BBC - 10 Jun 06
Thousands of people have taken part in a gay rights march in the Polish capital to protest against ongoing discrimination against homosexuals.
The march was given the go-ahead by Warsaw city officials after being banned for the last two years.
There was a heavy police presence at the rally which passed off peacefully and was also attended by politicians and international supporters.
Activists have accused the government of fuelling hostility towards them.
City officials had also given the green light to a counter-protest by a far-right youth movement called Polish Youth.
However, the group chose to cancel its march following an appeal by prominent right-wing politician Roman Giertych.
A group of some 100 skinheads threw eggs at the marchers, but were prevented from approaching them by police.
"Climate of fear"
Homosexuality is legal in Poland but the gay community faces an uphill battle for public acceptance.
"We do not agree to being pushed into a ghetto," Ania Kurowicka, a 21-year-old Warsaw University student told AP news agency.
"We do not want to be publicly called deviants, sick people or criminals. We don't want young people to think it is ok to throw stones at us because we are different."
Gay rights activists say homosexuals in former communist Eastern Europe live in a climate of fear and hatred and are frequently subjected to verbal and physical attacks.
The march was given the go-ahead by Warsaw city officials after being banned for the last two years.
There was a heavy police presence at the rally which passed off peacefully and was also attended by politicians and international supporters.
Activists have accused the government of fuelling hostility towards them.
City officials had also given the green light to a counter-protest by a far-right youth movement called Polish Youth.
However, the group chose to cancel its march following an appeal by prominent right-wing politician Roman Giertych.
A group of some 100 skinheads threw eggs at the marchers, but were prevented from approaching them by police.
"Climate of fear"
Homosexuality is legal in Poland but the gay community faces an uphill battle for public acceptance.
"We do not agree to being pushed into a ghetto," Ania Kurowicka, a 21-year-old Warsaw University student told AP news agency.
"We do not want to be publicly called deviants, sick people or criminals. We don't want young people to think it is ok to throw stones at us because we are different."
Gay rights activists say homosexuals in former communist Eastern Europe live in a climate of fear and hatred and are frequently subjected to verbal and physical attacks.
.
The Polish Minister of Education dismissed the Director of Polish In-Service Teachers Training Centre for the publication of the Council of Europe human rights training manual which in Minister’s opinion is too gay-friendly. Secretary General of Council of Europe expressed his concern with the situation in Poland.
Text of the media statement by teery Dvis, Secretary general of the Council of Europe:
"Council of Europe Secretary General reacts to the dismissal of a Polish official responsible for the distribution of a Council of Europe publication
Strasbourg , 13.06.2006 - “I do not understand how teaching tolerance can be grounds for dismissal” said Terry Davis after a meeting with the Polish Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe as a result of reports that a Polish official has been dismissed for using a Council of Europe handbook on human rights education.
“I asked the Polish government to clarify the circumstances in which Mr Mirosław Sielatycki, Director of the Polish In-Service Teachers Training Centre, has been dismissed.
I made it clear that the Polish government is free to decide whether it wishes to use Council of Europe material for human rights education, but if the teaching material is optional, the values and principles contained therein are certainly not.
I am very concerned about a number of incidents in various Council of Europe member states in recent weeks. Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is not showing any signs of decline, and it is regrettable that prejudiced attitudes contrary to the most basic human rights standards of the Council of Europe are apparently being endorsed and even promoted by persons in official positions. I shall not make any specific comments on the case of Mr Sielatycki until I receive an official reply from the Polish government” concluded the Secretary General. "
Story on the dismissal:
The Chief of Polish Center for Teachers' Training is fired for promotion of COMPASS!!! by Dariusz Grzemny - Friday, 9 June 2006, 02:11 PM
Dear friends,
As you probably heard, The Polish Minister of Education Mr. Roman Giertych, officially dismissed The Director of Polish In-Service Teachers Training Centre for the publication of "Compass: a manual on human rights education with young people". In the letter of dismissal it is clearly stated that the only reason was to be involved in publishing the manual. The minister says:
This Manual speaks about issues of the homosexual relations as being equal to the matrimonial relations between woman and man. The contents included in this Manual accept thesis that the prohibition of matrimonial homosexual relations and the adoption of children by homosexual couples may constitute an element of discrimination. Such contents are in contradiction to the core curriculum for general education; therefore they can not be, by any means, presented as methodological resources for teacher.
