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| Special UN's rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue [Official Photo] |
By RFE/RL
Washington: A group UN human rights experts wants Russia's State Duma to
drop a draft bill that establishes administrative penalties for
"propaganda of homosexuality among minors."
In a statement issued on February 1, the experts warned the
potential legislation could undermine rights in Russia by "unjustifiably
singling out lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people."
The special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression,
Frank La Rue, said, "The law could potentially be interpreted very broadly
and thereby violate not only the right to freedom of expression but also the
prohibition of discrimination."
The federal bill would outlaw gay parades and proposes fines
of up to 5,000 rubles ($165) for individuals.
The draft bill passed its first reading in the parliament's
lower house on January 25.
Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the
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Washington DC 20036.