Rainbow Digest May 2024
With elections looming, Rainbow Map shows that LGBTI rights have become a marker for the protection of democracy
Published on May 15, our 16th annual Rainbow Map shows that while authoritarian leaders across Europe continue to use the scapegoating of LGBTI people to divide and mobilise their electorates, others are conversely showing robust political will to honour commitments to advancing and protecting the human rights of LGBTI people. The findings of the 2024 Rainbow Map make it more clear than ever that only legal protections can ensure that fundamental rights are guaranteed.
Find out more on our new interactive website.
“Europe needs stronger laws and policies to protect LGBTI people. Without these, we cannot talk about safety or about rule of law and democracy.”
Chaber, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe
Which candidates in the EU elections will protect and advance LGBTI human rights?
Amid fears of a rise in the far-right in the European Elections this June 6-9, a thousand-plus candidates across every member state have pledged to protect and advance LGBTI human rights if they are elected. The Come Out 4 Europe website collects these signatures, helping LGBTI voters and allies decide on who to vote for. Let’s seize this moment to make history and set sail for a Europe that truly lives up to its promise of freedom and equality for all.
Find out who has signed the Come Out 4 Europe pledge
ILGA-Europe News
Get the most from digital ads
On 12 and 26 June, we’re organising two Skills Boost sessions for LGBTI activists to about digital ads and how to use them more strategically.
Two exciting job opportunities at ILGA-Europe
We’re looking for an Event Coordinator and Finance Officer and a Senior Programmes Officer to support the growth and power of our movement.
Activists share tips on crisis communications
In May, ILGA-Europe hosted a two-day learning event on crisis communication for LGBTI organisations. It was an opportunity for 25 activists from over 15 countries to come together and address the complex challenges they face when communicating to their communities, the media and other stakeholders at times of crisis.
Are you in Brussels on 4 July?
Join us for the Equality Fundraiser 2024 and lend your support for our work towards the equality of all LGBTI people. Last year’s event was sold out, so get your ticket now!
LATEST NEWS
BIAS-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE
The Council of the EU adopts the first ever EU rules on combating violence against women
On 7 May, the Council of the European Union adopted the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence as a groundbreaking step. ILGA-Europe will work to ensure that the implementation of the Directive will protect all victims and survivors of gender-based violence, no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.
BODILY INTEGRITY
Civil society files a joint submission to the European Court over a case on discrimination on sex characteristics
OII Europe, ILGA-Europe and the International Commission of Jurists filed a joint submission before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in a case concerning the South African athlete Caster Semenya. The ECtHR ruled in 2023 that Semenya was discriminated against as she was not afforded sufficient procedural safeguards when challenging the World Athletics regulations requiring her to reduce her natural testosterone level to be allowed to participate in international competitions in the women’s category. We hope the Grand Chamber will confirm the Court’s judgment and clarify that sex characteristics is a protected ground of discrimination under the ECHR.
DATA COLLECTION
Harassment and violence against LGBTIQ people on the rise
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has just launched the results of its third LGBTIQ Survey with worrying findings on discrimination and violence across Europe. Over two thirds of respondents encountered hate statements, and a significant increase in violence since the last survey in 2019.
EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION
European states committed to pursue a European policy for LGBTI rights
During the week of IDAHOBIT, the European states signed two major declarations. On 15 May, 32 member States of the Council of Europe signed a joint ministerial declaration calling for renewed commitment to protecting the rights of LGBTI people through Council of Europe mechanisms, as well as on national level. On 17 May, on the initiative of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, 18 EU member states joined the EP in calling for a strong Union of Equality under the next European Commission and a EU LGBTIQ strategy 2025-30.
Sex characteristics have been mentioned explicitly in an EU directive for the first time
On 7 May, two new directives on minimum standards for equality bodies were officially adopted by the EU, one of which includes in its recitals and articles the grounds of gender expression, gender identity and sex characteristics in addition to sexual orientation. This marks the first time sex characteristics have been mentioned explicitly in an EU directive, and the second time gender identity and gender expression have been mentioned in an EU directive. This is an important milestone for the protection of LGBTI people in EU legislation, and follows two years of joint advocacy on these directives by OII Europe, TGEU, ILGA-Europe, EL*C and IGLYO.
FREEDOM FROM TORTURE
Council of Europe publishes a new document on trans prisoners
The Council of Europe Committee on the Prevention of Torture published a hard-hitting document focused on the treatment of trans prisoners in Europe, laying out clear standards for adequate protection from harm and ill treatment.
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND EXPRESSION
Georgia’s new foreign agent law is likely to target LGBTI NGOs first
On 14 May, Georgia’s Parliament voted in favour of the ‘foreign agent’ law that would require foreign-funded organisations and media to register as “agents of foreign influence”. On 21 May, the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission published its urgent opinion which strongly recommends repealing the law, as its fundamental flaws will involve significant negative consequences for freedoms of association and expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public affairs as well as the prohibition of discrimination. The new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, highlighted that the law is likely to target LGBTI NGOs first, amidst a rise in violence and discrimination against LGBTI people across Europe.
Anti-SLAPP recommendations from the European institutions
The European Union officially adopted its anti-SLAPP Directive, which protects journalists and human rights defenders against abusive court proceedings aimed at silencing public debate on matters of public interest. Fundamental rights are named as a matter of public interest, and the Directive specifically lists LGBTIQ rights defenders when discussing human rights defenders being able to participate actively in public life and promote accountability without fear of intimidation. Similarly, the Council of Europe adopted a Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on countering the use of SLAPPs, establishing robust and authoritative standards that member states must meet in order to ensure compliance with their human rights obligations. The recommendation notes that women and persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics, face specific dangers in their capacity as journalists, human rights defenders and other public watchdogs.
LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION
Constitutional Court of Czechia finds the sterilisation requirement for LGR unconstitutional
On 7 May, the Constitutional Court of Czechia found that the requirement to be sterilised to receive legal gender recognition is unconstitutional. We urge the government to adopt legislation in line with the ruling and ensure that all trans and non-binary people have access to human rights-based LGR.
EU Court of Justice Advocate General calls for automatic recognition of legal gender recognition
On 10 May, the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued an opinion calling for the automatic recognition in birth certificates of new name and gender marker acquired in a Member State. This recognition, argued the Advocate General, is essential in upholding the rights to free movement and private and family life guaranteed by the European Union.
A new draft law in France targets trans minors
On 28 May, the French Senate voted in favour of a draft law that would ban trans-specific healthcare for minors. The draft bill will now proceed to a voting at the National Assembly, which has different party majorities than the Senate. On 5 May, thousands of protestors gathered in 50 cities throughout France rallying against the draft law.
RESOURCES FOR LGBTI ACTIVISTS
Good practice map on the human rights of intersex people
OII Europe published its Good Practice Map highlighting advancements achieved in 2023 towards the better protection of intersex human rights across Europe. Download your copy.
Trans Rights Index and Map 2024
TGEU launched its annual update of the Trans Rights Index & Map. This year’s data shows polarisation in legal protections for trans people. Check out.
New global report on LGBTI people’s human rights
ILGA World published their new landmark report mapping laws affecting LGBTI communities across the world. Download the report.
Notice board
- The European Institute for Gender Equality is looking for a Procurement Officer, Communications Trainees, and an Expert on Gender-based Violence. Read more and apply.
- The Digital Freedom Fund is accepting grant applications to support strategic litigation on digital rights in Europe. Read more and apply by 15 July.
Rainbow Digest April 2024
Solidarity with the LGBTI movement in Kazakhstan
We encourage individuals and organisations to join us in speaking out against discrimination and advocating for the rights of all LGBTI individuals in Kazakhstan. Two concerning anti-LGBTI legislative initiatives that were voiced in April by the members of Kazakhstan’s Parliament threaten the fundamental rights and freedoms of LGBTI individuals in the country.
Russia-style laws in Belarus, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan
The governments in Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have also stepped up their attacks on LGBTI people’s freedoms. Copied almost exactly from the Russian law, Kyrgyzstan’s president signed the ‘foreign agent’ law on 3 April. The next day, Georgia’s ruling party reintroduced a similar draft bill that would require foreign-funded organisations and media to register as “agents of foreign influence”. On 11 May, the Ministry of Culture in Belarus added “non-traditional sexual relations and/or behavior” to the list of pornography, effectively stigmatising LGBTI community.
European institutions call governments out on civil society restrictions
On 15 April, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe asked the Venice Commission for an opinion on Georgia’s draft law, and adopted a wide-ranging resolution on 17 April calling for the protection of the right to freedom of assembly and expression for LGBTI people in Europe. On 25 April, the European Parliament also adopted a resolution condemning the attempt of the Georgian government to reintroduce the ‘foreign agent’ law and also urging the government to withdraw proposed constitutional legislation curtailing LGBTI rights.
ILGA-Europe news
New resource for lawyers and activists on the cases before the European courts
We created an inventory of the cases on sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics before the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. It can further strengthen and help guide your work and in bringing forward and supporting strategic cases.
Opportunities to work with us
We’re looking for our new Grants and Finance Officer with a love of budgets, an eye for detail, and an ability to interpret and translate financial regulations into practical advice for our grantees. We will also hire a human rights researcher and writer to bring our 2025 Annual Review to the final draft stage.
Read more about the opportunities.
We can stop far-right politicians from seizing the next European Parliament
The Come Out 4 Europe campaign is making big waves. Since it launched last month, it has gathered more than 500 signatures from politicians who promise to fight for LGBTI rights if elected.
Latest news
Asylum
LGBTQI+ organisations in the UK are devastated to witness the passage of the Rwanda bill
On 23 April, the government of the United Kingdom signed the ‘Rwanda bill’ into law. For two years since this government’s plan was first announced, LGBTQI+ organisations have repeatedly warned that Rwanda is a country where LGBTQI+ people are subjected to discrimination, violence and abuse.
BIAS-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE
The EU Parliament approves first ever EU rules on combating violence against women
On 24 April, the European Parliament voted in favour of the EU Directive on violence against women and domestic violence, which includes the specific recognition of intersectional discrimination and LGBTI people as vulnerable groups.
BODILY INTEGRITY
UN Human Rights Council adopted a ground-breaking resolution on the human rights of intersex people
Voted on 4 April, the resolution is an important reference point for the international institutions and countries should follow and act upon it.
EU ENLARGEMENT
New report on the human rights of LGBTI people in the enlargement countries
ILGA-Europe together with ERA – the LGBTI Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey, launched our joint LGBTI Enlargement Review 2024 assessing gaps in legislation and policy for the protection and advancement of the human rights of LGBTI people in the enlargement countries, and identifying priorities.
Ukraine, LGBTI rights and joining the EU
As Ukraine aims for EU accession, its progress hinges on the human rights of LGBTI people. Our latest blog delves into the challenges and opportunities, spotlighting vital draft laws and the role of EU support.
EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION
Which equality bodies work on trans and intersex issues?
Equinet published a new paper about Equality Bodies working on the rights and discriminations faced by trans and intersex persons.
