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Parliament tells Commission to step up fight against gay discrimination

799 views · Published 4 February 2014 · 1:28 · Indexed 22 September 2026

Channel: Euractiv · 2014 · News & Politics

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MEPs called on the European Commission on Tuesday to step up its fight against sexual discrimination, after more than 100.000 people marched through Paris and Lyon on Sunday protesting the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

In a non-binding resolution adopted with 394 votes in favour and 176 against, the European Parliament wants the EU executive to draw up a pan-European strategy to better protect fundamental rights of gay, lesbian, transexual and bisexual people. 

"The EP has already asked ten times to the Commission to present a roadmap against homophobia and discrimination of LGBT people. The Commission hasn't done so yet. That's why the LIBE Committee decided to go ahead and demand it because we know the situation is grave." said Green Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek.

In a 2013 survey, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency found that 47% of LGBT people felt discriminated against or harassed and 26% were physically attacked or threatened in the last five years.

"We have to work on fighting fear, on making sure that people who are harassed or attacked because of being lesbian or gay, will go to the police and will have police people there who understand what the problem is." said Green Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek.

MEPs also put forward several objectives they want to see addressed in the EU roadmap, in areas such as employment, education and health.

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