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Trois femmes décrivent comment elles font fi des lois sur le hijab à l'approche des premiers scrutins depuis les manifestations nationales. La terreur et le courage coexistent pour de nombreuses femmes iraniennes désireuses de défier le régime. Avec la colère et l'espoir.

Der Oberste Gerichtshof Spaniens hat eine Untersuchung wegen terroristischer Straftaten gegen den ehemaligen katalanischen Präsidenten Carles Puigdemont eingeleitet. Damit erhöht sich der Druck auf Ministerpräsident Pedro Sánchez, der auf die Unterstützung des Separatisten angewiesen ist.

Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters via Gallo Images

By Inés M. Pousadela
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Mar 1 2024 (IPS)

After almost two decades of civil society campaigning, Greece’s parliament has passed a law enabling same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. It’s the first majority-Orthodox Christian country to realise marriage equality.

Equal marriage is now recognised in 36 countries, with Estonia last year becoming the first post-Soviet state to join the ranks. These notable firsts have however been accompanied by regression elsewhere, including in the country with the world’s biggest Orthodox Christian population, Russia.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AROUND THE WORLD

A long campaign

Debate on the rights of Greek same-sex couples dates back to 2006. That year and again in 2008, the centre-left PASOK party submitted bills to recognise unmarried couples, including same-sex ones. Neither made it through parliament, and a cohabitation law was eventually passed that didn’t include same-sex couples.

In 2008, LGBTQI+ rights activists exploited a loophole in a law that didn’t specify that marriage must involve a man and a woman. Despite instant backlash and legal threats, the mayor of the island of Tilos, a gay tourist destination, held a civil wedding ceremony for two same-sex couples. Courts soon annulled these weddings, but they helped put the issue on the agenda.

In the run-up to the 2009 election, the Lesbian and Gay Community of Greece sent candidates a questionnaire on LGBTQI+ rights. PASOK, which won the election, said it supported same-sex registered partnerships. But in office it dragged its heels.

LGBTQI+ activists took to regional and international human rights systems. They submitted shadow reports to the UN Human Rights Council’s review of Greece’s human rights record. In 2009, four gay couples brought two cases to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), stating that the restriction of civil unions to heterosexual couples amounted to unjustified discrimination.

In November 2013, the ECHR ruled that there was indeed discrimination, ordering the state to provide compensation. Within days, the PASOK-led government announced it would introduce a bill to extend civil unions to same-sex couples.

But time dragged. A year on, the government again said it was considering the change, but soon after, parliament was dissolved and snap elections were called for early 2015. Amid public anger at economic austerity measures imposed in response to Greece’s debt crisis, left-wing party Syriza won power.

Political change

The pace quickened under the Syriza-led government, and after a long and contentious December 2015 parliamentary debate, same-sex couples gained civil partnership rights. They still weren’t able to adopt or exercise parental rights over non-biological children, but the change was a vital first step. A year on, parliament further amended the law to extend some of the same rights as marriage, including labour rights.

LGBTQI+ rights activists made more gains during Syriza’s four years in power. In 2017, parliament passed a gender identity law enabling people to change gender on official documents without undergoing any medical procedure and allowing trans people to affirm their gender from 15 years onwards. Almost the entire political opposition voted against, including Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the centre-right New Democracy party and current prime minister.

In June 2019, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras promised his government would legalise same-sex marriage if it won the upcoming election. But he was defeated by New Democracy and its bill was shelved. It renewed its promise ahead of the 2023 election, but again New Democracy won.

In a surprise move, an unlikely champion introduced a same-sex marriage bill in January 2024: Prime Minister Mitsotakis, having consolidated his hold over the political right, now sought to make inroads into socially progressive territory.

On 15 February, several prominent New Democracy parliamentarians abstained or voted against the bill but opposition parties on the left compensated. Syriza lawmakers voted overwhelmingly for.

The religious factor

But powerful forces still oppose equality. According to a 2018 survey, Greece is Europe’s fourth most religious country. Around half of adults consider themselves ‘highly religious’ and 59 per cent say they believe in God with ‘absolute certainty’. Up to 98 per cent identify as Greek Orthodox Christians. For many, belonging to the church goes beyond religion – it’s bound up in Greek identity.

The church has fiercely resisted every victory of the women’s and LGBTQI+ rights movements. It’s been particularly belligerent towards the gender identity law. Church authorities condemned it as ‘a satanic deed’ and shared the same conspiracy theories as far-right groups.

With public opinion evenly divided, the debate on same-sex marriage was deeply polarising. Parliamentary debates saw a barrage of abusive language and hate speech. Far-right politicians claimed the bill was ‘anti-Christian’ and warned it would enable paedophiles. Church representatives insisted homosexuality was a ‘mortal sin’. The church insisted the bill would destroy the family. Priests propagated disinformation and threatened excommunication.

