trans people and communities.

It is not explained how reliance on belief that sex is immutable, which is deemed worthy of protection in a democratic society - see the EAT ruling in Forstater - has caused harm to the ‘civil liberties’ of trans people, women and children. The report fails to provide any evidence to support this very serious assertion. What exactly is meant by ‘transphobic rhetoric’ is not explained.

The wider consequences of failing to acknowledge that rights exist in tension

We are concerned that the uncritical adoption by the Council of Europe of a report which offers no evidence for its assertions or definition of its terms, is providing fuel for those who seek to further denigrate the ‘gender critical’ in the UK and deny them their basic legal rights.

We note for example this commentary by Natasha Devon who describes those who express concern for gender variant children’s continued access to talking therapy, as promoting ‘torture’ .

Twitter avatar for @AlisonL32407149
Alison Lyons KPSS @AlisonL32407149
You can complain here. This is not only a lie, it's a dangerous lie. A presenter's willful ignorance should not be acceptable on national radio. #notabot #WomenWontWheesht ofcomforms.secure.force.com/formentry/Site…
Twitter avatar for @LBC
LBC @LBC
'Outside of the UK, we are known as the transphobia capital of the world. We're often referred to as TERF island.' Natasha Devon's passionate reaction as the Council of Europe condemns the UK's 'virulent attacks' on LGBTI rights. @_NatashaDevon https://t.co/aGRmDBFsRk
11:43 AM ∙ Feb 7, 2022
41Likes20Retweets

Other commentary on social media refers to women who object to gender identity ideology as ‘cockroaches’. This dehumanising language, and its potential consequences ought to be very well understood by European Parliamentarians.

We have seen recently alarming attacks on the Equality and Human Rights Commission for doing no more than seeking clear definition of terms proposed in legislation around conversion therapy and calling for respectful debate. We have seen academic freedoms threatened by reliance on incorrect interpretation of the law pushed by trans rights lobby groups.

The reaction of individuals in the UK

We set out below those individuals who have sought redress in the UK courts for the denial of their fundamental human right to free speech or who have faced unlawful discrimination against their protected belief that biological sex is immutable.

These legal actions have raised to date £2,087,455. They have not been funded by ‘Far Right’ or religious groups; but by thousands of small donations from ordinary men and women. The Council of Europe should not be seen to support those who would deny these men and women their rights under law, while at the same time smearing them as ‘bigots’. To continue down this road is likely to have serious consequences for us all.

Maya Forstater - I lost my job for talking about women’s rights

£123,865

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/lost-job-speaking-out/

Harry Miller - Challenging Thought Crime

£97,893

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/challenging-thought-crime/

Sonia Appleby - Safeguarding Concerns at GIDS

£121,275

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/gids-concerns/

Keira Bell - Protect Gender Dysphoric Children from the Affirmation Model

£50,185

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/challenge-innate-gender/

Victoria Edwards - Challenge damaging Transgender schools guidance in Oxfordshire

£22,731

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/challenging-occ-transgender-schools-guidance/

Allison Bailey - The case against Stonewall (& my chambers)

£60,050

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/allison-baileys-case/

Katie Alcock - Expelled from GirlGuiding because of my Gender Critical Beliefs

£29,430

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/expelled-from-girlguiding/

Rachel Ara - Fight for Academic Freedom of Speech to discuss Sex and Gender

£10,565

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/academic-freedom-of-speech/

James Caspian - Protect Freedom of Speech in our Universities (Bath Spa Uni)

£14,225

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/uphold-freedom-of-speech-in-our-universities/

Safe Schools Alliance UK - Teenage girl challenges CPS LGBT+ hate crime guidance

£36,058

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/challenge-cps-schools-guidance/

Safe Schools Alliance UK

£2,920

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/safe-schools-alliance-uk/

Raquel Rosario Sánchez - Bullying and Harassment Permitted by Bristol University

£49,050

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bullying-and-harassment-permit-bristol-university/

Kate Scottow - Fight the Power

£16,260

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/fight-the-power

Mrs A and Keira Bell - Legal case to protect children from experimental medical treatment

£98,023

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/protect-children/

Keep All-Women Shortlists Female!

£32,150

https://www.gofundme.com/f/fighting-for-female-representatives

Ann Sinnott - Official sources provide unlawful guidance on the 2010 Equality Act!

