This post is also available in: Spanish, Italian, GermanAs part of the programme of radical change being ushered in by the new Syriza government in Greece, Justice Minister Nikolaos Paraskevopoulos, today announced plans to expand civil partnerships to same-sex couples. Campaigners have been working for years to end the discrimination in Greece; a conservative country with a strong orthodox Christian church. Cases have been brought to the European Court of Human Rights in the past and in November 2013 it was ruled that Greek law is discriminatory. Although the ultimate aim of LGBT campaigners is legalisation of same-sex marriage, this is clearly a step in the right direction. Human and civil rights must be respected.