FREEDOM FROM TORTURE
Top European Court strikes out case against Azerbaijan for arrest and torture of LGBTI people
A case against Azerbaijan by a large group of applicants who were arrested in a wave of anti-LGBTI police raids and forced to undergo medical examinations has been struck out by the European Court of Human Rights.
LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION
Germany passes new law on self-determination
On 12 April, the German Parliament passed the Self-Determination Act, which replaces a 40-year-old law and brings Germany in line with human rights standards for legal gender recognition.
Sweden adopts a new act on legal gender recognition
On 17 April, the Swedish parliament voted in favour of the new legislation regulating legal gender recognition which no longer requires a diagnosis but only a certificate from a doctor, it is expected to make the process easier.
EU court held a hearing for a landmark case regarding discrimination against non-binary people
On 29 April, the Court of Justice of the European Union held a hearing for a lawsuit filed by the Mousse Association, representing 64 individuals, against France’s national state-owned railway company’s practice of forcing passengers to choose between the civil titles “Mr” or “Ms” when purchasing train tickets.
Movement spotlight
We celebrate a diversity of voices within the Roma LGBTI community
Through a selection of resources, we are shining a spotlight on the lived experiences, struggles, and triumphs of Roma LGBTI communities, offering insight, understanding, and solidarity.
Notice board
- IGLYO is accepting applications for their Activist Academy in Brussels from 25 August to 1 September. Read more and apply before 20 May.
- TGEU and Access Now are organising webinars on activist safety and digital wellbeing – on 23 May in English and 5 June in Russian. Apply here.
- ESWA – The European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance is recruiting a Programme Officer. Read more and apply before 1 May.
- GATE – Global Action for Trans Equality is looking for a Finance Officer. Apply before 20 May.
Save the date for the launch of Rainbow Map 2024
On 15 May, we’re launching our Rainbow Map, ranking every country in Europe based on its legal and policy situation for LGBTI human rights.
Rainbow Digest March 2024
Over 150 candidates for the EU elections have already signed our pledge
It’s been just three weeks since we launched the Come Out 4 Europe campaign, enlisting pledges from candidates in the forthcoming European Elections to protect and advance LGBTI human rights. We have been really heartened by the response so far from candidates across the EU who who have come out for the freedom, safety and equality of LGBTI people. 116 candidates have so far signed our pledge, representing a wide range of political parties and countries.
EU candidates called on to protect democracy and LGBTI human rights amid a rise in political hostility
The ‘Come Out 4 Europe’ campaign arrives in the light of a new report from ILGA-Europe, charting a stark rise in anti-LGBTI speech across from public representatives in EU member states, which has led to an escalation in violent protests outside schools and libraries, the targeting of Pride marches, and a further rise in attacks against LGBTI people.
ILGA-Europe news
Join our latest Skills Boost event on communications strategies
On 3 and 17 April, we’re organising skills boost sessions for LGBTI activists to help them design communications strategies.
Read more and register for the sessions.
Submit your project proposals for racialised LGBTI communities
2 April is the deadline to submit your project proposals, if your organisation is led by and works for racialised LGBTI communities in Europe.
Save the date for our Annual Conference in Bucharest
The 2024 ILGA-Europe Annual Conference will take place on 16-19 October in Bucharest. We are already working with our Romanian members, ACCEPT and MozaiQ, with whom we’re forced to create an inclusive, engaging and exciting event.
Latest news
EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION
Council of Europe publishes a brand-new paper on the human rights of trans people
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights released a new Issue Paper which thoroughly examines the challenges faced by trans and non-binary people across Europe, which can also work as a comprehensive tool for activists.
“Building an inclusive European Union of Equality”
We joined eight other equality networks to call on the European Union’s leaders and European institutions to ensure equality, anti-racism, and fundamental rights are a priority during the next legislative mandate.
New UN guide on human rights of sex workers
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the highest standard of physical and mental health; the Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls have published a new guide on the human rights of sex workers.
FAMILY
Kyrgyzstan initiates a bill introducing a ban on same-sex marriage
In the new bill, proposed on 2 March by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Labour, Social Support and Migration to introduce the new version of the Family Code, Article 15 lists a number of circumstances when a marriage would not be recognised. According to this article, marriage between persons of the same sex would not be allowed. The current Family Code does not specify anything about same-sex marriages, other than defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
Women’s March is banned due to “LGBT propaganda” in Kazakhstan
The city authorities in Almaty announced the reason for refusal of the Women’s March that feminists intended to organise in the city centre on 8 March marking International Women’s Day. “The organisers of the actions hide behind the fight for women’s rights, actually promoting non-traditional values that were alien to us: same-sex relationships, marriages, LGBT symbols, etc.,” the authorities said.
HATE CRIME
Two trans people attacked by over 150 people in Greece
On 9 March, a group of over 150 people attacked two trans people in the centre of Thessaloniki. The next day, thousands of people came out in protest against the attacks. The Prosecutor of the Supreme Court stated that the prosecutor’s office must ‘identify and arrest the perpetrators’ and prosecute to ensure justice for all.
movement spotlight
Organisations working for racial justice and equity share their aspirations
We asked seven of our partner organisations, run by racialised activists, about their aspirations, visions and messages for the movement and the future.
Notice board
- Registrations are open for the 2024 ILGA World Conference. The 31st edition of the ILGA World Conference will take place from 11 to 15 November 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. Register before 11 October.
- OII Europe is looking for a Finance Officer. Based in Berlin, OII Europe is hiring a full time Finance Officer in a junior or senior level. Apply before 26 April.
- The European Institute for Gender Equality is looking for trainees. Based in Vilnius, the EIGE announced traineeship opportunities in their research and policy support unit. Apply before 8 April.
Mark your calendar for this year’s Equality Fundraiser
Don’t miss this special event in Brussels to raise funds for ILGA-Europe’s work to advance equality for all LGBTI people across Europe and Central Asia.
Rainbow Digest February 2024
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Annual Review 2024 reports alarming surge in transphobic speech across EuropePublished today, our 13th Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBTI People in Europe and Central Asia alarmingly shows a stark rise in anti-LGBTI, and in particular, transphobic statements from politicians across Europe, sparking concern for the EU Elections next June. The vast majority of anti-trans statements instrumentalise children, using scare tactics to create opposition to trans minors’ access to healthcare and restrictions on education.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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Get ready for crisis communications with our learning eventOn 3-6 May, we will organise a learning event to support LGBTI organisations in Europe and Central Asia in preparing for specific challenges or potential disruptions related to the activities planned or foreseen this year. The participants will gain more understanding on what is a communications crisis and how their team can prepare for one through a solidarity scenario-based exercise and peer-learning from activists all across the region.
Read more and apply by 10 March. |
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Apply for the programme for racialised LGBTI communitiesWe have an open call under our programme focused on work done by and for racialised LGBTI communities. LGBTI organisations in Europe that are led by racialised LGBTI people and work with and for racialised LGBTI communities are welcome to apply with their project proposals. The programme includes financial support and regular partner meetings.
Read more and apply before 2 April. Join our Q&A session on 21 March. |
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Join our team as our new Strategic Litigation OfficerWe are looking for a dynamic team player to lead on key activities aimed at strengthening strategic litigation on LGBTI rights in the EU, in a position linked to a project that runs until September 2025. The post is an integral part of our advocacy work for a strong legal and policy framework and implementation, protecting LGBTI human rights across Europe.
Read more and apply before 13 March. |
Bias-motivated violence |
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First ever EU rules on combating violence against womenOn 6 February, the European Parliament and Council negotiators reached an agreement on combating violence against women and domestic violence which includes the specific recognition of intersectional discrimination and LGBTI people as vulnerable groups. However, the agreement missed an opportunity to ban “intersex genital mutilation” and forced sterilisation of women and girls.
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Interior Minister of Tajikistan denies the existence of a list of LGBTI individualsOn 15 February, the Interior Minister of Tajikistan, Ramazon Rahimzoda, denied the existence of a list of LGBTI individuals, refuting previous reports. In 2016, law enforcement, in collaboration with the Prosecutor General’s Office, claimed to have identified over 300 LGBTI individuals at “high risk of HIV infection.” A 2017-dated article in the official journal of the Prosecutor General’s Office, authored by Rahimzoda, contradicts the Interior Minister’s recent statement, mentioning the identification of LGBTI individuals during police operations. The issue remains sensitive in Tajikistan, where societal taboos persist despite decriminalising same-sex relationships in 1998.
Read more. |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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Surge in anti-LGBTI attacks in KazakhstanOn 1 February, the Kazakh Senate approved a law prohibiting LGBTI individuals from mentoring orphans. This legislation also introduced changes to education, mentoring, and child safety laws. Subsequently, on 12 February, the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan blocked a newly established website aimed at informing LGBTI teenagers, citing violation of the law on protecting children from harmful information. On 13 February, an anti-LGBTI manifestation took place in Almaty. Zheltoqsan 86 activists performed a cleansing ritual near the statue commemorating victims of the December 1986 protests. This event occurred in response to an earlier protest by a Feminita activist urging Almaty authorities to approve the women’s march scheduled for 8 March, which had previously been blocked by Almaty Mayor’s office. Anti-LGBTI calls and manifestations go unprosecuted by the authorities.
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Turkmenistan received a question on the human rights of LBTI women at the UN review sessionDuring the 87th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 2 February, the Turkmen Delegation was questioned about the human rights situation of LBTI women and their access to public services. Selvi Sysoyeva, Head of the International Relations Department of the Interior Ministry of Turkmenistan, asserted that all citizens, irrespective of sexual orientation, receive state protection, including LBTI women. However, LGBTI individuals in Turkmenistan still face criminal repercussions for their sexual orientation under Article 135 of the Criminal Code, which imposes a jail term of up to 2 years for consensual same-sex relations between men.
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European Parliament calls for a second LGBTIQ Equality StrategyOn 8 February, the European Parliament voted on the Implementation report on the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy for the 2020–2025 period. The MEPs called for the European Commission to adopt a second LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and to establish an LGBTIQ Coordinator in the Commission. All EU institutions must remain strongly committed to LGBTIQ human rights in this time of increased attacks, commented ILGA-Europe.
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New report on Equality Bodies protecting the rights of rainbow families on the moveOn 14 February, Equinet – European Network of Equality Bodies published a new report on Equality Bodies protecting the rights of rainbow families on the move. The report gives an overview of the legal framework ensuring the protection of rights and freedoms of same-sex couples and their children on the move, particularly their fundamental right to non-discrimination and equality, with a focus on the role that Equality Bodies can play.
