Jim Murphy

Challenging Anti-Semitism

I gave the inaugural lecture at the launch of the European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism in the House of Commons last night - a new think tank aiming to re-engage the academic debate on combatting anti-Semitism. There was lots of interest in my speech - you can read it in full here.

Posted at 12:46 15 July 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[2]

Violence at Pride parades

I was very upset to hear the reports of violence at the Pride parades in Prague, Riga and Sofia in the last few weeks, and also very disappointed that pressure from various sources meant the Pride parade in Moldova scheduled for May did not take place.   This was in marked contrast to the peaceful Pride held for the first time ever in Delhi on Sunday 29 June.

The FCO is committed to promoting equality and ending the discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people around the world and we've developed a program of skills and information for Embassies and diplomats to help achieve this. We look at where the UK can have a positive effect in providing information on the official British policy on gay rights and instructions in how to provide added value to equality and non-discrimination work. It covers a wide range of issues, from decriminalisation, sexual health, reproductive rights and health education to bilateral work with other countries.

Although we focus work in countries where homosexuality is criminalised, we also monitor the situation across Europe closely. The British Embassies in Warsaw and Riga, for example, were active in helping support and celebrate the diversity, equality and acceptance for all that the Pride events promote. We are also very active in international organisations in promoting our goal of equality for LGBT people in the enjoyment of human rights.

Posted at 12:36 03 July 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[3]

Human Rights and the Global EU

This was one of many questions posed yesterday in the latest seminar in the Delivering Global Europe series.

My answer was that Europe needs to be bolder in support of these universal values.

Europe is at the forefront of international efforts to promote a raft of human rights issues: On the abolition of the death penalty; in establishing a productive human rights dialogue with China, Russian and the African Union, and increasingly with countries in central Asia. And the EU spend millions of euros each year on projects to tackle racism , human trafficking, torture and child labour and to promote the rights of women, minorities and indigenous people.

If the EU, with its economic, political and strategic influence doesn't use all the means at its disposal to advance human rights worldwide, it cannot credibly demand the same of others.

So the challenge we face is to make sure that the EU has the capacity to act coherently and decisively as a champion of fundamental rights, both at home and internationally.

The discussion yesterday raised many crucial questions, and I want to continue the conversation through our ongoing seminar series. I'd welcome your thoughts and questions here, through this blog, or through our website at: www.fco.gov.uk/globaleurope

Posted at 17:30 20 May 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[4]