The Diplomatic Corps in Macedonia supported the demands of the LGBTI community

On 30th of October, 2014, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Macedonia, HE Charles Edmund Garrett; the Chief of the EU Delegation to Macedonia, HE Aivo Orav, Acting Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands, HE Peter Verheyen; the Ambasador of France, HE Lorens Oer; the Ambassador of Germany, HE Christine D. Althauser; and the representative of the US Embassy, Mr. Ryan D. Stoner, came to the LGBTI Support Center – Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of RM to deliver the message that the perpetrators of the six different attacks against the LGBTI Center and human rights activists must be brought to justice.

The Acting Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands in the country, HE Peter Verheyen stated that his country supports the LGBTI community all over the world, and that Macedonia should do the same. According to him, every Government’s duty is to protect its citizens, and not just its voters. It is the duty of every minority, he added, to protect every other minority in the country.

“I have to say that this Government must undertake measures in order to bring the assailants to justice, considering that this is the sixth attack, and in the previous cases, we have already called upon the Government to act” – Mr. Verheyen stated.

The Euro Ambassador, Mr. Orav noted that EU is based upon the values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights.

“We are certain that the authorities in the country will enforce an effective investigation in order to find the attackers, and not only the perpetrators of the last attack, but of the previous ones as well, and we hope that they will do it efficiently and quickly” – Mr. Orav stated.

He continued that sexual orientation is still used as justification of human rights violations worldwide.

LGBTI people remain a vulnerable group, they continue being victims of persecution, discrimination and excessive use of force all over the world. LGBTI people should enjoy all the rights other individuals do” – concluded Mr. Orav.

On 23rd of October, 2014, the sixth attack on the LGBTI Center and its activities during the two years of its existence occurred in the coffee bar Damar. These include three incidents of stoning (two during public events when guests were attending the building) and three attempts at setting the former offices of the Centre on fire. With the exception of the attack on the LGBTI Centre of 02.03.2013, which was a part of larger multi-ethnic protests, the investigation is still ongoing for the remaining cases.

LGBTI Support Center and the Helsinki Committee remind once again that the attack against Damar is not just an attack against the LGBTI community, but an attack against human rights activist as well.