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Greece adopts historic bill introducing marriage equalityOn 15 February, the Greek Parliament adopted a bill introducing marriage equality. The new marriage equality law will grant marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples, as well as fully recognise all marriages and family ties of children who were born abroad to same-sex parents, and comes as a result of clear political leadership from the current Greek government.(Photo by Stavrialena Gontzou on Unsplash)
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Freedom of association |
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‘Foreign representation’ bill passed another reading at the Kyrgyz ParliamentOn 22 February, Kyrgyz lawmakers approved a bill in the second reading amending the law on NGOs by introducing provisions related to “foreign representation,” akin to Russia’s “foreign agent” law. However, during the second reading, lawmakers removed the provisions on criminal liability. Nonetheless, upon final adoption, the law will designate all NGOs receiving funds from abroad as “foreign representatives,” adding scrutiny and control to their operations. This bill faces strong opposition from human rights defenders, NGOs, and the international community. The debates surrounding the legislation are marked by the instrumentalisation of LGBTI people by the initiators.
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Freedom of expression |
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Belarus plans to adopt an anti-LGBTQ+ lawOn 19 February, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus announced that a draft law prohibiting “propaganda of non-traditional relations, including pedophilia, sex change, and voluntary refusal of childbirth” has been prepared by their office and is going through the process of approval. According to ILGA-Europe members in the country, the law is targeting LGBTQI+ activists and community members, as well as sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) activists. If adopted, the law will include administrative penalties and will open grounds for political persecutions of those involved in the topics of SOGIE and SRHR.
Read more about the proposed law. |
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Hungarian anti-LGBT propaganda law has created cloud of fearOn 27 February, Amnesty International published their new report on the implementation and chilling effect of the Hungarian anti-LGBT propaganda law. The 2021-dated law which curtails discussions and portrayals of LGBTI people in schools and in the media and has had a far-reaching impact on LGBTI individuals and groups in Hungary, entrenching negative stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes and restricting the right to freedom of expression, said Amnesty International. (Illustration: Amnesty)
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European Commission includes LGBTI people as risk group for vaccine-preventable cancersOn 31 January, the European Commission published their proposal for a recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers and included LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, and trans people as risk groups needing targeted action. The proposal is part of the initiatives in the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to support EU Member State efforts to extend routine vaccination against viruses that can cause cancers later in life.
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Take part in the largest survey for MSM and trans people in Europe and Central AsiaThe European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS) has been launched to collect data to inform sexual health interventions in Europe and Central Asia. You can take part in the survey if you’re a man (cis or trans), a trans woman or a non-binary person who has sex with men, who is attracted to other men or who thinks they might have sex with men in the future. The survey is available in 35 different languages.
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Human rights defenders |
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New EU directive sets standards for protecting public watchdogs against abusive litigationOn 27 February, the European Parliament adopted a directive about strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) which would protect journalists and human rights defenders (including LGBTI) from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings. The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) says that the directive sets the minimum standards and the EU Member States should now go further for protecting public watchdogs against abusive litigation in the form of SLAPPs.
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Pioneering research highlights the importance of meaningful digital inclusion for allOn 20 February, ILGA World launched a new report on how the digital divide impacts LGBTI people in specific ways. The research looks into the complex interplay between disparities in digital access and the unique experiences of individuals and communities of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics.
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Intersectionality |
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Commissioner for Human Rights calls for decriminalisation of sex workOn 15 February, Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, published a human rights comment on protecting the human rights of sex workers and called on the human rights-based approach, recognising decriminalisation of sex work.
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IGLYO is organising a study session on LGBTQI youth living in rural areasIGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation is organising a study session on the inclusion and empowerment of LGBTQI youth living in rural areas. The study session will take place in Budapest on 26 May to 1 June 2024, with all costs (travel, accommodation and food) covered, aside from the €50 registration fee. It is open to LGBTQI young people between 18 and 30 years old at the time of the visit, who reside in one of the countries of the Council of Europe, Belarus, Russian Federation, Holy See, Kosovo and Kazakhstan.
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Legal gender recognition |
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Anti-trans attacks grow in CroatiaOn 14 February, U ime obitelji (In the Name of Family), an anti-gender group, submitted a proposal to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia to initiate a procedure to assess the Rulebook which regulates legal gender recognition (LGR) for compliance with the law and the Constitution of Croatia. A similar application was submitted to the Constitutional Court in 2018 with the Court rejecting the request three years later. On 22 February, kolekTIRV, a trans-led organisation in Croatia, launched a campaign called “I am like you” to inform and raise awareness about the rights of trans and gender-diverse people. (Photo by Constitutional Court)
Read more about the attacks. Check out kolekTIRV’s campaign. |
Rule of law |
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New report shows how the weakening of the rule of law impacts the lives of LGBTI peopleWith the expert input of our member organisations, we published our contribution to the European Commission’s rule of law report consultation, in order to show how the weakening of the rule of law and of democratic structures impacts the lives of LGBTI people and the work of LGBTI civil society. Over the past few years it has become increasingly clear that many government-led violations of LGBTI rights in EU Member States go hand-in-hand with an undermining of the rule of law and democracy. This includes in particular the degradation of the independence of judicial systems and the media landscape.
Read the report. |
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ILGA World has two job vacanciesILGA World is hiring for the position of Junior Professional Consultant on audio-visual communications and Strategic Alliances & Coalitions Senior Officer. The Junior Professional Consultant will provide assistance to ILGA World’s communications team in the production of audio-visual content. The Strategic Alliance & Coalitions Senior Officer will be responsible for the work responding to anti-rights and anti-gender actors and working towards deepening collaboration and coordination with global feminist, SRHR movement actors, and other key stakeholders.
Read more about the jobs and send your application. |
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European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian Groups is hiring for two positionsThe European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian Groups is looking for an Executive Officer and a Research Officer – both part-time and remote positions. The Executive Officer will coordinate the project work and everyday activities of the European Forum, in liaison with its Board, Working Groups and membership. The research officer will work for the second run of the research on the inclusivity of European churches towards LGBTI+ people. Applications are due 27 March.
Read more and apply for the position of Executive Officer. Read more and apply for the position of Research Officer. |
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TGEU is looking for an Operations DirectorTGEU is seeking an Operations Director who will work on organisational management, including strategic planning, human resources and personnel management, and development and administration of projects and grants. It is a full-time position, 40 hours per week and is based in Berlin, Germany. TGEU will provide support if a work visa is required.
Read more and apply by 16 March. |
Rainbow Digest January 2024
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New call for project proposals working with racialised LGBTI communities towards justiceWe have launched a new call under our programme focused on work done by and for racialised LGBTI communities. LGBTI organisations in Europe that are led by racialised LGBTI people and work with and for racialised LGBTI communities are welcome to apply with their project proposals. The programme includes financial support and regular partner meetings.
Read more and apply before 2 April. |
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We’re looking for a consultant for the review of the Committee of Ministers LGBT RecommendationILGA-Europe is seeking a consultant or team of consultants to develop a regional report for the 2024 comprehensive review of the Committee of Ministers Recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a regional civil society report for the CM/Rec(2010)5 comprehensive review process.
Read more and apply before 4 February. |
Data collection |
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Acceptance of LGBTI people is on the rise across EUPublished last month, the latest Eurobarometer report, charting public opinion in the European Union, shows acceptance of LGBTI people is clearly on the rise across all EU countries. The results, however, reflect clearly that ongoing attacks on LGBTI rights have had an impact. The report has found that more than half of the general public say there is widespread discrimination in their country on the basis of gender identity (being transgender, 57%) or sexual orientation (54%). Discrimination against intersex people is in the high numbers too, at 47%. (Photo: Jennifer Jacquemart / European Union)
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Equality and non-discrimination |
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PACE members signed a declaration on the draft bill on anti-discrimination in ArmeniaOn 23 January, 20 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) signed a written statement regarding the Armenian Government’s law proposal for the “Law on Ensuring Equality.” The signatory parliamentarians that it is “a significant opportunity to enshrine explicit protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics into law” and appeal the government and the parliament in Armenia to ensure the protection of the rights of LGBTI people in the final law.
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Michael O’Flaherty elected Council of Europe Commissioner for Human RightsOn 24 January, Michael O’Flaherty, the previous Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, was elected as the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights by the organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) at its plenary session in Strasbourg. He will serve a non-renewable term of six years starting on 1 April 2024. The Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent and impartial non-judicial institution by the Council of Europe to promote awareness of and respect for human rights in the 46 member States. (Photo: PACE)
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IDAHOBIT 2024 theme announced: “No one left behind”IDAHOBIT, celebrated annually on 17 May, is a global initiative that aims to raise awareness about discrimination, violence, and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. The Secretaria announced the theme for the 2024 edition as “No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all”. As of January 2023 ILGA World has taken a more active role around the IDAHOBIT, by coordinating the Working Group and hosting its Secretariat.
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Foreign policy |
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European Parliament urges governments of Central Asia to respect LGBTI rightsOn 17 January, the European Parliament issued a resolution assessing the EU-Central Asia Strategy adopted in 2019. While broadly examining EU-Central Asia relations and trade, the resolution notably underscores deteriorating human rights situations across all Central Asian nations. It specifically addresses concerns about LGBTI rights and stresses the international obligations of Central Asian governments to uphold human rights commitments. This is particularly pertinent for Central Asian countries benefiting from GSP+ status in their trade with the EU (Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) and those planning to attain this status (Tajikistan). GSP+ necessitates non-EU countries trading with the EU to adhere to 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, and environmental standards.
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EBRD approves its new country strategy for Uzbekistan mentioning LGBTI issuesOn 26 January, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved its new strategy for Uzbekistan spanning 2024-2029. Notably, the updated document addresses the issue of LGBTI rights, acknowledging that consensual same-sex relations are deemed illegal in Uzbekistan. Unlike the prior strategy (2018-2023), this new approach makes a few references about this concern, partly influenced by the subtle advocacy efforts of LGBTI individuals in Uzbekistan. This marks a historic moment, as it is the first time an international financial institution incorporates LGBTI issues into their strategic documents.
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Freedom of expression |
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LGBTI activists under attack over a website providing information for LGBTI teenagersA group of LGBTI activists in Kazakhstan faced opposition from anti-gender movements due to their awareness-raising efforts. The activists developed a website in Russian and Kazakh languages, focusing on providing information for LGBTI teenagers as a crucial initiative in a country where information on LGBTI rights in Kazakh is limited. However, anti-gender organisations ‘Senimen Bolashak’ and the Union of Parents of Kazakhstan initiated a petition urging the government to ban the website. This occurred shortly after another petition called on the Kazakh Parliament to pass a law against so-called gay propaganda. Both petitions, as of now, have not gained significant public support.
Read more (in Russian). |
Hate speech and hate crime |
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EP calls for the criminalisation of hate speech and hate crime under EU lawOn 18 January, the European Parliament adopted a report to call for the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU to prioritise the Commission’s proposal on extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime in their agenda. The list of EU crimes are crimes of a particularly serious nature with a cross-border dimension, for which Parliament and Council can establish minimum rules to define criminal offences and sanctions. The Parliament also called for the European Commission to consider an open-ended approach to the list of grounds for motivation, acknowledging the evolving nature of hate speech and crimes.
