DECLARATION

The right to freely assemble by people wanting to demonstrate views different than those of the majority is fundamental. A free society does not exist without it. In the democratic world, this has been obvious for over 200 years.

In 2005, Warsaw authorities are attempting to prohibit the organization of a peaceful Equality Parade, just as they had successfully done a year before. As early as mid-May, the President of Warsaw declared, “I do not see a reason to support gay culture. I do not agree to this parade and will not change my mind ... I will prohibit the parade, irrespective of what they wrote” [in the permit application to organize the assembly]. These remarks clearly indicate the prohibition by city officials against the parade is ideologically motivated, while the legal justification provided is a mere pretext.

A state is governed by law, not ideology or the will of an individual. A city president has an obligation to respect the freedoms of all citizens and cannot choose which group will be granted the right to publicly demonstrate its presence and views and which will not.

We call on the President of the Capital City of Warsaw to respect the law.

Parade Organizers have announced that despite the prohibition they will avail themselves of their civil right to demonstrate. Numerous signals are being heard domestically and from abroad that the prohibition has mobilized additional participants who will come in a show of solidarity with the group discriminated against by Warsaw officials. Further, the Helsinki Committee will send its observers to monitor any violations of human and civil rights at the site of the gathering.

Warsaw, June 6, 2005.

On behalf of the Helsinki Committee in Poland,

Danuta Przywara