conference-rights-homosexual
As same sex couples cannot freely move from country to country, they are being denied the same rights as heterosexual couples in Europe, a conference hosted at the Council of Europe revealed.
Organised by French campaigning group l’Autre Cercle in close cooperation with the city of Strasbourg, under the patronage of Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, the conference looked for solutions to problems of mutual recognition of same sex partnership and marriages in both the European Union and Council of Europe member countries.
At present, same sex marriages are allowed in seven European countries and 13 accept civil partnerships, with other countries maintaining stricter rules – effectively creating a barrier to movement for same sex couples, who may lose their social, fiscal or parental rights, or even their nationalities.
The conference heard the testimony of people who have been denied their rights.