Read more. |
Human rights defenders |
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First case of “extremism” has been opened in RussiaOn 18 January, a local newspaper reported that a blogger in Russia is facing charges after posting a rainbow flag on Instagram. This is the first reported case initiated under the November-dated Supreme Court decision banning “international LGBT movement” as extremist. The blogger might receive a fine up to RUB2,000 or up to 15 days of detainment and a criminal case in case of repeated “offence”. This first case, however, gave the opportunity to lawyers to access and publish the full text (source in Russian) of the Supreme Court’s extremism ruling, which gives insights about what is considered as “international LGBTI movement” and what might be signs of belonging to it according to Russian authorities. (Photo: InkBoB, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) |
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Kyrgyzstan’s parliament plans to criminalise and obstruct civic activismOn 23 January, the Committee on Constitutional Legislation of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament gave its final approval for a draft law, which is based on corresponding Russian legislation, proposing to introduce a series of amendments to Kyrgyzstan’s law on non-profit organisations and its Criminal Code. Although some changes have been made to the initial version of the draft law, it remains fundamentally flawed and introduces far-reaching restrictions on the activities of foreign-funded groups. If passed by the full parliament on two more readings, the draft law will be sent to the president for signature.
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Legal gender recognition |
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Romanian trans man’s landmark case heard by the Court of Justice of the European UnionOn 23 January, the Court of Justice of the European Union Grand Chamber held the hearing of the case of Arian who is a trans man with Romanian and British citizenship and has filed a lawsuit against Romanian authorities over their refusal to recognise his new male name and gender identity acquired in the United Kingdom (while still treated as an EU Member State). At the oral hearing, the governments of the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, as well as the European Commission all stressed that EU citizens have the fundamental right to have their gender identity recognised across the EU. The Advocate general of the Court will issue an opinion about the case on 7 May.
Read more about the case. |
Notice board |
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IGLYO are searching participants for the 2024 class of their Global Online Activist AcademyIGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation are searching for their next class of young queer activists for their Global Online Activist Academy, a skills-based training programme for young people across the world. If you are LGBTQI, aged 18-30 and can work through English, you can apply for the training taking place on 3-22 April.
Read more and apply before 11 February. |
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ERA is looking for two project coordinatorsERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey is hiring two project coordinators who will lead the implementation of assigned projects, conduct research on LGBTI issues and develop advocacy strategies to promote LGBTI rights and equality. It is a remote work with one year contract with a possibility of extension.
Read more and apply by 15 February. |
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Red Umbrella Fund is recruiting for its CoordinatorRed Umbrella Fund is the first and only global fund dedicated to supporting the rights of sex workers. Red Umbrella Fund is recruiting for its next Coordinator. The Red Umbrella Fund Coordinator is the senior staff member responsible for the day-to-day management of the Red Umbrella Fund secretariat. The position is available for individuals working remotely and/or for individuals working in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Applicants with sex work experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
Read more and apply by 12 February. |
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GPP is seeking a Director of Development and AdvancementGlobal Philanthropy Project (GPP) is hiring a Director of Development and Advancement who will oversee all aspects of development for the organisation, including the advancement and implementation of a multi-year fundraising strategy, grant writing, reporting, and general management and oversight of related revenue forecasting, budgeting, and administrative systems. The position is 100% remote.
Read more and apply by 5 February. |
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Nebula Fund is hiring a Grantmaking StrategistNebula Fund supports movements advancing gender justice and LGBTQI+ rights to expand their narrative power. They’re looking for a Grantmaking Strategist who is responsible for developing and sustaining grantmaking portfolios. The job operates in a virtual home office or co-working environment, with occasional travel.
Read more and apply by 14 February. |
Rainbow Digest: December 2023
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Help transform realities for LGBTI communities across Europe and Central Asia.With your support we can do more. Make change happen here. No. 339. December 2023. In this issue… ILGA-Europe
Bodily integrity EU enlargement Equality and non-discrimination
Family
Hate speech
Notice board |
ILGA-Europe |
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We have three great new positionsDid you know that ILGA-Europe is currently recruiting three new people to join our passionate, dedicated team working hard in Brussels to advance safety, equality and freedom for LGBTI people across Europe and Central Asia? We’re looking for a Senior Grants and Finance Officer, a Senior Advocacy Officer, and a Senior Programmes Officer.
Read more and apply for the positions. |
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New report on the experiences of LGBTI people with disabilitiesIn the ninth of our series of Intersections reports, deep-diving into the data from the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) 2019 LGBTI Survey II, we have collaborated with the European Disability Forum, focusing on experiences of LGBTI persons with disabilities in Europe. Disaggregated data, which can look deeply into the lived experiences of marginalised people, is a key demand of LGBTI and other human rights groups. With this in mind, over the last year ILGA-Europe partnered with a variety of NGOs to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation.
Read our report on disabled LGBTI people. Read more and download the Intersections report. |
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5 things the LGBTI movement must do to continue achieving real changeThis year marked the end of Evelyne Paradis’ tenure as Executive Director of ILGA-Europe. In a new series of videos, Evelyne shares five fundamental things she’s learned over almost 20 years in the job about how the LGBTI movement can continue and grow as powerful agents of change.
Watch the series of videos. |
Bodily integrity |
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Norway approves the ban on conversion practicesOn 12 and 15 December, the parliament in Norway held two hearings about the bill that plans to ban conversion practices. The parliament approved the ban with a majority vote. The bill suggests an absolute ban on the harmful practice regarding sexual orientation and gender identity both exercised in Norway and abroad, and also sanctions advertisements. It envisions special protections for minors. (Photo: FRI) |
EU enlargement |
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Giving hope comes with responsibility to us, say activists from new EU enlargement countriesOn 7 December, LGBTI activists from new EU enlargement countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia gathered in Brussels to call on EU representatives to live up to the promise that comes with the accession process. Recommendations from the EU regarding the human rights of LGBTI people are key tools supporting LGBTI organisations to engage with their governments and hold them accountable to the commitments made.
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Equality and non-discrimination |
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ILGA World releases a new global report on legal protection for intersex peopleOn 12 December, ILGA World released the first edition of its Intersex Legal Mapping Report, a global survey on legal protections for people born with variations in sex characteristics. A large majority of UN member States have yet to make any sufficient legal attempt to protect intersex people’s right to bodily integrity and autonomy. Still, a trend of positive developments is emerging, ILGA World said.
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Attacks on LGBTI rights in Italy are human rights violations, Commissioner reportsOn 14 December, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, released her country report on Italy, clearly naming the discontinuation of transcriptions of foreign birth certificates of children born from surrogacy or artificial reproduction technology, and the lack of protections for LGBTI people against discrimination and hatred, as human rights violations.
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Family |
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Poland must ensure that same-sex couples are legally recognised, European Court rulesOn 12 December, the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgement against Poland in a case taken by five same-sex couples in the country, seeking to have their relationships legally protected. Same-sex partners are unable to regulate fundamental aspects of their life together, such as those concerning property, maintenance, taxation, and inheritance. Also, in the majority of situations, their relationship holds no weight in dealings with the judicial or administrative authorities. (Photo: Tomek Kaczor)
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European Parliament adopts a report on parenthood recognition across the EUOn 14 December, the European Parliament adopted a report on the recognition of parenthood across the EU, which stipulates that when a child’s parental ties are established in one Member State, they should be recognised across the Union, taking the best interest of the child as its core premise. The report supports the European Commission’s draft regulation on this matter, which would apply to all types of families and ensure that a child does not ‘lose’ its parents when crossing from one EU Member State to another.
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Hate speech |
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European Commission launch call to action against all forms of hatredOn 6 December, the European Commission and the High Representative adopted a Communication on “No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred”, acknowledging the escalating tide of hatred against some groups in the EU. The Commission will upgrade The Coordinators on these subjects to envoys. ILGA-Europe welcomed this decision with the note that they are “looking forward to forthcoming LGBTI strategy and designation of an envoy to counter anti-LGBTI hatred with the new strategy”.
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Council of Europe calls for participation in the study on hate speechThe Council of Europe invites civil society organisations to take part in the impact study and gain valuable insights in their work on counter-narratives to hate speech. Organisations with experience in consistent use of human rights-based counter and alternative narratives in their work are encouraged to apply. The call is open for CSOs based and operating in any of the 27 EU member states or working on European level.
Read more and apply before 7 January. |
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The Williams Institute launched a new call for research proposalsThe Williams Institute announced their new call for research proposals for fostering impactful research within the LGBTQI+ community through their Global LGBTQI+ Seed Grants Program and the Global LGBTIQ+ Aging Seed Grants Program (with SAGE). They invite applications from researchers, academics, and civil society organisations passionate about advancing knowledge and strengthening data collection on LGBTQI+ populations within least developed, low-, and middle-income countries. The deadline for applications is 31 January.
Read more and apply for the Global LGBTQI+ Seed Grants. Read more and apply for the Global LGBTIQ+ Aging Seed Grants. |
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ECOM is looking for a Program Manager and a Human Rights CoordinatorECOM — Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity has several open vacancies, including for a Program Manager and a Human Rights Coordinator. The Program Manager will be responsible for the effective implementation of ECOM’s ongoing programs, including the planning and control of program activities. The Human Rights Coordinator will be responsible for ECOM’s work to create an enabling legal environment to strengthen the response to HIV among LGBT people. Both of the positions require English and Russian languages.
Read more and send your application by 7 January. |
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OII Europe’s new guideline for making LGBTQ(I) organisations intersex inclusiveOII Europe published a new flyer that provides some guidelines to help LGBTQ(I) organisations start the process of including the topic of intersex rights in their work. The guideline has information and guidance about creating contacts with intersex communities and activists, supporting the intersex communities and how to actively include them in the work of the organisations, among other subjects.
Read more and download your own copy of the flyer. |
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Abstract submissions are open for the International AIDS ConferenceThe International AIDS Society (AIS) has opened abstract submissions for the AIDS 2024, the 25th International AIDS Conference, which will take place in Munich, Germany, and virtually from 22 to 26 July 2024. They accept the submission of abstracts for original contributions to the fields under several scientific tracks.
Read more and send your submission by 24 January. |
Rainbow Digest November 2023
ILGA-Europe |
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New report on homelessness launchedIn the eighth of our series of Intersections reports, deep-diving into the data from the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) 2019 LGBTI Survey II, we have collaborated with FEANTSA, focusing on LGBTI people’s experiences of homelessness. According to the report, almost one in five LGBTI people have experienced homelessness.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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New call for applications for the review of the Committee of Ministers recommendationsILGA-Europe will support 20 groups to input to the review of the Committee of Ministers Recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. In 2024, the Council of Europe will conduct a third comprehensive review of this Recommendation. Civil society will have access to the unfilled questionnaire for the review, and is encouraged to submit shadow versions of the questionnaire. To ensure strong civil society engagement, we will support groups to develop and submit shadow questionnaire responses.
Read more and apply before 4 December. |
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Hear from activists about effective campaigns without playing into polarisationJoin us on 13 December for an online event to hear from activists from Hungary and Spain about how to proactively and effectively communicate while not playing into populist narratives that feed polarisation. You will get the first-hand insights about the strategies used in Hungary, where Háttér Society used the so-called “anti-LGBT Referendum” to talk to their allies and in Spain, where La Intersession successfully campaigned for the rights of trans people.
