The foreign ministry stands in the forefront of the defence of civil rights: in coincidence with the Anti-Homophobia Day established by the European Union, a conference entitled “LGBTI people and today’s reality” was held today in Rome. Participants included representatives of international organisations, scholars, judges and politicians.
“I believe it is especially important and significant that today’s conference is being hosted by this institution, in confirmation of the government’s desire to make meaningful progress both from the point of view of political reflection as well as in the drafting of concrete proposals in matters of fundamental rights and civil liberties”, Minister Federica Mogherini said in a message read in her absence by Under-Secretary Benedetto Della Vedova.
“We are reminded on a daily basis of the urgent need for concrete words and deeds by episodes of discrimination, abuse and serious limitation of individual freedoms, and the violence of which the victims are still so many; too many women and men in Italy and around the world, suffering as a result of their sexual orientation, gender identity and choice of lifestyle”, she added.
Under-Secretary Della Vedova cited the first resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council, approved 24 years ago, on equal rights regardless of sexual orientation and reiterated the government’s pledge to fully implement the principle of equal opportunity, a fundamental pillar of an inclusive society.
Ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process within the framework of the UN Human Rights Council, numerous themes were examined. Emerging from the debate were useful indications for strengthening measures aimed at ending discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and to combat hate-fuelled crimes.
