AKEL on the International Day against Homophobia
The issue of pseudo conversion therapies will judge the sincerity of the political forces for LGBTI equality
16 May 2023, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, AKEL stresses once again that the road ahead as a Cypriot society and state for the respect of the rights of LGBTI people is long. Neither declarations, nor theoretical analyses are enough if they are not accompanied by practical steps to recognise and respect the universality of their human rights.
Unfortunately, despite the progress that has been recorded in recent years, there are still thousands of people in our country and millions around the world who are subjected to violence and discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. In Cyprus, the impunity of hate rhetoric, the lukewarm reactions and tolerance shown by state bodies towards the perpetrators, who are often public figures, are proof of the state’s unwillingness to chart paths that should be in line with the law and not with any political or other expediencies.
The indispensable preconditions for eliminating such phenomena, getting rid of dangerous stereotypes and the violence that often follows them, are the improvement of our legislative framework, its consistent implementation by all state powers and the adoption of a strategic plan that should holistically confront misconceptions and practices across the entire spectrum of social activity and private life. More specifically, the elaboration and implementation of a National Action Plan for LGBTI people, which synthesises legislation, policies and actions, is an obvious necessity.
AKEL, which has been at the forefront of the efforts to enable LGBTI people to enjoy equally the human rights due to all citizens, at work and in their social and private life, will continue to take every possible initiative. In the face of conservative and extreme ideological formations, AKEL will continue to promote legislative proposals to eliminate all forms of discrimination and degrading treatment of LGBTI people, such as AKEL’s recent draft bill to criminalise pseudo conversion therapies. This issue, which is currently before Parliament, will also reveal the sincerity of the intentions of all forces on the issue of equality for LGBTI people.
The ultimate judge of any intentions is practical actions. This is the concluding message that AKEL is sending on the Day in question, recalling that the selective respect and partial protection of human rights do not go hand in hand with the progress of any state.