Register for the event. |
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Join our team as our new Senior Grants and Finance OfficerWe’re looking for a committed colleague with a love of budgets, an eye for detail, and an ability to interpret and translate financial regulations into practical advice for ILGA-Europe grantees. The role of Senior Grants and Finance Officer merges financial operations and expense verification tasks with capacity building and administration.
Read more and apply before 27 December. |
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This festive season, give the gift of a donation to equalityLooking for a gift for someone who has it all this festive season? Thanks to our partner GlobalGiving, you can make a donation to ILGA-Europe in the name of someone special, including a card with your personalised message. A donation to ILGA-Europe is the perfect gift for a loved one who cares deeply about LGBTI equality, and will make a real difference to LGBTI lives across Europe and Central Asia.
Head to GlobalGiving’s gifts page to get started. |
Asylum |
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Germany plans to classify new safe countries of origin despite LGBTI persecutionThe German government plans to name Georgia and Moldova as safe countries of origin, the opposition parties CDU/CSU and AFD also want to include Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in that list. On 6 November, 27 civil society organisations from Germany, Europe and around the world supported an open letter led by the Lesbian and Gay Association (LSVD) calling on the German federal government to recognise the fact that for LGBTI people these are often not safe countries, and thus all claims need to be assessed individually to do justice to the international right to protection. (Photo: LSVD/ Kerstin Thost)
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Decriminalisation |
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Uzbekistan receives record number of recommendations for decriminalisation during the UN reviewOn 8 November, Uzbekistan’s human rights record was examined by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the fourth time. 13 countries submitted recommendations on decriminalising consensual same-sex conduct between men. Representatives from at least a dozen countries also recommended developing legislation that would protect against all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Interior Deputy Minister of Uzbekistan Yakhhodzhon Abdulkhakov responded “In 2023, a total of 22 criminal cases were initiated under Article 120 of the Criminal Code for sodomy” admitting the continuing enforcement of the criminalisation.
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EU enlargement |
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“Respect LGBTI rights in EU-Turkey relations”On 8 November, the European Commission adopted its Enlargement Package, providing an assessment of the progress made by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. On 14 November, alongside five other international human rights organisations, ILGA-Europe demanded that the EU take specific steps to ensure respect for the human rights of LGBTI people in Turkey in future EU-Turkey relations.
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Family |
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Latvia adopts registered partnership for same-sex couplesOn 9 November, the Latvian parliament voted to adopt a new legislation on registered partnership for all couples. The law finally grants legal recognition of same-sex couples. The couples can register their partnerships by contacting a notary. Changes in the laws provide that the partnership can be concluded from 1 July of the next year.
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Organisations draw attention to the attacks on rainbow families in ItalyOn 20 November, World’s Children Day, ILGA-Europe joined 8 other LGBTI organisations condemning attacks on rainbow families in Italy and urging the Italian government to reconsider all its anti-LGBTIQ* actions. Earlier this year, Italy’s Minister of Interior of Meloni’s government announced that registrars should no longer register the children of same-sex couples. The government’s intimidation resulted in a series of administrative and legal attacks against LGBTIQ* families throughout the country.
Read more on the joint statement. |
Hate crime |
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Trans Day of Remembrance: “We mourn and call to end the violence”On 20 November, Trans Day of Remembrance, trans and allied organisations released a joint statement with clear demands for policymakers and donors to turn the tide against anti-trans violence and hatred. According to the latest Transgender Europe’s report, in the last 12 months, 321 trans and gender-diverse people were reported murdered globally.
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Health |
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Take the survey measuring HIV knowledge and attitudes in the healthcare settingThe European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) are working to better understand HIV knowledge and attitudes in healthcare settings. A survey is being conducted to measure knowledge and attitudes towards HIV in the healthcare setting in Europe or Central Asia. The survey is available in 38 languages.
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Human rights defenders |
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Russia declares the ‘international LGBT movement’ an extremist organisationOn 30 November, Russia’s Supreme Court banned what it called the “international LGBT public movement” as extremist. The LGBTI movement’s activities within Russia were said to “incite social and religious discord” in violation of the country’s anti-extremism laws. This violently disproportionate decision, which has been classified as a state secret and is therefore not open to scrutiny, makes imprisonment a very real scenario for participating in activism, sharing information about LGBTI people’s human rights, or simply speaking up. (Photo: InkBoB, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Legal gender recognition |
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Trans woman is in hunger strike for legal gender recognition in BulgariaOn 13 November, Gabriela Bankova, a trans woman from Bulgaria, started a hunger strike in front of the Palace of Justice in Sofia after being refused to have her gender identity recognised in the official documents. The LGBTI organisations Bilitis and GLAS Foundation support her protest and demand the legislators to introduce a legal framework for legal gender recognition. Gabriela’s case is one of many of the examples of refused applications for legal gender recognition following the 2017-dated Constitutional Court decision outlawing legal gender recognition in the country. (Photo by Miroslav Mihaylov / RFE/RL)
Read more. Support the campaign by signing the online petition. |
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Apply to UN Trans Advocacy Week 2024TGEU, RFSL, GATE, APTN, EATHAN, and ILGA World are organising the 8th UN Trans Advocacy Week, which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 56th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council in June/July 2024. The call is aimed at trans and gender-diverse human rights defenders with an interest in enhancing their understanding of international advocacy mechanisms and identifying ways to strengthen their local advocacy through engaging and interacting with relevant UN bodies and mechanisms.
Read more and apply before 10 December. |
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OII Europe is hiring for the position of Junior Policy OfficerOII Europe is looking for a full time Junior Policy Officer who will work towards the implementation of human rights standards for intersex people in Europe. The position is initially temporary for one year, with the perspective of being turned into a permanent position.
Read more and send your application by 15 December. |
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Applications are now open for the funding for strategic litigation on digital rightsThe Digital Freedom Fund has opened a new cycle of applications to support strategic litigation on digital rights in Europe that contributes to advancing human rights in the digital context. Currently they accept grant applications for two types of activities – litigation track support and pre-litigation research support. Starting in 2024, litigation track support grants can include post-litigation activities.
Read more and submit your application before 14 February. |
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European AIDS Treatment Group is seeking their new Executive DirectorThe European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) is looking for a new Executive Director who will lead and represent the organisation, both internally and externally. They hold numerous responsibilities, primarily focused on managing the organisation and its staff. Their key tasks include implementing the organisation’s strategy, achieving its goals, and meeting its objectives.
Read more and apply before 15 December. |
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International AIDS Society has two consultanciesThe International AIDS Society (AIS) published new calls for two consultancies to provide services for AIDS 2024, the 25th International AIDS Conference. AIS is looking for a community activist liaison and a positive lounge consultant. The community activist liaison will support activism engagement in the lead up to, during and after the conference. The positive lounge consultant will support the positive lounge which is a place of rest and support for delegates living with HIV.
Read more and send your applications. |
Rainbow Digest: October 2023
ILGA-Europe |
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Our Conference brought together 450 activists and allies in LjubljanaWe held our Annual Conference from 25 to 28 October under the theme of “Rising to the moment”. We were 450+ activists and allies in Ljubljana. We had 23 workshops, 19 self-organised sessions, 9 connecting spaces, 25 social events, and many more brave and thoughtful moments. Thanks to all our participants for making this Conference a space of inspiration, connection and celebration of queer joy.
Watch back the panel discussions. |
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Listen to our new podcast with Evelyne and Chaber on changing timesIn a new episode of The Frontline podcast, as Evelyne Paradis hands over the reins of leadership to our new Executive Director, Chaber, we sit down with them both to talk about how ILGA-Europe has evolved as an organisation alongside the LGBTI movement over the past decades, and what’s just around the corner, both for the organisation and for the movement.
Listen to the podcast on your preferred platform. |
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Opportunity to join our team as a Communications and Media OfficerWe’re looking for a bright, smart, enthusiastic person who is passionate about communications, media and LGBTI equality to join our team. The Communications and Media Officer will be responsible for ensuring a high profile for the organisation and current issues for LGBTI people with key European stakeholders and for developing content about ILGA-Europe’s work and strategic issues for the European LGBTI movement.
Read more and apply before 6 November. |
Bias-motivated violence |
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New recommendations from the Council of Europe on combating LGBTI phobic hate crimesOn 4 October, the Council of Europe’s Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion published twelve recommendations to its member states to combat LGBTI phobic hate crimes. These recommendations encompass a wide range of measures, from improving the capacity and training of law enforcement agencies and promoting accessible reporting for victims, to improving implementation and enforcement of existing legal frameworks. With our members, ILGA-Europe actively contributed to the review process, providing expert testimony and identifying measures to fight hate crimes effectively.
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Bodily integrity |
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Vital meeting at PACE on banning conversion practicesOn 12 October, the Parliamentary Platform for the rights of LGBTI people in Europe, a group of Parliamentarians committed to protecting the rights of LGBTI people at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), held a meeting on banning conversion practices. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic presented her recent human rights comment on the issue. This was a vital meeting because it is the first time Parliamentarians had a focused discussion just on conversion practices at PACE in Strasbourg. (Image: Thomas Fuchs / CoE)
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Data collection |
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Take the survey on the needs of LBTQI girls, women and non-binary youthIGLYO and E*LC are currently carrying out research aimed at exploring the needs, challenges, and lived experiences LBTQI girls and young women, as well as non-binary and gender diverse youth between the ages of 15 and 30, residing in Europe. Completing the survey takes about 15 minutes and is entirely anonymous.
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Equality and non-discrimination |
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UN expert calls for scrapping of colonial laws and policies that marginalise LGBT personsOn 27 October, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the United Nations’s Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity launched his report on the impact of colonialism and decolonisation for LGBT people. The vast majority of countries that have laws and policies targeting individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity have inherited these practices from the legacy of colonisation, said-he.
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UN decisions might overrule court decisions in UzbekistanA new bill is proposed in Uzbekistan to normalise the decisions of the UN treaty bodies which will serve as a ground to overrule court decisions. If this bill is adopted, LGBTI people in Uzbekistan could also use it in their advocacy for decriminalisation of consensual same-sex conduct between men in Uzbekistan. The draft law suggests that a court verdict and ruling that has entered into legal force can be cancelled and proceedings resumed in connection with a decision of the UN treaty bodies.
Read more (in Russian). |
Freedom of association |
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Kazakhstan lists new organisations as “foreign agents”On 20 September, the Ministry of Finance in Kazakhstan published a list of entities and individuals who receive international funding. The list includes over 200 organisations, companies, journalists and bloggers. Despite the attempts to pass legislation like “foreign agents” law, Kazakhstan does not have a draft law explicitly designating CSOs as “foreign agents”. Recent actions by the Kazakh authorities have been taken under the pretext of transparency.
