Antje Rothemund
Concern over intolerant attitudes leading
to ban of Belgrade Pride Parade
Following the decision of the Serbian authorities to ban all public assemblies including the Belgrade Pride Parade planned for 2 October over security concerns, Ms Antje Rothemund, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, made the following statement:
"We are deeply concerned about the degree of hatred and violence in the Serbian society leading the national authorities to the drastic decision to limit the freedom of assembly of citizens. This is a setback for the development of pluralist democracy in the country. Politicians and opinion makers should take a clear stand on the indivisibility of human rights, actively promote the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and combat prejudices and stereotypes. Public authorities, civil society, the media and representatives of political and social life should build coalitions and actively combat hate speech, homophobia and all forms of discrimination and violence."