£97,075

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/action-against-unlawful-official-guidance/

For Women Scotland - Stop the Scottish Government redefining "woman" to include men

£196,240

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-scottish-government-redefining-woman/

Fair Play for Women - Needs Your Support

£53,578

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/fairplayforwomen

Graham Linehan - Stephanie Hayden

£31,324

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/graham-linehans-case/

Sarah Phillimore - The police should not secretly record us as 'hateful'

£40,475

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/the-police-recorded-me-as-hate/

Keep Prisons Single Sex

£10,587

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/fighting-for-sex-based-rights-of-women-in-prison

Transgender Trend - Putting it Right

£16,705

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/putting-it-right#start

Sarah Phillimore - Action in Defamation

£22,261

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/action-in-defamation

Allison Bailey - I am suing Stonewall

£150,975

https://allisonbailey.co.uk/

Fair Play for Women - Sex and the Census

£101,000

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sexinthecensus2021

Marion Millar

£57,897

https://marionmillar.uk/

AEA wants to send a vital shout-out to the country

£14,950

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/aea-wants-to-send-a-vital-shout-out-to-the-country

MBM - Researching Women’s Rights in Policy and Law

£14,500

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/womens-rights-in-policy-and-law

Natalie Bird Legal Fund

£47,345

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/natalie-bird-legal-fund/

Jo Phoenix

£101,760

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/harassed-silenced-for-my-gender-critical-views/

LGB Alliance - Defend our charity status

£45,355

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-lgb-alliances-charity-sta/

Lisa Keogh - Abertay Uni

£14,719

https://lisakeogh.uk/

Katie Alcock - My court case to protect girls in Girlguiding

£21,510

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/my-court-case-against-girlguid/

Rosie Kay - fighting to protect women's rights and freedom of expression

£29,470

https://donorbox.org/rosie-kay-fighting-to-protect-women-s-rights-in-the-workplace-and-freedom-of-expression-in-the-arts

KPSS - Fighting for sex-based rights of women in prison

£7,605

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/fighting-for-sex-based-rights-of-women-in-prison-1?experiment=c

Help defend freedom of speech: Sanctioned by Social Work England - Rachel Meade

£31,492

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/unlawful-discrimination-by-soc/

Raquel Rosario Sánchez - Bullying and Harassment Permitted by Bristol University

£84,887

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/bullying-and-harassment-enable-bristol-university/

Justice for Jenni Swayne

£36,838

https://democracythree.org/campaign/justice-for-jenni-swayne/

Shahrar Ali - Sex-Based Rights vs Cancel Culture (Green Party)

£12,925

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/sex-based-rights-vs-cancel-culture/

James Esses - Expelled from my university course for holding gender critical views

£81,302

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/expelled-university-free-speech/

