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Symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement: the rainbow flag
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The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has condemned Lithuania for taking action against a fairy tale book with homosexual protagonists.
The judges in Strasbourg said that this was a violation of the Human Rights Convention because the author's right to freedom of expression had been violated.
A Lithuanian university, with a grant from the Ministry of Culture, published the book by the late, openly lesbian author Neringa Dangvydė Macatė in 2013, which was aimed at children aged nine to ten.
Based on traditional fairy tale books, other topics also played a role here - such as different skin colors, disabilities, the divorce of parents or migration.
Two of the six stories were about same-sex relationships.
The Lithuanian regulator ruled that these two fairy tales had a negative impact on minors.
As a result, sales were temporarily stopped and the book was given a warning.
It is dangerous for under 14 year olds.
The author complained about this.
After her death in 2020, Macatė's mother continued the litigation.
12,000 euros in damages
The Human Rights Court now agreed with the authors: Contrary to what the government claimed, in the fairy tales lesbian or homosexual couples were not put on a pedestal compared to other couples, but they propagated respect for all members of society.
Children should not be denied access to information about same-sex relationships in this way.
Lithuania now has to pay 12,000 euros in damages to Macatė's mother and 5,000 euros in legal costs.
The European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, France, is part of the Council of Europe.
The bodies, which are independent of the EU, work to protect human rights in the 46 member states.
atb/dpa