More than 100 Romanian NGOs, individuals join to stop same-sex marriage constitution change

More than 100 Romanian NGOs and individuals have launched a new civic platform asking Romanian politicians to stop the referendum for changing the definition of the family in the country’s constitution, Hotnewsreported. The new platform is called RESPECT. Platforma pentru Drepturi si Libertati (RESPECT. The Platform for Rights and Liberties). It supports family and religious freedom but also the principle that “human rights and fundamental freedoms are not up for voting.” At the beginning of May, Romanian deputies adopted a citizens’ initiative that aims to change the definition of family from “the free-willed marriage between spouses” to “the union between a man and a woman.” The initiative was spearheaded by the Coalition for Family, which gathered three million signatures in support of this initiative last year. The Orthodox Church has also supported this project. The Senate has to vote on the issue as well before a national referendum will be called to have Romanians decide if they agree or not to making this change in the Constitution. With its launch, RESPECT issued a call to the Romanian politicians and responsible institutions to stop the referendum for changing the definition of the family. At the same time, it aims to gather civic support for democratic values, the universality of human rights and the European destiny of Romania in the face of an attack of hate, discrimination and aggressiveness. RESPECT expressed its support for the family and mentioned that “the biggest threats to the family are: poverty and corruption; the erosion of the rule of law; inequalities; the lack of unity, solidarity, respect and mutual trust; violence inside the family; the limited access to housing and adequate medical services; the high rates of maternal and child deaths; the absence of equal access to quality education, including the insufficient number of day care centers and kindergartens; the lack of jobs.” RESPECT supports equal rights and freedoms for all citizens, without any discrimination; the respect for human liberty and dignity; the right of every person to a private life and a family; the right of women to decide about their own body and fulfill themselves through education, profession and through their own choices concerning family life; the access of both women and men to sexual and reproductive rights; the right of children and of the young to a humanist – rational education, accessible to all; the right to health of children and youth; Romania’s membership to the European Union, with all the rights and duties stemming from this, and the acceptance of the values upon which the EU is based. Some of the NGOs part of the platform are: the Pro Democratia association, APADOR-CH, the ActiveWatch association, ACCEPT, the Resource Center for Public Participation, the Euroregional Center for Public Initiatives, the FILIA center, the Center for Public Innovation, the Independent Journalism Center, the Foundation for the Development of the Civic Society, the Romania Initiative and the Demos Platform. The full list of members can be consulted