Petition Closed


Sign the petition and sign up now for the BIG PROTEST IN AMSTERDAM on April 8th!

The Russian parliament will decide on an anti-gay law in June. If the current bill passes, the law will be an excessive violation of the human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people (LGBT). Not only is their right to protest about to be forbidden in Russia, even showing a rainbow flag in public is likely to become punishable.

COC Netherlands wants to offer the Russian President Vladimir Putin a special present during his visit to The Netherlands on April 8: a petition that makes absolutely clear that this anti-gay bill should never come into effect.

Letter to
President Putin
Members of the Russian Parliament
Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of the Netherlands Roman Anatolievich KOLODKIN
Stop the Anti-Gay Law!

The so-called 'anti-gay propaganda law' (article 6.13.1), that is currently up for review with the Russian parliament, is an unacceptable violation of the human rights of Russian lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

Russia is bound by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. The proposed law contradicts fundamental human rights, amongst them the universal rights to non-discrimination, freedom of speech and the right to assembly. The law, if it goes into effect, will allow and justify discrimination, and will easily lead to hatred and violence against LGBT people. Instead of promoting a society built on openness, tolerance and pluralism, this effort would reinforce prejudice and place LGBT-people at risk.

We urge you to ensure that this bill will not be put into effect and to respect the human rights of all of your citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.