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Kyrgyzstan’s parliament discuss a draft law on “foreign agents”On 17 October, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament held the first reading of the “foreign representatives” draft law, which would interfere with the activities of non-governmental organisations receiving funding from abroad. Two parliamentary committees approved the bill on 3 and 10 October, making the way for three readings in the plenary of parliament. In August, the Kyrgyz Parliament enacted a new law that aims to restrict freedom of expression and access to information about LGBTI people, identities, rights, and lives.
Read more. |
Health |
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Join the summer school transgender healthThe European Professional Association for Transgender Health (EPATH) organises their second summer school from 1 July to 5 July 2024, at Ghent University in Belgium. The summer school deals with the multidisciplinary approaches to the social, mental and physical well-being of transgender and gender diverse persons. For your application, you need to submit an abstract with a research proposal or a case study.
Read more and apply for the summer school. |
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OII Europe is looking for an Administration OfficerOII Europe is looking for a full-time Administration Officer to strengthen their team in its work towards the implementation of human rights standards for intersex people in Europe. The position is temporary for one year, with the perspective of being turned into a permanent position. The successful candidate will be tasked with all administrative aspects of OII Europe’s work.
Read more and apply before 13 November. |
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Human Rights Watch seeks a Director for LGBT Rights ProgramHuman Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a human rights professional to lead its LGBT Rights Program, one of HRW’s eight thematic research and advocacy programs. The successful candidate will be a strategic leader with deep knowledge and experience working on a diverse range of human rights issues related to LGBT rights. The position will be based in any of HRW’s global offices.
Read more and apply before 12 November. |
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The Solidarity Fund is now open for Black feminist movementsThe Black Feminist Fund opened a new application window for funding for Black feminist groups in the Americas, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The Black Feminist Fund resources registered and non-registered groups that are at the forefront of Black feminist resistance, who are building Black feminist joy, creativity, alternatives and futures, and who strengthen the Black feminist movement architecture and infrastructure in their communities and transnationally.
Read more and apply by 9 November. |
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New grant opportunity for lesbian activismEuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) launched a new call for proposals for the registered member organisations of the EL*C within the European Union. The projects should contribute to strengthening the capacity on LBTIQ community members or advocacy or involvement in policy and decision-making processes or awareness raising about the LBTIQ community.
Read more and apply before 1 December. |
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The European Institute for Gender Equality is looking for a researcher and an officerThe European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) published two vacancies for a Researcher on Gender Based Violence and a Gender Mainstreaming Officer. Based in Vilnius, Lithuania, EIGE is a decentralised agency of the European Union entrusted with specific objectives envisaged to contribute and strengthen the promotion of gender equality. You can apply for the position of the Researcher until 20 November and for the position of the Gender Mainstreaming Officer until 23 November.
Read more. |
Rainbow Digest September 2023
ILGA-Europe |
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Our Executive Director Evelyne Paradis talks about LGBTI activism nowWe published the second of three interviews with ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director, Evelyne Paradis as she departs the organisation. As she gets ready to hand over the reins to our new Executive Director, in this episode of The Frontline, Evelyne talks about how the LGBTI movement in Europe and Central Asia has evolved over her time leading ILGA-Europe, and how ILGA-Europe’s work to build and enhance the movement has evolved and grown too.
Listen to the podcast episode on your preferred platform. |
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New report on the experiences of bi+ community in EuropeIn the seventh of our series of Intersections reports, deep-diving into the data from the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) 2019 LGBTI Survey II, we have collaborated with Bi+ Nederland, to further understand the challenges faced by bisexual people. The briefing summarises the findings of data analysis disaggregating the responses of bisexual people from the responses provided by all LGBTI respondents to the 2019 FRA LGBTI Survey II, in order to show the differences in their lived experiences compared to the overall community.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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Opportunity to join our team as a Communications and Media OfficerWe’re looking for a bright, smart, enthusiastic person who is passionate about communications, media and LGBTI equality to join our team. The Communications and Media Officer will be responsible for ensuring a high profile for the organisation and current issues for LGBTI people with key European stakeholders and for developing content about ILGA-Europe’s work and strategic issues for the European LGBTI movement.
Read more and apply before 6 November. |
Asylum |
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New online module on LGBTI persons in the asylum procedure for legal professionalsThe Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Unit and the Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) of the Council of Europe together with LGBTI civil society organisations, including ILGA-Europe, has been working on developing interactive and comprehensive online HELP module on LGBTI Persons in the Asylum Procedure. The module that aims to increase the capacity of legal professionals dealing with asylum claims based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics is now available on the Council of Europe HELP online platform.
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Bias-motivated violence |
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Attacks during the EuroPride events in MaltaOn 4 September, shortly before the official opening ceremony of EuroPride, hosted this year by the Maltese city of Valletta, a poster advertising one of the events was vandalised in Castille Square. A few days into the celebrations, in the hours after the second annual Gozo Pride parade on 9 September, a group of queer people faced verbal harassment on their way to a local bar. The situation escalated and one of the people in the group was physically assaulted. (Photo: Lovin Malta)
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Attacker convicted to 2 years in prison for the attack against an LGBTI activist in North MacedoniaOn 5 September, a Basic Criminal Court North Macedonia issued a judgement which convicted the attacker of LGBTI activist Bekim Asani to 2 years in prison for the violent attack perpetrated against him in Skopje in August 2022. The court applied the aggravating ground of sexual orientation of the criminal code, and marks a step towards better implementation of laws protecting LGBTI people. ILGA-Europe call for North Macedonia to continue to uphold the rule of law by continuing to implement its hate crime law correctly, and to start properly implementing its hate speech law by convicting cases of hate speech against LGBTI people and human rights defenders.
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Significant European Court judgments concerning violence against LGBTI people involving state agentsOn 12 September, the European Court of Human Rights issued judgments in the cases in Romanov and Others v Russia and Lapunov v Russia. Romanov and Others v Russia concerned Russia’s failure to prevent and protect LGBTI community members from homophobic violence during peaceful demonstrations and ensure effective investigation. The applicant in Lapunov v Russia was one of the victims of the “anti-gay purges” that took place in Chechnya in 2016-2017, having been detained and tortured in March 2017. According to ILGA-Europe’s Head of Litigation, Arpi Avetisyan, “These cases are of great significance for the recognition of the rights of LGBTI people that have suffered by inaction or actual infliction of violence by state agents”.
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Equality and non discrimination |
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Open letter to the European Parliament about “Prostitution Report”On 5 September, the European Coalition on Sex Workers’ Rights and Inclusion wrote an open letter to Members of the European Parliament to reject and to vote against the report Regulation of prostitution in the EU: its cross-border implications and impact on gender equality and women’s rights, 2022/2139(INI). The report calls on the EU to criminalise some aspects of sex work that further compromises vulnerable groups, increasing their risks of violence. On 14 September, the report was voted on and passed as a full-fledged resolution. However, significantly more MEPs voted against or abstained than voting in favour of the report.
Read more on our open letter. |
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New position paper on sex work from the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girlsOn 24 September, the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls adopted a position paper on eliminating discrimination against sex workers and securing their human rights. The position paper is informed by the views of sex workers, aims to raise the visibility of violations of sex workers’ human rights under different policy regimes, to clarify and re-affirm international human rights standards and to make recommendations for States and other stakeholders, to further realise the human rights of sex workers. The WGDAWG proposes full decriminalisation of adult voluntary sex work from a human rights perspective, as it holds the greatest promise to address systemic discrimination and violence and the impunity for the violations of sex workers’ rights.
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“Stop facial recognition surveillance now”On 26 September, 180 civil society groups, including ILGA-Europe, shared a statement calling on governments to stop the use of facial recognition surveillance by police, authorities and private companies. In summer 2023, the European Parliament adopted a position which would ban the majority of such practices. However, EU governments are pushing back in the final negotiations on the AI Act, claiming that we need these systems for safety and security.
Read the statement. |
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New report on the economic cost of exclusion in North Macedonia and SerbiaOn 26 September, the World Bank published two reports about the economic cost of exclusion based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics: one about North Macedonia and another about Serbia. These are the first two reports in a series of studies providing new data on key labour market indicators for LGBTI people and their experiences of labour market discrimination and exclusion, along with an estimate of the resulting economic impact.
Read more and download your own copies of the reports. |
Family |
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ECHR: Bulgaria must recognise same-sex relationshipsOn 4 September, the European Court of Human Rights made a judgment establishing a clear obligation on Bulgaria to provide a legal framework for recognition of same-sex families under Article 8. The judgment of Koilova and Babulkova v. Bulgaria confirms judgment in the Fedobova case confirming the positive obligation on all CoE Member states to ensure same-sex families have means for recognition, and that arguments of protection of public interest do not justify non-recognition. (Photo: Deystvie)
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Notice board |
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New guide for journalist on trans- and non-binary-informed journalismTransgender Europe (TGEU) published a new guide for journalists, editors and content creators on inclusive, trans- and non-binary-informed journalism and representation. The guide brings together recommendations and knowledge from other publications and guidelines by civil organisations and associations. The perspectives of local trans activists and organisations are included to represent the voices of the community. It includes a quick checklist, practical guide, information about key themes of trans rights, and a list of myths on trans issues.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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ILGA World has job vacanciesILGA World is hiring for three positions: Senior Logistics Officer, Audit and Reporting Assistant, and Pathways Regional Officer. The Senior Logistics Officer to support the Operations team and its Manager with events production, logistics and administrative tasks. The Audit and Reporting Assistant will work on the preparation and delivery of the Audit as well as on regular reporting for grants, programmes and the Board. The Pathways Regional Officer will support a new global resource mobilisation project, “LGBTI Pathways.”
Read more and send your applications. |
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EIGE is looking for a national expert for stakeholder relationsThe European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) invites applications with a view to establishing a reserve list for the post of Seconded National Expert (SNE) – Stakeholder Relations. The SNE will support the Institute’s stakeholder engagement and outreach activities, and present EIGE’s findings in relevant working groups or committees of the European Commission and the European Parliament. Based in Vilnius, Lithuania, EIGE is a decentralised agency of the European Union on the promotion of gender equality.
Read more and apply before 23 October. |
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IGLYO is discussing queer identity, socio-economic background, and employabilityOn 26 October, IGLYO is holding a webinar on “Queer Identity, Socio-Economic Background, and Employability” with an aim to provide practical guidance and support, focusing on enhancing the LGBTQI youth’s employability skills and empowering them to overcome unique challenges in the job market. It will address the specific challenges encountered by queer youth from working-class backgrounds in their pursuit of employability.
Read more and register for the webinar. |
Rainbow Digest August 2023
ILGA-Europe |
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New Executive Director for ILGA-Europe appointedThe board of ILGA-Europe have announced that Chaber, a previous Executive Director of the Polish LGBT organisation, KPH (Campaign Against Homophobia), will step into the role from 1 October. They have also worked as ILGA-Europe’s Finance Director for the past five years. Their appointment to lead ILGA-Europe comes after a recruitment process that began in May of this year.
