The following joint press release is issued by Embassies of: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Holland, Ireland, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, Germany, UK, USA, Spain and EC representation.

As we welcome the first LGBT Pride march in Bratislava, we express support and solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Slovakia. Our countries, like Slovakia, are committed to defending basic rights and freedoms and in ensuring equality and dignity for all.

Today, many individuals around the world continue to face discrimination, both systemic and overt, based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Everyone, including LGBT people, should be free to enjoy the rights and freedoms laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That is why we fully support the Slovak LGBT community in their right to march peacefully and lawfully on 22 May.

(Source: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bratislava)