EU Told Turkey Should Be Required To End Abuses Against Gays

Human Rights Watch has made what I believe is a sound argument that Turkey should be required to adopt the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights, which include protections for LGBT citizens, as a pre-condition to Turkey's admission to the European Union. I would go further and like to see the EU threaten explusion of current Eastern European members - e.g., Poland - that continue to discriminate against LGBT citizens and/or turn a blind eye at the mistreatment of gays.

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Inasmuch as the objective of the EU is the development of a single market through a standardized system of laws which apply in all member states and to guarantee the freedom of movement of people, goods, services and capital, member nations should not be allowed to reject aspects of the EU standards they don't like. This is especially true if citizens of one member nation travels to another member nations where they should have the same rights and non-discrimination protections. Countries with a history of anti-gay bigotry need to be forced to choose between the benefits of EU membership versus clinging to their old prejudices. Here are highlights from 365gay.com:

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(London) An international human rights group has told the European Union that Turkey should not be allowed to join until it guarantees it has ended abuses against its LGBT community. A 123-page report released Thursday by Human Rights Watch details Turkish harassment and brutality throughout the country.

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Turkish law offers no express protections for LGBT people’s universal human rights. In 2005, the country reviewed some of its laws to bar discrimination, a move meant to show Turkey’s commitment to European Union standards. However, Turkey has yet to adopt a comprehensive antidiscrimination law that conforms to EU standards, Human Right Watch said.

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"In the complex path toward European Union accession, this report points to an area where little or nothing has changed," said Scott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at HRW. "The EU must fully incorporate issues of sexual orientation and gender identity when considering Turkey’s application for membership.

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The report, "We Need a Law for Liberation’: Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights in a Changing Turkey," documents what HRW calls a long and continuing history of violence and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity.