At G7, Trudeau Criticized Italy For LGBTQ Rights And Canada Announced Sanctions On Russia

On Friday, the G7 Leaders’ Summit began in Hiroshima with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticizing Italy over its treatment of LGBTQ people and rumors of new sanctions against Russia.

Canada intends to announce new sanctions against Russia during the G7 Leaders’ Summit, according to a government official who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to discuss the specifics in the public sphere.

Other sanctions are related to human rights violations, such as the transfer and custody of Ukrainian children to Russia, and they will target Russian companies involved in the production of military technology.

According to news reports, the three-day summit will concentrate on the geopolitical and economic threats posed by China and Russia.

Various sanctions against Russia are planned, according to countries.

Earlier on Friday, during a private meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trudeau criticized the Italian government’s position on LGBTQ rights.

At the start of the meeting on Friday morning, Trudeau said Canada is concerned about some of the (positions) that Italy is taking regarding LGBT rights. But I’m looking forward to discussing that with you.

The remarks were made at the beginning of the meeting, just before the press was asked to leave.

Gay rights advocates criticized the far-right government of Meloni in March for its homophobic actions in limiting the recognition of parental rights to the biological parent only in families with same-sex parents.

The government instructed Milan to stop automatically recording both parents in same-sex couples on city registers, a decision that would impact hundreds of families. 

After Italy’s high court in 2016 made it easier for gay people to adopt a partner’s biological child, it was the last major city to continue the practice that had been briefly adopted in Rome, Turin, Naples, and other places.

The Prime Minister’s Office released a readout of the meeting in which it states that the leaders “exchanged views on the importance of protecting and defending human rights, including the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people.”

According to the summary, Prime Minister Meloni “replied that her government is adhering to court rulings and is not departing from prior administrations.” 

During their morning meeting, Trudeau and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida talked about enhancing cooperation among the G7 nations to advance world peace and economic prosperity.