News
The Catalan Ombudsman addresses the European bodies to fight against the failure in guaranteeing the rights of the LGBTI community
The institution calls for an intervention of the European Parliament, the European Ombudsman and the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe
Rafael Ribó has been assigned by the Parliament of Catalonia to ensure that the rights of the LGBTI community are respected and to fight against homophobia
He also asks the Catalan Government information about the current protocols to donate blood, the permanent or temporary exclusion criteria and incidents arising from these criteria
Following the recent ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which gives green light to member states to ban homosexuals from giving blood simply because of their sexual orientation, the Ombudsman opened an ex-officio action.
Rafael Ribó considers that the ruling implies a failure in guaranteeing the rights of the LGBTI community, it can also lead to discrimination because of sexual orientation and it may not respect the principle of proportionality, as stated in the ruling.
For this reason, the Catalan Ombudsman has addressed the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Martin Schultz; the European Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Mr. Nils Muiznieks, and the European Ombudsman, Ms. Emily O'Reilly. In particular, Rafael Ribó has asked them to make proposals aimed at adopting measures to guarantee the right of all people to enjoy health services such as blood donation, in objective conditions of equality, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Rafael Ribó has also addressed the Government Administration to learn about the protocols established to donate blood and which are the exclusion criteria being such criteria either permanent or temporary.
The Catalan Ombudsman has been assigned by the Parliament of Catalonia to supervise the administration regarding the fulfilment of the rights of the LGBTI community and to fight against homophobia.
