The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, has spoken out against Russian’s anti-gay propaganda laws as the Winter Olympics opened in Sochi.
Speaking to the International Olympics Committee ahead of the opening ceremony the Secretary General highlighted that the theme of International Human Rights Day last December was ‘Sport Comes Out Against Homophobia’.
In his speech the Secretary General said;
“Many professional athletes, gay and straight, are speaking out against prejudice. We must all raise our voices against attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people,” he said. “We must oppose the arrests, imprisonments and discriminatory restrictions they face.”
“The United Nations stands strongly behind our own ‘free and equal’ campaign, and I look forward to working with the IOC, governments and other partners around the world to build societies of equality and tolerance. Hatred of any kind must have no place in the 21st century.”
While the Secretary General did not specifically refer to the Russian laws in his speech, the timing and location of his remarks have been seen as a comment on Russia. The Secretary General will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the week.
Protestors Arrested in Moscow and St Petersburg
There are reports that protestors campaigning against Russian’s anti-gay propaganda laws have been arrested. Ten protestors have reportedly been arrested in Moscow, while another four people have been detained in St Petersburg.
The protestors in Moscow were reported to have unveiled a banner reading “Discrimination is incompatible with the Olympic Movement”. The protest was staged outside the Kremlin in Red Square.
OIP Staff