What – and where – next

As Equaldex’s Equality Index shows, the new law is way ahead of prevailing public attitudes. Activists will need to do much more work to shift public opinion to prevent regression and keep moving forward. But they’re optimistic this latest victory will help further normalise the presence of LGBTQI+ people and bring more social acceptance of diversity.

It matters too outside Greece, which is ahead of the curve among Orthodox-majority states – and could offer an example to follow.

Belarus, Russia and Moldova are the Orthodox-majority countries with the most hostile environments for LGBTQI+ people. Belarus and Russia have closed civic space, making it next to impossible to advocate for rights, and Russia has further intensified its repression of LGBTQI+ people as a matter of national identity during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

But Moldova, along with several other of Greece’s Orthodox-majority neighbours – Bulgaria, Montenegro and Romania – have relatively enabling civic space and active LGBTQI+ movements seeking change.

Activists in Greece will keep pushing for social change to match legal progress. And activists in neighbouring states will keep campaigning, knowing that, sustained advocacy can pay off even in hostile contexts. They’ll keep trying to force open political windows of opportunity so decades-sought change can finally materialise.

Inés M. Pousadela is CIVICUS Senior Research Specialist, co-director and writer for CIVICUS Lens and co-author of the State of Civil Society Report.

 

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563634 Chyngyz Zhanybekov Aida Almazbekova

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – 27 February 2024 - Today, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek launches its first round of Consultative Mechanism for the year 2024. This structured platform serves as a pivotal space where all state partners and civil society organizations of the Kyrgyz Republic convene to reflect on the achievements of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, exchange ideas, and provide consultations on future collaboration initiatives.

During the Consultative Mechanism, representatives from all three Dimensions - the Politico-Military Dimension, Economic and Environmental Dimension, and the Human Dimension - presented their accomplishments in 2023 and outlined their priorities and plans for 2024.

Traditionally, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek conducts two rounds of consultative mechanisms annually, aligning its operations with requests of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. This mechanism serves as a practical tool for facilitating dialogue, collaboration, and decision-making among stakeholders, ensuring that all decisions are well-informed and considerate of the interests and needs of the people of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Commenting on the launch of the Consultative Mechanism, Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, stated, "This important platform underscores our commitment to fostering collaboration and dialogue among all stakeholders. By aligning our efforts with the priorities of the Kyrgyz Republic, we aim to deliver impactful initiatives that address the diverse needs of the country."

As the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek embarks on its next chapter of collaboration, it reaffirms its dedication to further supporting the Kyrgyz Republic. Through the Consultative Mechanism and other initiatives, the Programme Office looks forward to continuing its work for years to come, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Kyrgyz Republic and in the region.

Als sich die EU 2021 auf den Wiederaufbaufonds einigte, war das ein Wendepunkt: Zum ersten Mal nahm die EU gemeinsame Schulden auf, um so die wirtschaftliche Erholung nach der Pandemie zu gewährleisten.

Jordan Bardella, EU-Spitzenkandidat der französischen Rechtsaußen-Partei Rassemblement National (RN), beabsichtigt, die EU-Verträge umzuschreiben. Er wolle zudem den "Vonderleyismus" bekämpfen, wie er am Donnerstag (29. Februar) vor Journalisten in Paris erklärte.

A The New York Times leleplezte, hogy a CIA az elmúlt 9 évben hatalmas kémhálózatot épített ki az ukrán-orosz határvidéken. A hálózat Ukrajnát az USA elsőszámú hírszerzési partnerévé tette Oroszországgal szemben.

A cikk kiemeli, hogy a hálózatot fokozatosan, türelmesen építették ki, 3 amerikai elnök felügyelete alatt. A bizalom kiépítése nem volt könnyű, de 2015-ben, miután az ukrán katonai hírszerzés bizalmas iratokat adott át a CIA-nek a Malaysia Airlines 17-es járatának lelövéséről, a két fél együttműködése beindult.

A CIA az ukránoknak kiképzést, kommunikációs felszerelést és anyagi támogatást biztosított, cserébe értékes hírszerzési információkhoz jutott Oroszországról. A cikk kiemeli, hogy az ukránok türelmetlenebbek voltak az amerikaiaknál, és olykor merényleteket is szerveztek, ami feszültséget okozott a partnerségben.

Az orosz invázió óta a CIA még jobban beágyazódott Ukrajnába, és az ukrán hadsereg titkos idegközpontját is finanszírozza. A cikk beszámol egy erdőben lévő titkos bázisról is, ahonnan az ukránok orosz kémműholdakat követnek és orosz parancsnokok beszélgetéseit hallgatják le.

A CIA jelenleg 12 kémbázist üzemeltet az orosz-ukrán határvidéken, és Ukrajna az USA egyik legfontosabb hírszerzési partnerévé vált. A kijevi nagykövetség „a legjobb információforrás lett Oroszországgal kapcsolatban”.

A cikk Putyin elnök azon állítását is idézi, miszerint a CIA és a brit MI6 ellenőrzi Kijevet, és „ugródeszkává változtatja a Moszkva elleni hadműveletekhez”. Putyin szerint a CIA befolyása vezetett a 2014-es hatalomváltáshoz Ukrajnában, és a kijevi vezetés Moszkva-ellenes politikájához.

A cikk összességében betekintést nyújt a CIA titkos ukrajnai tevékenységébe, és kiemeli Ukrajna stratégiai fontosságát az USA számára a hidegháború 2.0-ban.

Kiemelt pontok:

• A CIA 9 éve építi kémhálózatát Ukrajnában.
• Ukrajna az USA elsőszámú hírszerzési partnere Oroszországgal szemben.
• A CIA kiképzést, felszerelést és anyagi támogatást nyújt Ukrajnának.
• Az ukránok türelmetlenebbek az amerikaiaknál, és olykor merényleteket is szerveznek.
• Az orosz invázió óta a CIA még jobban beágyazódott Ukrajnába.
• Ukrajna „a legjobb információforrás lett Oroszországgal kapcsolatban”.
• Putyin szerint a CIA ellenőrzi Kijevet, és Moszkva elleni hadműveletekhez használja.

The post Ukrajna: A CIA titkos kémhálózata a határvidéken appeared first on Biztonságpiac.

Le Premier ministre Plenković évoque le retour d'un service obligatoire de trois mois à partir du 1er janvier 2025. Mais faut-il croire à cette promesse alors que commence tout juste la « super année électorale » ? Pas sûr. Explications.

- Articles / Novosti, Croatie, Défense, police et justice, Politique intérieure

Le Premier ministre Plenković évoque le retour d'un service obligatoire de trois mois à partir du 1er janvier 2025. Mais faut-il croire à cette promesse alors que commence tout juste la « super année électorale » ? Pas sûr. Explications.

- Articles / Novosti, Une - Diaporama, Croatie, Défense, police et justice, Politique intérieure

Les experts de l'OSCE ont rendu leur rapport définitif sur les élections du 17 décembre dernier, marquées par des accusations de vol et de nombreuses manifestations. Le régime du président Vučić et l'opposition clament victoire, en avançant une lecture diamétralement opposée.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, Serbie, Politique intérieure

Les experts de l'OSCE ont rendu leur rapport définitif sur les élections du 17 décembre dernier, marquées par des accusations de vol et de nombreuses manifestations. Le régime du président Vučić et l'opposition clament victoire, en avançant une lecture diamétralement opposée.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, Serbie, Une - Diaporama, Politique intérieure

Das slowakische Verfassungsgericht hat mehrere Teile der geplanten Strafrechtsreform ausgesetzt. Die EU-Kommission hatte die Reform zuvor kritisiert und davor gewarnt, dass Bratislava eine Geldbuße oder die vollständige Sperrung von EU-Mitteln drohen könnte.

Konservative Politiker im EU-Parlament haben sich gegen eine erneute gemeinsame Schuldenaufnahme auf EU-Ebene ausgesprochen. Zuvor waren Forderungen nach einem EU-Wiederaufbauplan "2.0" laut geworden, um öffentliche Investitionen zu fördern.

Die europäischen Sozialdemokraten beginnen ihren EU-Wahlkampf am Samstag (2. März) in Rom nicht gerade mit Jubelstimmung: Die Partei verliert in ganz Europa an Einfluss. Deutschland und Spanien sind ihre letzte politische Bastion im Kampf um die EU-Wahlen.

Kazakhstan reacted on Thursday (29 February) after accusations from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who said that NGOs in Central Asia were allegedly engaged in “anti-Russian activities.”

Le football, comme tout autre sport, est souvent en proie à de cruelles injustices. Qu’il s’agisse de décisions arbitrales erronées ou de moments controversés dans […]

L’article Les situations les plus injustes du football est apparu en premier sur .

Plusieurs chapitres de la réforme du Code pénal ont été suspendus par la Cour constitutionnelle mercredi (28 février) après que la Commission européenne a déclaré qu'ils n'étaient pas conformes aux règles européennes en matière d'État de droit.

Polen werde die Entscheidung Lettlands, Agrarimporte aus Russland und Weißrussland zu verbieten, prüfen und selbst die Möglichkeit in Betracht ziehen. Damit solle eine Destabilisierung des polnischen Marktes verhindert werden, so Ministerpräsident Donald Tusk.

Aujourd’hui dans L’Expresso : L'IVG dans la Constitution, une défaite politique pour le mouvement pro-vie en Europe, la perte d'influence des socialistes européens à l'aune des élections, le Rassemblement national veut réécrire les traités européens.

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Slovak court halting criminal code reforms amid EU fund suspension threat, Poland considering an import ban for Russian and Belarusian grain, and so much more.