News from the World - April 2024 🐝

LGBTQ+ Rights 

Iraq passes new legislation criminalizing same-sex couples❌👨🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏾

The Iraqi Parliament has passed legislation criminalizing same-sex relationships, with a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. According to lawmakers, this step aims to protect traditional and religious values, and is primarily intended to “protect Iraqi society from the moral corruption of homosexuality that is sweeping the world“. However, it is undoubtedly a move against the vulnerable LGBTQ+ minority in Iraq, where homosexuality has long been a major taboo and socially condemned. This new law not only criminalizes homosexuality but also the support of LGBTQ+ movements, with a minimum prison sentence of 7 years. The original draft of the law included a provision for the death penalty, but it was amended following international pressure, particularly from the United States and European countries. Unfortunately, Iraq's action has placed it among more than 60 countries worldwide that criminalize same-sex relationships. [1]

Germany takes progressive step and simplifies official sex change 🏳️‍⚧️

The German Parliament has passed a new law designed to facilitate the official change of gender for its citizens and residents. This legislation also introduces strict penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of previous names or genders, except in court proceedings or police investigations. Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the need to show respect for trans, intersex, and non-binary individuals and to ensure their equality in society. Previously, changing one's gender in Germany required a medical assessment and court approval. However, under the new law, individuals over the age of 14 can apply for a gender change without these stringent requirements. For minors under 14, parental or guardian consent will still be required. Another significant change is the introduction of a “non-binary“ option on official documents, which individuals can select when changing their gender. The new legal framework is set to come into effect on November 1, 2024, and represents a step forward in Germany's commitment to inclusion and equality, as outlined in the coalition agreement. [2]

Authoritarian Regimes

Chinese espionage across Europe 🇪🇺 ❌ 🇨🇳

In April, several new scandals related to Chinese espionage in Europe erupted. As President Xi Jinping begins his latest visit to Europe (this time to France, Serbia, and Hungary), and while many EU representatives, including the President of the European Commission, are intensifying their rhetoric against the Chinese regime, these incidents add another significant piece to the puzzle of current European-Chinese relations. Firstly, in mid-April, German police arrested Jian Guo, an assistant to Maximilian Krah, the AfD's lead candidate for the European Parliament elections, on suspicion of espionage involving German opposition activists and providing internal information about the workings of the European Parliament to Chinese intelligence. Krah himself is also accused of “helping to create a German-Chinese lobbying network in Europe, which allegedly received Chinese funds“. [3] Around the same time, two young employees of the British Parliament were charged with espionage for China as well. [4] Whether these incidents are merely coincidences or a sign of intensified coordinated efforts by European counterintelligence agencies remains, of course, unclear.

Roma Minority

Czech Republic continues to discriminate against the Roma minority 🫠

The European Committee of Social Rights has ruled that the Czech Republic is engaging in indirect discrimination, contrary to the provisions of the European Social Charter, by failing to collect ethnic data on children in state institutional care (such as “children's homes“). The representation of Roma children in these institutions is reportedly significantly disproportionate compared to their percentage in the general population, according to the complainant organization European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC). However, the state lacks official data on this issue. The government’s argument that the placement of children in state care is made entirely independently of their ethnic background, and thus information on ethnicity is unnecessary (given negative historical experiences with ethnicity databases), was deemed insufficient. It is possible to record the percentage of Roma children in individual facilities using anonymized data without linking it to specific individuals. The choice of methodology and specific steps still falls within the state's discretion. [5]

Remaining Category, or What You Shouldn't Miss Either

The European Parliament adopts the long-awaited Migration and Asylum Pact 🇪🇺‼️

After nearly a decade of preparation and numerous revisions, the new Migration and Asylum Pact has become a reality. Proposed by the European Commission in 2020 to address the challenges brought by the so-called migration crisis of 2015/2016, this legislation has been adopted despite objections from both right-wing and left-wing politicians, marking a historic moment. Proponents view this step as a significant victory, emphasizing its potential to address migration challenges and strengthen EU border control. The main goal of this comprehensive approach to managing migration and asylum is to ease the burden on countries receiving migrants and provide a more efficient and fair framework for registering migrants, leading to faster processing of applications. To become effective, the legal framework now requires only formal approval from the European Council. Once approved, member states will have two years to properly and timely implement this regulation. [6]

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[1] IRAQ CRIMINALISES SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS WITH MAXIMUM 15 YEARS IN PRISON. Online. Al Jazeera. 2024. Dostupné z: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/27/iraq-criminalises-same-sex-relationships-with-maximum-15-years-in-prison. [cit. 2024-05-05].

[2] GORDON, Anna. German Parliament Votes to Make It Easier for Trans People to Change Their Legal Gender. Online. Time. 2024. Available at: https://time.com/6966294/germany-transgender-name-change-law/. [cit. 2024-05-05].

[3] Klapal, Ondřej. Politik AfD zabředl v čínské špionážní aféře, i tak zůstává lídrem kandidátky. Online. Seznam zprávy. 24. 4. 2024. Available at: https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/zahranicni-stredni-evropa-od-chlapackych-rad-do-cinske-spionazni-afery-lidr-afd-ma-co-vysvetlovat-250481. [cit. 2024-05-05].

[4] Gillett, Francesca & Ruth Comerford. Two men charged with spying for China under Official Secrets Act. Online. BBC. 22. 4. 2024. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68874822. [cit. 2024-05-05].

[5] ČR porušuje Evropskou sociální chartu. Nesbírá data o etnicitě dětí v péči státu. Online. Advokátní deník. 2024. Available at: https://advokatnidenik.cz/2024/04/24/cr-porusuje-evropskou-socialni-chartu-nesbira-data-o-etnicite-deti-v-peci-statu/. [cit. 2024-05-05].

[6] HENLEY, Jon. EU asylum and migration pact has passed despite far right and left’s objections. Online. The Guardian. 2024. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/10/eu-asylum-and-migration-pact-has-passed-despite-far-right-and-lefts-objections. [cit. 2024-05-05].