Read more about the announcement. Read the Q&A with our new Executive Director, Chaber. |
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Listen to our interview with Evelyne Paradis on LGBTI rights and politicsWe published the first of three interviews with ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director, Evelyne Paradis as she departs the organisation, after 18 years, nearly 14 of which she spent as its leader. In this episode, Evelyne talks about how politics have evolved over her time leading ILGA-Europe, which included the dawn and global spreading of social media, and how Europe’s political institutions have progressed to include LGBTI people across a broad range of portfolios and initiatives.
Listen to the podcast on your preferred platform. |
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Join our Skills Boost session on media interviews practiceAre you nervous about how to get your message across in TV interviews, or even whether you should accept the interview in the first place? Join us at 12:00 noon CEST, Tuesday 5 September for a Skills Boost session specifically designed for LGBTI activists to prepare for and be more confident in your media appearances. The session will be beginner-friendly and focus on TV interviews, with examples and testimonies from LGBTI activists.
Read more and register. |
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We are looking for a new Finance DirectorWe are seeking a new Finance Director to contribute to ILGA-Europe’s overall success by planning, implementing, managing and controlling the organisation’s finances and all financial and administrative activities and operations. The Finance Director will manage multiple streams of funding, maintain ILGA-Europe’s accounts and book-keeping, develop financial plans and strategies to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the organisation, manage the Finance and Administration team, and create smooth and solid ways of managing our re-granting work.
Read more and apply before 27 September. |
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Apply for the consultancy: learning partner to support learning in the programme focused on the work by and for racialised LGBTI communities in EuropeWe currently have a new 12-month programme that focuses on the work being done by and for racialised LGBTI communities in Europe. Under the current programme we support 10 organisations who work with and for racialised LGBTI communities in Europe. We are looking for a consultant who will support our Programmes Officer as a learning partner, and co-design and carry out the learning component of the programme based on the specific learning tiers.
Read more and apply before 24 September. |
Bias-motivated violence |
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Bulgaria passes legislation against hate crime on sexual orientationOn 28 July, the parliament in Bulgaria adopted several amendments to its Penal Code that protects against hate crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation. According to our member organisation GLAS Foundation, this is the first significant legislative change in favour of LGBTI people in Bulgaria since the adoption of the Protection from Discrimination Act in 2004. The amendment came into effect on 8 August. (Photo by GLAS Foundation)
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Trans woman murdered in ArmeniaOn 20 August, 28-year-old trans woman Adriana was brutally murdered in her own apartment in Yerevan. After the murder, her apartment was set on fire. A day later, a group of assailants attacked the participants of a candlelit vigil in memory of Adriana organised by the Right Side NGO in Yerevan. ILGA-Europe deplore the brutal murder of Adriana and send our deepest condolences to her family and friends. Her killer must be brought to justice by the Armenian authorities and the investigation must take into account that this was a bias motivated murder. (Photo by Right Side NGO)
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EU enlargement |
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How attacks on Pride are jeopardising Turkey’s hopes for accession to the EUEU accession has once again taken centre stage on Turkey’s political agenda. Since his re-election in May 2023, President Erdoğan has reignited EU accession conversations, stagnant for several years. However, amid this renewed pursuit, the attacks on Pride events and potential regressive changes to the constitution underscore the precarious state of human rights in Turkey. Upholding the fundamental rights of all, including LGBTI people, and ensuring the rule of law remain the cornerstones of the EU. Any future discussions regarding closer ties with the EU must hinge on Turkey’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding these principles.
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Freedom of expression |
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Kyrgyzstan targets LGBTI communities in a new lawOn 15 August, Kyrgyzstan enacted a new law that aims to restrict freedom of expression and access to information about LGBTI people, identities, rights, and lives. Formally, the law seeks to ban dissemination of harmful information among minors, while labelling as harmful also information that “denounces family and traditional societal values, promotes non-traditional sexual relations and initiates disrespect towards parents or other family members.” The law came into force on 30 August. Together with our members and partners, ILGA-Europe will continue to advocate for the rights of LGBTI people in Kyrgyzstan and will be rallying support and solidarity for LGBTI organisations and their allies in the country.
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Human rights defenders |
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New podcast about the activism in the lowest ranking countries on the Rainbow MapIn our brand-new episode of our Frontline Podcast, we ask the question, if a country stays at the bottom of the Rainbow Map ranking, where advocacy is not possible, and daily life for LGBTI people is often extremely challenging, what’s happening in the work towards LGBTI rights and equality? And is this mostly invisible activism bringing about change for LGBTI people in the countries where it seems life is getting worse rather than better?
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Human rights defenders at risk can apply to participate in Shelter City NetherlandsJustice & Peace Netherlands launched a new call for applications for human rights defenders at risk to participate in Shelter City Netherlands in March 2024. Shelter City provides temporary safe and inspiring spaces for human rights defenders at risk where they re-energise, receive tailormade support and engage with allies. From March 2024 onwards, several cities in the Netherlands will receive human rights defenders for a period of three months.
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Intersectionality |
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New report launched on racialised LGBTI people’s experiencesOn 10 August, in association with Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice, ILGA-Europe launched the sixth report of the Intersections series, taking a deep dive into the FRA 2019 LGBTI II Survey. The briefing focuses on the experiences of LGBTI persons in Europe with a migration background coming from outside of the EU, LGBTI non-migrant ethnic minorities and LGBTI religious minorities in the EU.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. Read the other reports of the Intersections series. |
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New manifesto from feminist and LGBTI Roma activistsOn 31 July, feminist and LGBTI Roma activists shared a manifesto calling for more inclusivity for Roma LGBTI people in social movements, particularly at Pride. The manifesto says “We no longer tolerate racial injustice or discrimination. We will stand together, with love, respect, values, our struggles, our history, the oppressions, our culture and care for each other. For a more inclusive Pride, for more inclusive spaces, for a more inclusive society.”
Read the manifesto. |
Legal gender recognition |
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German government sends the LGR reform to the ParliamentOn 23 August, the German federal government agreed on a draft law for legal gender recognition based on self-determination. In the fall, the cabinet draft will enter the parliamentary process in the Bundestag. Contrary to the earlier versions of the draft law, it suggests a three month waiting period and other harmful provisions. ILGA-Europe will work with activists to ensure that the law is in line with international human rights standards and free of discriminatory provisions.
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Notice board |
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New academic research on family abuse targeting queer family membersOn 30 August, the Journal of Family Violence published a new academic article entitled “Family abuse targeting queer family members: An argument to address problems of visibility in local services and civic life” authored by Catherine Donovan, Jasna Magić and Sarah West. The research concludes that the wider civic context can play a part in sending messages to queer folk that local services are for them and that there is a role for civic leaders to improve the visibility and confidence of local queer folk as citizens.
Read the article as open access. |
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New EU funding call on disinformationThe European Commission launched a call for project proposals that can decipher how disinformation narratives on Russia’s war against Ukraine, elections and the LGBTQ+ community emerge online and offline, and to help tackle them and their effect. This new call foresees nearly €1.2 million EU funding to support a better understanding of how disinformation is formed and spread, how it shapes people’s minds, as well as its real-life impact.
Read more and apply by 22 September. |
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EU calls for best and promising practices on mental healthAs part of the new comprehensive approach to mental health, the European Commission is calling for best and promising practices focusing on mental health promotion, prevention, and early detection and intervention. Governmental and non-governmental actors can submit their practices until 29 September. After this date, the EC will organise the assessment on the practice proposals received and may invite the owners of the top-ranked best and promising practices to present them to representatives from EU Member States during a marketplace event later in 2023. This may lead to joint/wider implementation across the EU funded under the EU4Health programme.
Read more. |
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IGLYO is searching a consultant to work on on LGBTQI youth and mental healthIGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth and Student Organisation is looking for a consultant to design and implement research to explore LGBTQI young people’s views on mental health, covering topics such as suicide risk, anxiety and depression, the impact of external factors on mental health (current social environment, physical harm, discrimination), family acceptance or rejection, access to healthcare services, and access to other affirming spaces.
Read more and apply before 15 September. |
Rainbow Digest July 2023
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Help transform realities for LGBTI communities across Europe and Central Asia.With your support we can do more. Make change happen here. No. 334. July 2023. In this issue… ILGA-Europe
Bodily integrity Equality and non-discrimination
Family Freedom of assembly Freedom of expression Rule of law Legal gender recognition
Notice board |
ILGA-Europe |
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New report on trans and non-binary people’s experiences in EuropeOn 26 July, ILGA-Europe published a new report, in association with Transgender Europe (TGEU), taking a deep dive into the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) 2019 LGBTI II Survey. The report on trans and non-binary people summarises the findings of data analysis disaggregating the responses of trans and non-binary people from the responses provided by all LGBTI respondents to the FRA survey, in order to show the differences in their lived experiences.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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The ways we’re working with private companies this Pride seasonThis year, as we do every year, ILGA-Europe have worked with private companies who wish to support our work. But we don’t take every offer that comes our way. In a blog post, we explain why, how, and what for partnering with corporates to enhance our vital work with organisations across Europe and Central Asia. (Photo credit: Toyota ACOR)
Read our blog post. |
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Looking for consultants for a research on gender-based violence against LGBTI peopleILGA-Europe is looking for a consultant or a team of consultants to assess current strategies and initiatives, including policy and legislative initiatives in addressing gender-based violence against LGBTI people in EU member states, with a specific emphasis on LBTI women and non-binary individuals. ILGA-Europe aims to identify and promote good practices in tackling gender-based violence against LGBTI people, with particular focus on LBTI women and non-binary people, contributing to the ongoing efforts to combat gender-based violence against all in the EU.
Read more and apply before 1 September. |
Bodily integrity |
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Belgium bans conversion practicesOn 20 July, the Belgian Parliament adopted a ban on conversion practices based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The ban protects adults and minors, while perpetrators against minors and vulnerable adults face enhanced criminal penalties. Belgium is the eighth country in Europe banning conversion practices.
Download the text of the amendment. |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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Ground breaking judgment from the European Court against discrimination based on sex characteristicsOn 11 July, the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgment in the case of Semenya v Switzerland. For the first time the Court confirmed sex characteristics as a protected ground of discrimination falling within the ambit of article 14. The case concerned discrimination against an international-level athlete who was not afforded sufficient procedural safeguards when challenging World Athletics regulations. The Court relied on the reports by PACE and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights raising concerns about discrimination against women in the sports domain, including intersex athletes.
Download the Court’s judgment. Read ILGA-Europe’s submission on this case, written jointly with ELC, TGEU, OII Europe, and EGLSF. |
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16 EU member states signed a declaration on LGBTIQ rightsOn 5 July, the Spanish Ministry of Equality organised a high-level event entitled “LGBTIQ rights in the European Union” within the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The ministers responsible for LGBIQ policies in 16 Member States of the European Union signed a declaration on advancing LGBTIQ rights in Europe.
Read the declaration in full. |
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Take the EU LGBTIQ survey III to make your voice heardThe European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has opened the third LGBTIQ survey. If you’re LGBTIQ person living in the 27 EU Member States or Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia, you can take the survey to make your voice and experiences heard in the largest survey of its kind. The survey takes 20 minutes to complete and is available in various languages.