SIGNED

  1. Fair Cop

  2. The Women’s Rights Network

  3. Object

  4. FiLiA

  5. LGB Alliance

  6. Parents Across Scotland

  7. Keep Prisons Single Sex

  8. Women’s Voices Matter

  9. Women’s Declaration International UK

  10. Alexander Helen

  11. Anderson Clare

  12. Amies Ermine

  13. Atkinson Shelia

  14. Bailey Carol

  15. Barton Gibbs Belinda

  16. Beevers Sally

  17. Bell Rachel

  18. Bell Vanessa

  19. Benitez Nancy

  20. Bennett Helen

  21. Benson Ophelia

  22. Beresford S

  23. Blair Erica

  24. Blom Clare

  25. Billie F.K

  26. Bingham Sarah

  27. Birt Louise

  28. Bishop Annie

  29. Boogerman Irene

  30. Booth Pippa

  31. Borta Nicoleta

  32. Bosentefer Rachel

  33. Boston Janet

  34. Botnar Lavinia

  35. Brindle Wendy

  36. Briody Laney

  37. Brooke Gayna

  38. Brooks Carly

  39. Brown Michelle

  40. Brown Helen

  41. Brown Nichola

  42. Brownlie Helen

  43. Burbidge Jo

  44. Burke Anne

  45. Burkinshall Nicola

  46. Burton Gina

  47. Busby Hicks Alex

  48. Busby Hicks Kat

  49. Campbell K

  50. Carey Thomas

  51. Carr Caroline

  52. Carr Martin

  53. Casy Christine

  54. Chalmers Alan

  55. Chami Linda

  56. Chan Mayce

  57. Chitty Antoinette

  58. Christie Amanda

  59. Clapton Greg

  60. Clarke Lynne

  61. Coates Elaine

  62. Cockcroft Weny

  63. Cole Sarah

  64. Compobassi Luisa

  65. Cooke Carol

  66. Cornfield Andrea

  67. Craig Bill

  68. Craig Linda

  69. Craven Lily

  70. Cruse Pat

  71. Cunnant Anne

  72. Curwen Pauline

  73. Dabrowska Ms

  74. Davies Nicholas

  75. Davy Deborah

  76. Dawson Diane

  77. Darkin Rosie

  78. Defries D

  79. De-vall Lisa

  80. Devine Cathy

  81. Devlin Sandra

  82. Dickinson John

  83. Dixon Susan

  84. Donaldson Emma

  85. Door Diane

  86. Drant Jo

  87. Earl Sarra

  88. Edwards Charlotte

  89. Edwards Libby

  90. Eggleston Martin

  91. Ellidge Sian

  92. Ellis Brenda

  93. Elmaci Turna

  94. Ely Celia

  95. English Jude

  96. Ettinger Sophie Van

  97. Euson Catherine

  98. Evans Deborah

  99. Evans Sinead

  100. F Nani

  101. Fazal Shabanah

  102. Fenge Penny

  103. Flack Roger

  104. Flint Susan

  105. Fitzpatrick Lorna

  106. Forstater Maya

  107. Fraser Carol

  108. Freeman Amanda

  109. Gallagher Geraldine

  110. Geddis Alexandra

  111. Gera Anita

  112. Gibson Felicity

  113. Gilbert Rebecca

  114. Goetsche Birgitte

  115. Gordon Mary

  116. Graciet Celine

  117. Graham Heather

  118. Gray Anita

  119. Greg Anita

  120. Greenan Beth

  121. Griffin G

  122. Griffith Catherine

  123. Griffiths Alison

  124. Grover Emma

  125. Guiney Johanna

  126. Gunningham Jennifer

  127. Guthrie Cynthia

  128. Hale Rebecca

  129. Hall Ann

  130. Hansell Dave

  131. Harding Kim

  132. Harding Sharon

  133. Harrison Joanne

  134. Harrison Lisa

  135. Haswell Carole

  136. Hathaway Eleanor

  137. Hawkins Eluned

  138. Haywood Jonathan

  139. Hayes Joanne

  140. Healy Gem

  141. Hedie Fiona

  142. Hennessy Liam

  143. Holland Nicola

  144. Holyoake Jacky

  145. Howard Vanessa

  146. Hoyland Verity

  147. Hunt Eleanor

  148. Hunter Blackburn Lucy

  149. Hunter Moira

  150. Hughes Nick

  151. Hutchings Nancy

  152. Hynan Tracey

  153. Inkley Ida

  154. Ireland Kathrynn

  155. Jack Susan

  156. Jacobs Sheryl

  157. James Anne

  158. James Christina

  159. James Robert

  160. James Sheryl E

  161. Jarvis Carrie

  162. Jenner Alison

  163. Jenner Denise

  164. Jennings Barbara

  165. Johnson Emma

  166. Johnson Lara

  167. Johnston Tina

  168. Johnston Deirdre

  169. Jones L.M.

  170. Jones Marie

  171. Jukes Angie

  172. Kaye K.J.

  173. Kerr Clare

  174. Kerr Clove

  175. King Rhiannon

  176. Knock Ginny

  177. Kottek Annett

  178. Kyle Sharon

  179. Landsborough Bonny

  180. Langford Nick

  181. Larkman C

  182. Laurent Elias

  183. Lawes Susan

  184. Lawrence Kay

  185. Lawson Annette

  186. Lee Al

  187. Lesley Maurice

  188. Lewis Mari

  189. Lindsay Margaret

  190. Livingstone Dr Ruth

  191. Lonergaran Claire

  192. Lowe Jennifer

  193. Lupton Jenny

  194. Lustig Vera

  195. Lyon Stacey

  196. M Janey

  197. Mackenzie Jeannie

  198. Mackenzie Mary

  199. Mackenzie Paul

  200. Maclean Una

  201. Macpherson Lisa

  202. Magari Morven

  203. Makepeace Imogen

  204. Malcolm Elizabeth

  205. Malcolm Laura

  206. Manzat Anca

  207. Marsh Helen

  208. Marshall Julie

  209. Marshall Michelle

  210. Matcham Karen

  211. Mathias Chantel

  212. McGary Marsden Anne

  213. McGuire Bridgid

  214. McKay Tarryn

  215. McLennan Kate

  216. McMahon Clare

  217. McNeil Joanne

  218. Meadows J

  219. Meagher Caroline

  220. Mellon Maggie

  221. Megaran Janet

  222. Millar Sally

