This update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly in Andorra from 1st January 2023 to 31st October 2023.
General
Introduction of same-sex marriage
On 17th February 2023, the law allowing same-sex couples to marry took effect. The law was adopted on 21st July 2022. The new Family Code also allows no-fault divorce and transgender people to change their name and gender on legal documents.
Elections
On 2nd April 2023, the election to the Consell General, the Andorran legislature, was held. The campaign was mainly marked by the negotiations of the association agreement with the EU. The parliamentary elections resulted in a victory for the ruling Democrats for Andorra (DA). A new progressive party, Concord, came in second and became the largest opposition party.
EXPRESSION
Trial of abortion rights activist continues
In July 2023, the public prosecutor requested that abortion rights activitst Vanessa Mendoza Cortés pay a total of €12,000 ($13,000) in fines and be barred from holding public office for six months. Since 2020, Ms. Vanessa Mendoza Cortés, from the NGO Associació Stop Violències Andorra is under criminal investigation for her engagement with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in October 2019 during its review of Andorra. In particular, she criticised Andorra’s ban on abortions. Authorities drew up three defamation charges against her: ‘slander with publicity’ (article 172 of the Penal Code), ‘slander against the co-princes’ (article 320 of the Penal Code) and ‘crime against the prestige of the institutions’ (article 325 of the Penal Code). The first two charges, involving prison sentences, were dropped in 2021. Since 2020, the case of Vanessa Mendoza Cortés has been included in the UN reports regarding intimidation and reprisals due to cooperation with the UN treaty bodies.
Handbook on dealing with diversity in the media
In January 2023, a handbook on good practices in dealing with diversity in the media was distributed to journalists and communication professionals, and training sessions were organised. The handbook, prepared jointly by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Youth and Equality and the Association of Communication Professionals of Andorra, provides guidelines for writing articles about different groups, including LGBTI persons and migrants.
ASSEMBLY
Protest to support abortions right activist
On 30th September 2023, around 150 people, the majority of them women, protested to show their support to Vanessa Mendoza Cortés, president of the ‘Stop Violences’ association for the defence of women’s rights who is being prosecuted for defamation, and to show their support to organisations that demand the legalisation of abortion.The rally was attended by delegations from feminist groups and French trade union organisations.