Tuesday, September 26, 2006
City Council Moves to Adopt Montreal Declaration on Human Rights
Brighton & Hove City Council Leader, Simon Burgess (Labour) and Chair of the City's Equalities Forum, Paul Elgood (Lib Dem), are jointly calling for councillors from all parties to back the Montreal Declaration which calls for international action on LGBT Human Rights and came out of the Human Rights Conference staged in Montreal during the Out Games in July. They have tabled a Notice of Motion to the City Council calling for the council's support for the Declaration.
Labour City Council Leader, Simon Burgess, said;
'I expect many people in our relatively tolerant City will be shocked to learn that in nine countries you can face the death penalty just because of your sexuality, or that an event like Pride would be illegal in many more countries.
'It's right that Councillors, as spokespeople for the City, we should express our strong desire to see human rights respected around the world. In addition we must not be complacent in our own city, there is always work to be done to ensure everyone is free from discrimination. This is not about favouritism, it's about fairness for all."
Liberal Democrat City Councillor Paul Elgood and Chair of the Equalities Forum said:
'Over the summer the whole gay world looked to Montreal and their success with the Out Games. But the Games had a strong political tone and was used successfully to highlight a range of LGBT human rights issues through the
Montreal Declaration.
'They are now asking other Cities to sign up to the Declaration and I hope that Brighton and Hove will be the first in the UK - sending out an important message that our City is a tolerant and open place.
'I also want Brighton & Hove to learn from the success of Montreal's Out Games. We should be learning from what is truly a world class city so that we can look to host such international events in the future.'
Labour City Council Leader, Simon Burgess, said;
'I expect many people in our relatively tolerant City will be shocked to learn that in nine countries you can face the death penalty just because of your sexuality, or that an event like Pride would be illegal in many more countries.
'It's right that Councillors, as spokespeople for the City, we should express our strong desire to see human rights respected around the world. In addition we must not be complacent in our own city, there is always work to be done to ensure everyone is free from discrimination. This is not about favouritism, it's about fairness for all."
Liberal Democrat City Councillor Paul Elgood and Chair of the Equalities Forum said:
'Over the summer the whole gay world looked to Montreal and their success with the Out Games. But the Games had a strong political tone and was used successfully to highlight a range of LGBT human rights issues through the
Montreal Declaration.
'They are now asking other Cities to sign up to the Declaration and I hope that Brighton and Hove will be the first in the UK - sending out an important message that our City is a tolerant and open place.
'I also want Brighton & Hove to learn from the success of Montreal's Out Games. We should be learning from what is truly a world class city so that we can look to host such international events in the future.'