Here in Poland we are very affected by this decision, which was also followed by the interview of the Vice-minister of Education, who said in today's news that the Ministry is considering banning the distribution and sale of COMPASS.
The Minister of Education, a leader of the League of Polish Families Party, a nationalistic party wants instead to concentrate on introducing the new subject in schools, which will be called patriotic education, where young people will learn how to be real Polish Patriots and good citizens, whatever that means.
The Minister's decision and the attempt to ban the distribution of Compass are against Polish Constitution, which prohibits censorship and gives all Polish citizens all rights and freedoms, which are also stated in the European Convention of Human Rights.
We would like to ask you for your support and protest against these decisions. All support is important. Please write your e-mails or faxes to the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. Here are the details:
E-mail: rzecznik@kprm.gov.plFax: +48 22 694-68-26
Thanks a lot for your understanding.
Dariusz GrzemnyAssociation for Children and Young People CHANCEResponsible for the Polish translation of Compass
Text of the media statement by teery Dvis, Secretary general of the Council of Europe:
"Council of Europe Secretary General reacts to the dismissal of a Polish official responsible for the distribution of a Council of Europe publication
Strasbourg , 13.06.2006 - “I do not understand how teaching tolerance can be grounds for dismissal” said Terry Davis after a meeting with the Polish Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe as a result of reports that a Polish official has been dismissed for using a Council of Europe handbook on human rights education.
“I asked the Polish government to clarify the circumstances in which Mr Mirosław Sielatycki, Director of the Polish In-Service Teachers Training Centre, has been dismissed.
I made it clear that the Polish government is free to decide whether it wishes to use Council of Europe material for human rights education, but if the teaching material is optional, the values and principles contained therein are certainly not.
I am very concerned about a number of incidents in various Council of Europe member states in recent weeks. Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is not showing any signs of decline, and it is regrettable that prejudiced attitudes contrary to the most basic human rights standards of the Council of Europe are apparently being endorsed and even promoted by persons in official positions. I shall not make any specific comments on the case of Mr Sielatycki until I receive an official reply from the Polish government” concluded the Secretary General. "
Story on the dismissal:
The Chief of Polish Center for Teachers' Training is fired for promotion of COMPASS!!! by Dariusz Grzemny - Friday, 9 June 2006, 02:11 PM
Dear friends,
As you probably heard, The Polish Minister of Education Mr. Roman Giertych, officially dismissed The Director of Polish In-Service Teachers Training Centre for the publication of "Compass: a manual on human rights education with young people". In the letter of dismissal it is clearly stated that the only reason was to be involved in publishing the manual. The minister says:
This Manual speaks about issues of the homosexual relations as being equal to the matrimonial relations between woman and man. The contents included in this Manual accept thesis that the prohibition of matrimonial homosexual relations and the adoption of children by homosexual couples may constitute an element of discrimination. Such contents are in contradiction to the core curriculum for general education; therefore they can not be, by any means, presented as methodological resources for teacher.
Here in Poland we are very affected by this decision, which was also followed by the interview of the Vice-minister of Education, who said in today's news that the Ministry is considering banning the distribution and sale of COMPASS.
The Minister of Education, a leader of the League of Polish Families Party, a nationalistic party wants instead to concentrate on introducing the new subject in schools, which will be called patriotic education, where young people will learn how to be real Polish Patriots and good citizens, whatever that means.
The Minister's decision and the attempt to ban the distribution of Compass are against Polish Constitution, which prohibits censorship and gives all Polish citizens all rights and freedoms, which are also stated in the European Convention of Human Rights.
We would like to ask you for your support and protest against these decisions. All support is important. Please write your e-mails or faxes to the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. Here are the details:
E-mail: rzecznik@kprm.gov.plFax: +48 22 694-68-26
Thanks a lot for your understanding.
Dariusz GrzemnyAssociation for Children and Young People CHANCEResponsible for the Polish translation of Compass
(Αναδημοσίευση από το site της ILGA-Europe)
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου