Norway actively promotes the Human Rights of sexual minorities in its foreign policy, and has been a strong advocate for work with this issue in the United Nations.
Since the first Rainbow PRIDE Bratislava was initiated in 2010, the Norwegian Embassy has supported the event. In addition to signing the joint statement, Norwegian Ambassador Trine Skymoen attended “I ride for PRIDE” 25. May. The PRIDE parade will take place 9. June.
Here is the joint statement:
Bratislava, June 1, 2012
June 9, 2012 marks the third annual Duhovy Pride parade in Bratislava. We, as members of the international community, support both morally and practically the parade organizers and participants as they peacefully assemble to express their human rights and raise awareness of the LGBT community in the Slovak Republic. LGBT citizens in Slovakia enjoy all the legal guarantees that come with European Union membership. The EU recognizes the rights, freedoms and principles set out in the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Beyond the EU guarantees, everyone, including LGBT people, should be free to enjoy the rights and freedoms laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We celebrate the many social, economic and political contributions made by LGBT communities in our own countries. We are therefore pleased to recognize the efforts of the authorities here in ensuring LGBT rights are protected throughout the Slovak Republic. We do not ask anyone to abandon their principles in the public debate that occurs in any democracy. We believe, however, that everyone should have the right to support their perspective without fear of retribution or reprisal. Supporting human rights is a cross-cutting element and fundamental aspect of our work, our mission, and our thinking everywhere -- not to further any ideology, but to expand respect for universal human rights.
Ambassador of the Republic of Albania H.E. Agim ISAKU
Ambassador of Australia H.E. Michel POTTS
Ambassador of Austria H.E. Josef Markus WUKETICH
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium H.E. Walter LION
Chargé d’Affaires of the Office of the Embassy of Canada Ms. Kathy BUNKA
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark H.E. Anita HUGAU
Ambassador of Finland H.E. Jukka LEINO
Ambassador of France H.E. Jean-Marie BRUNO
Ambassador of Germany H.E. Axel HARTMANN
Ambassador of Iceland H.E. Stefan SKJALDARSON
Ambassador of Ireland H.E. Brian MCELDUFF
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands H.E. Daphne BERGSMA
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway H.E. Trine SKYMOEN
Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovakia Mr. Dušan CHRENEK
Ambassador of Spain H.E. Félix VALDÉS
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden H.E. Nils DAAG
Ambassador of Switzerland H.E. Christian Martin FOTSCH
Ambassador of the United Kingdom H.E. Susannah MONTGOMERY
Ambassador of the United States of America Honorable Theodore SEDGWICK