Livewire – Amnesty International blogging for human rights

The first march in central Belgrade in 10 years was against all discrimination © Amnesty International

By Lydia Aroyo, Europe and Central Asia Press Officer at Amnesty International

Belgrade Pride 2010 began this morning in beautiful weather with a call for tolerance. The violence that erupted outside the venue of the march proved that tolerance is yet to be achieved.

The first march in nearly 10 years in central Belgrade was against discrimination in all its manifestations. It came a day after nationalist organizations and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox clergy led demonstrations calling for the government to ban Belgrade Pride 2010. Continue reading ‘Belgrade Pride 2010 – a call for tolerance, against discrimination’

By Lydia Aroyo, Europe and Central Asia Press Officer at Amnesty International

Amnesty International members are arriving today in Belgrade to take part in tomorrow’s Belgrade Pride 2010. They are going to support Serbia’s lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community (LGBT) in their march against discrimination and for tolerance for the first time in nearly ten years. Last year’s Pride had to be cancelled at the last moment because the authorities declared they could not ensure the safety of the participants. Continue reading ‘On the eve of Belgrade Pride 2010′

By John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s researcher on discrimination in Europe.

Marching for equality, for respect and for human rights © Kåre Viemose

So it’s done.  It happened. Exhilarated, and a little exhausted, we are back at the hotel after a successful Pride march along Vilnius’s river Neris.  We were around 500 in the end, marching for equality, for respect and for human rights.  It was a demonstration and it was a celebration.

We were watched by a couple of thousand – and many more watching it, transmitted live, at home.  Some of those watching were supportive, some curious, many were opposed to our march, and a few, as we expected, were violent – throwing the odd smoke bomb, and anything else they could get their hands on (including, rather strangely, the occasional hotdog) at the police.  But the 600 plus police officers did their job.

Continue reading ‘Baltic Pride 2010 – a rainbow over Lithuania’

By Jens Munch, Amnesty International, Denmark

A few hours ago I arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania, to participate in the Baltic Pride 2010 this Saturday. Until a moment ago, I did not know if the pride would be a reality.

But now I’m sitting in the hotel lobby, where the conference “Human Rights Combating Fear and Prejudice” is taking place, and everybody around me is smiling, voices are loud and cheerful and everyone is hopeful about the future of rights for LGBT-people here in Lithuania.

Continue reading ‘Baltic Pride 2010: Human rights on the march …’

By Helle Jacobsen (AI Denmark), Coordinator of the Baltic Pride for Amnesty

I have been in Vilnius since Monday morning working together with the Lithuanian Gay League and Tolerant Youth Association on the Baltic Pride 2010. So many things have already happened in a few days!

On Monday we met the police. On Tuesday, the Pride was suspended.  Today we learnt that the appeal will take place tomorrow.  We are hopeful.  It is better to be hopeful when defending human rights. 

Continue reading ‘Preparing for the Baltic Pride – but will it still take place?’