Armenia Pressured to Drop Anti-Gay Laws
Gay.com U.K.,
March 12, 2002
SUMMARY: The Association of Gay and Lesbian Armenians of France is
calling on rights groups to put pressure on Armenia to change its penal code
condemning homosexuals.
The Association of Gay and Lesbian Armenians of France (AGLA) is calling on
gay groups and human rights organizations to put pressure on Armenia’s
delegation to the Council of Europe to change its penal code condemning
homosexuals.
The National Assembly of Armenia is expected to hold a debate on the
abolition of the country’s law persecuting homosexuals.
Article 116 of Armenia’s penal code, which condemns for 5 years of prison
the persons practicing homosexual relations, should have been removed last
year when the country became a member of the Council of Europe. The law,
however, still stands.
The AGLA claims the government is postponing its decision on changing the
law, as local media reports maintain feeling is high to keep the anti-gay law.
At the same time gays continue to be persecuted in Armenia, alleges the AGLA,
including blackmail and extortion by the police.
The AGLA is urging the gay community to take action by lobbying the head of
the Parliamentary Delegation of Armenia demanding the law be changed.
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