PRESS RELEASE

Dodik’s statement deplored

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina denounces the statement of the president of the Republika Srpska Government, in which he demonstrated a discriminatory attitude towards gay people. The statement of Milorad Dodik is an expression of intolerance of other and different people, and represents an unacceptable and uncivilized attitude towards the gay community. Milorad Dodik, told the BHT on 13 September “I will simply not have various gay men walking into my office”, as reported by FENA.

The Helsinki Committee underlines the particular responsibility of holders of government offices to work on respect for and promotion of equality of all citizens regardless of their race, skin colour, national or religious background or affiliation, language, political opinion, sex, sexual identity, sexual orientation, financial status, birth, medical condition, disability, marital status or other personal features. By his statement, Premier Dodik obviously discriminated one category of our fellow citizens and inspired hate and intolerance towards this category, which is absolutely unacceptable from the point of view of the imperative of protection of and respect for human rights and freedoms.

Srdjan Dizdarevic,
Chairman of the Helsinki Committee in BiH

No.: 07-09/2007
Sarajevo, 20 September 2007

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