  223. Mindelsohn Celia

  224. Moran Shanti

  225. Moray Madeline

  226. Moore Lucy

  227. Moose Zerena

  228. Morgan Samuel

  229. Morris Judith

  230. Morrow Deborah

  231. Mulheron Joan

  232. Mulholland Cheryl

  233. Mulholland Imogen

  234. Murphy Fiona

  235. Murrow Rob

  236. Naughton Tish

  237. Newman Lynne

  238. Nolan Jaye

  239. Novak Bo

  240. Nuti Milena

  241. O’Boyle Samantha

  242. O’Brien Stacey

  243. O’Connor Julia

  244. O’Corrain Pairic

  245. O’Donnell Margaret

  246. O’Grady Karlien

  247. Osner M

  248. Oubridge Linda

  249. Owen Nic

  250. Patrick Serena

  251. Patterson Terry

  252. Pearson Sarah

  253. Pell Max

  254. Pentney Sue

  255. Perkins Stephen

  256. Perry Natasha

  257. Perttuli Taru

  258. Pender-Hiom Edith

  259. Phipps Anne

  260. Philip Gillian

  261. Philips Sharon

  262. Phillips Jennifer

  263. Pope Kathryn

  264. Powell Carroll

  265. Powell Richard

  266. Priest Joanne

  267. Pryde Victoria

  268. Quant Daisy

  269. Quick Sarah

  270. Quirk Dr Hannah

  271. Reid Patricia

  272. Relton Zizi

  273. Rennie Delyth

  274. Rimmer Gill

  275. Robbins Sal

  276. Robertson Dr A

  277. Robertson A

  278. Robinson Becky

  279. Robinson Elaine

  280. Robinson Gerry

  281. Robinson S

  282. Rogers Helen

  283. Rose Birdy

  284. Royce Julia

  285. Roxburgh Kate

  286. Salisbury Gillian

  287. Sandall Mrs J

  288. Scheer Anna

  289. Semmens Dr Lesley

  290. Seabury Rose

  291. Samels N

  292. Schaaf A

  293. Sharpe Lesley

  294. Sheepy Georgina

  295. Shepard Wendy

  296. Slatter Tanya

  297. Simmons Alison

  298. Simmy Mc

  299. Simon Theo

  300. Slate Stu

  301. Smith Emma

  302. Smith Linda

  303. Smith Melanie

  304. Smith Rob

  305. Smith Su

  306. Souper Kate

  307. Spring Timothy

  308. Stevens Julia

  309. Stone Louise

  310. Stuart Lachlan

  311. Strasburger Evelyn

  312. Supple Emma

  313. Talvilahti Kaye

  314. Tenant Laura

  315. Thomas Kay

  316. Thompson Angela

  317. Thompson Frank

  318. Thompson Karen

  319. Thompson Lisa

  320. Tongue Carole

  321. Tracy Isabelle

  322. Tunstall Chris

  323. Underwood Samantha

  324. Veal A

  325. Vello Emmy

  326. Viac L

  327. Vigar Marcia

  328. Wade Felicity

  329. Walker Annie

  330. Walker Siobhan

  331. Wall Barry

  332. Wallace Denise

  333. Walton Caroline

  334. Webster Rae

  335. Wells Ed

  336. Weir Alison

  337. Wharton Shah

  338. White Ali

  339. Whitehead Kelly

  340. Wickens Jeremy

  341. Wilder Harriet

  342. Wilkinson Ruth

  343. Williams David

  344. Williams Sue

  345. Wilson Caroline

  346. Wilson Harriet

  347. Wilton Sarah

  348. Winfield Una Jane

  349. Wood Diane

  350. Woolferd Phillipa

  351. Woolford Philip

  352. Wyzgowska Zoe

  353. Yamamoto Fiona

  354. Young Joanna

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308 Comments
Richard
Feb 11, 2022·edited Feb 11, 2022

I fully understand and respect the thinking behind this letter, and I have contributed to quite a few of the fund-raisers listed. But I'm not sure what it's intended to achieve in its current form, or indeed to whom it is addressed.

As I understand it, there are three branches of the Council of Europe - there's the Court (judiciary), the Committee of Ministers (decision-makers), the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE - advisory) and a permanent Secretariat that services these. PACE has adopted the highly contentious Resolution 2417 https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29712 which it has submitted to the Committee of Ministers for their consideration under cover of Recommendation 2220 https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29710#trace-4.

What's needed now is to stop the Committee of Ministers from endorsing the unacceptable bits of the Resolution, while encouraging the protection of the rights of LGBT people across Europe. There is a choice of addressing the letter to the Secretary-General, Marija Pejčinović Burić; the current Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, Luigi di Maio, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy; or the current President of PACE, the unfortunately named Dutchman, Tiny Cox. I'm really not in a position to know which would be most effective; it might be worth raising this with the relevant FCDO Minister, or approaching the UK Delegation to the Council of Europe direct: they should be well aware of these issues, and - given the Foreign Secretary's views - sympathetic. https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/uk-delegation-to-the-council-of-europe

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imogen makepeace
Feb 11, 2022

How do I sign?

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