Human rights are under threat in our twinned towns in Poland: across the UK it's time to help
We're asking local councils twinned with towns in Poland to start active diplomatic engagement to champion equality and human rights in the face of the "LGBT ideology free" zones Poland has created. Local communities in our twinned towns are now under threat, people are discriminated against, and human rights have been attacked.
- More than 100 LGBT zones 'free of LGBT ideology' have been locally declared and more of these #HateZones are being lobbied for
- Local councils in Poland decide this through local resolutions
- UK has dozens of twinned town arrangements dating back decades
- We have to look after the communities we're twinned with
- It's time to #ProtectOurTwins
UK Lib Dems lead a cross-party initiative. The UK party has stepped forwards to lead a cross-party, coordinated response at local level. There are detailed draft motions and guidance for Councillors, templated letters to the Mayors of their twinned towns, and a 5 part approach.
These public letters will clarify whether the local resolutions are remaining in place, before the UK Council considers how to take forward any review of twinning relationships.
The Liberal Democrats value twinning relationships. The spirit of the campaign is focussed on education and preventing discrimination, with UK councils engaging in a period of education and discussion with their Polish twins.
The UK must take a stance: #ProtectOurTwins
"Events in Poland should concern the whole international community", explains campaign leader Layla Moran MP. "Labelling LGBT as an 'ideology' and supressing LGBT people is outrageous. Many of these towns are twinned with those here in the UK. We cannot stand by; we must Protect Our Twins, and the LGBT communities who live there."
Join the campaign
David Chalmers, Chair of Liberal Democrat European Group, said: "In launching the 'Protect our Twins' campaign the Liberal Democrats are showing solidarity with our Polish sister party Nowoczesna, standing up for the fundamental values at the heart of our party. We are using our strength at local council level throughout the UK for Lib Dem Councillors to encourage their councils to engage with their twin towns in Poland and show support for the Polish LGBT+ community. We may have left the European Union but we still have a key role to play in defending the human rights of all citizens - to be treated equally and fairly. This is what our party is about and why I am proud to be a Liberal Democrat."
Find out more about #ProtectOurTwins
Here's the full campaign site, with details of how to get press releases, letters, motions, and support material.
http://lgbt.libdems.org.uk/protect-our-twins
We're also supporting All-Out's campaign: please sign their petition: https://action.allout.org/en/a/poland/