Take the survey by 22 August. |
Family |
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Italy begins stripping same-sex parents of their parental rightsOn 17 July, the media outlets reported that the Italian authorities began retroactively stripping same-sex parents of their legal connection to their children. Until March, there were several Italian cities where same-sex couples could be listed as “parents”—as opposed to “mother” and “father”—on birth registrations. But the Interior Ministry began sending letters ordering an end to the practice. So far, 27 families in the northern city of Padua have received a warning letter, affecting the lives of 33 children.
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Freedom of assembly |
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Pride in Tbilisi is cancelled after attacksOn 8 July, The Tbilisi Pride cancelled the scheduled Pride event in the city after violent far-right groups’ mobs attacked the event and the participants. The organisers declared that they were compelled to cancel the Pride and evacuate the territory. ILGA-Europe condemned the attacks and said that “Public statements that stoke such hatred against LGBTI people is at the foundation of this violence, and must be confronted by all who care about democracy, safety and freedom in our societies”. (Photo credit: Tbilisi Pride)
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Freedom of expression |
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European Parliament to urge Kyrgyz authorities to withdraw so-called “LGBTI propaganda law”On 13 July, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the crackdown on the media and freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan. They urge the Kyrgyz authorities to withdraw and review a number of laws that are inconsistent with the country’s international commitments. This includes the controversial law on “false information” as well as the draft laws on “foreign representatives”, “mass media” and “protecting children from harmful information”, the so-called “LGBTI propaganda law”.
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Rule of law |
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EC’s report on rule of law highlights LGBTI rightsOn 5 July, the European Commission published its annual Rule of Law report. ILGA-Europe worked with LGBTI organisations across the EU to provide input on the violations of LGBTI rights in the ERU rule of law framework. The report highlights in various country chapters how LGBTI people are impacted by inadequate respect for the rule of law, government control of media, corruption, attacks on civic space and HRDs, and manipulation of legal processes to directly curtail the rights of LGBTI people. Attacks on fundamental rights of LGBTI people are an attack on democracy, and EU institutions and member states need to use all tools available to hold governments accountable to their commitments to democracy and human rights for all.
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Legal gender recognition |
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Commissioner for Human Rights calls on North Macedonia to adopt an LGR legislationOn 7 July, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović shared an open letter addressed to the Macedonian Parliament. The Commissioner calls on North Macedonia to adopt amendments that would implement the 2019 ECtHR judgement regarding access to legal gender recognition. Importantly she encourages resisting pressure from groups which promote misinformation about LGBTI people and their rights.
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Russia bans legal gender recognitionOn 24 July, the Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new legislation into law, introducing a comprehensive ban on trans-specific healthcare and legal gender recognition, effectively limiting individuals’ autonomy over their own bodies and identities. ILGA-Europe stand united and in solidarity with our allies and partner organisations in demanding justice, equality, and dignity for trans, gender-diverse and intersex people in Russia. We will continue to advocate tirelessly for the full recognition of their human rights, including bodily autonomy, access to comprehensive healthcare, legal gender recognition based on self-determination, and the right to form families of trans and gender diverse people in Russia.
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New draft law in Hungary seeks to exclude trans women from pension benefitsOn 26 July, ILGA-Europe and the Hungarian LGBT Organisation Háttér Society sent a joint letter to the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen alerting her to the recent introduction of a new bill to further curtail the rights of transgender people in Hungary and of the intensification of the enforcement of the so-called “Child Protection Law”. On 13 July Members of Hungarian Parliament submitted a new bill to exclude trans women from accessing pension benefits available only for women.
Read more. |
Notice board |
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Report violence against trans people in and from UkraineTGEU – Transgender Europe published a call for data and reports on violence and discrimination trans people in and from Ukraine. The survey will help TGEU understand the types of violence trans people in and from Ukraine are experiencing, TGEU will use this data to advocate at the UN and EU level. Any trans person who experienced violence or discrimination can make a report. Additionally, any allies who have contact with a trans person who experienced discrimination or violence can make a report on that person’s behalf, with their consent.
Read more and submit your report. |
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New fellowship programme on digital skillsThe European Center for Digital Action has opened a call for fellowship participants in their programme on scaling up digital skills for campaigning and fundraising. It targets non-governmental, civil society organisations or political parties based in the EU working on a variety of socially progressive issues, including LGBTI rights. The programme runs from 18 September to 14 December 2023.
Read more and submit your application before 1 September. |
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Submit your best practice on mental health to the European CommissionAs part of the new comprehensive approach to mental health, the European Commission is calling for best and promising practices focusing on mental health promotion, prevention, and early detection and intervention. Governmental and non-governmental actors can submit their practices. With 20 flagship initiatives and €1.23 billion in EU funding from different financial instruments, the Commission will support Member States putting people and their mental health first.
Read more and send your input by 29 September. |
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International Rescue Committee is hiring for a position to build diverse SOGIESC inclusion in humanitarian responseThe International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Edge Effect launched a project ‘TRANSFORM’ to develop mechanisms for humanitarian organisations to systematically embed diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) considerations in conflict and displacement response. For this project, they’re looking for a manager who will oversee the implementation of TRANSFORM initiative in Ukraine, being responsible for the implementation of all key objectives and deliverables at the country level.
Read more and apply before 1 September. |
Rainbow Digest June 2023
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Help transform realities for LGBTI communities across Europe and Central Asia.With your support we can do more. Make change happen here. No. 333. June 2023. In this issue… ILGA-Europe
Bodily integrity Data collection
Family Freedom of assembly Freedom of expression Human rights defenders Legal gender recognition
Sexual and reproductive rights Notice board |
ILGA-Europe |
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New podcast episode exploring the Rainbow MapIn the latest episode of The Frontline, exploring the complexities behind the rankings in the annual Rainbow Map, we are joined by guests Robert Attard from the Malta Gay Rights Movement, Simona Mursec from Ljubljana Pride Association in Slovenia and Sophie Schers from Transgender Network in The Netherlands. We’re also joined by Mehmet Akin from the ILGA-Europe team, who oversees the collection of data and rankings on the Rainbow Map and Index, and our Advocacy Director, Katrin Hugendubel, to talk about what we see happening now and in the future.
Listen to the podcast on your favourite platform. |
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Get your own Revolut rainbow card in support of ILGA-EuropeFor the fifth year running, ILGA-Europe are delighted to be partnering up with fintech company Revolut for their annual Pride campaign. Make a donation to ILGA-Europe on the Revolut app and get your very own rainbow payment card to #PayWithPride all year long. To unlock your rainbow card in the UK or EEA, customers simply need to make a minimum donation of £/€1 (T&Cs and delivery fees apply). To show their commitment to LGBTI equality, Revolut will match contributions made to ILGA-Europe. For every card ordered until the end of July 2023, Revolut will donate £1 to ILGA-Europe, up to a total of £10,000. To date Revolut customers have donated over €800,000 in support of our vital work for LGBTI people’s safety, equality and freedom across the European region. This is unrestricted funding, which we directly regrant to activist organisations, particularly in countries where LGBTI people are at risk.
Find out how to get your rainbow card. |
Bodily integrity |
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Iceland bans conversion practicesOn 9 June, the Parliament of Iceland passed a strong ban of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression conversion practices. The legislation was widely supported, with 53 voting ‘yes’, three abstaining, 0 "no" vote. Iceland joins France, Germany, Greece, Malta, and Spain in Europe banning conversion practices.
Read more. |
Data collection |
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New translation of the research about hate speech against intersex people in GreeceIntersex Greece conducted the research ‘Hate speech against intersex people in Greece’ in 2022 with the support of ILGA-Europe. The research is now available in English as well. It is one of the few researches in the world that was continuously supervised by people who belong to the intersex spectrum themselves.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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New research on public opinion on LGBTIQ+ people in Western BalkansERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association published the report of their public opinion poll on the attitudes of the Western Balkans’ general public towards LGBTIQ+ persons. Public attitudes towards LGBTIQ+ people were still predominantly negative in December 2022 – January 2023, when this survey was conducted. They have, however, shown improvement compared to 2015.
Read more. |
Family |
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Estonian Parliament voted on marriage equalityOn 20 June, the Estonian government voted on the amendments to the Family Law Act and related legislation, which is granting marriage equality. The 85 amendments to the Family Law Act and other legislation which will introduce same-sex marriage contracts also include the establishment of the implementing acts for the Registered Partnership Act. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that "this decision shows that our society is caring and respectful towards each other." The act is planned to enter into force on 1 January 2024.
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Freedom of assembly |
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Bans and police attacks continue at Pride events in TurkeyA month after the Turkish elections, for which the winner,Recep Tayyip Erdoğan scapegoated LGBTI people, activists and allies have been rallying at Pride marches across the country. We presented an up-to-date account of the latest events in a blog, as reported by LGBTI activists on the ground in Turkey. (Photo: Mertcan Bükülmez / Kaos GL)
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Freedom of expression |
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Kyrgyzstan’s parliament plans to pass an “anti-propaganda” lawOn 20 June, a parliamentary committee passed a draft law, On Introduction of Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic, that would prohibit certain types of information as harmful to children’s health and development. It expands the definition of information harmful for children to include information about “nontraditional sexual relationships.”
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Human rights defenders |
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Why are LGBTI activists such fierce defenders of democracy?On 6 June, our Executive Director, Evelyne Paradis spoke at the Democracy Alive conference in Brussels, about the DNA that drives LGBTI activists in a Europe where there’s a mistaken assumption that everyone has access to democracy. “While democracy may not be flawless, marginalised communities, including LGBTI people, rely on its rules and practices; they depend on them to access their fundamental rights. This is one of the key reasons why LGBTI activists find themselves at the forefront of defending freedom of assembly, association, expression, and media freedom.”
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Legal gender recognition |
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European Court says Hungary has violated human rightsOn 22 June, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Hungary has violated the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to ensure that trans people have the right to change their name and gender marker. The judgement confirmed that Hungary’s ban on legal gender recognition is a violation of the right to private and family life in the European Convention. The Council of Europe member states should ensure that trans people have the right to change their name and gender marker through a process in line with the established human rights framework.
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Campaign calling Slovenia to remove the requirement of diagnosis for LGRAmnesty Slovenia and TransAkcija started a campaign calling on the Slovenian Ministry of Health to remove the requirement of diagnosis for legal gender recognition. In order to rectify the procedure, this condition should be deleted in the Rules on the implementation of the Register of Deaths, Births and Marriages Act. Currently legal gender recognition in Slovenia violates several human rights, namely the right to the inviolability of a person's physical and mental integrity, to personal dignity, safety, health and privacy (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights).
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Russia's Parliament seeks to ban legal gender recognition and transition-related interventionsOn 14 June, Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, approved in the first reading a bill that seeks to ban legal gender recognition and transition-related interventions, while authorising non-consensual surgeries on intersex children. Until now, the bill has been fast-tracked. On 28 June, the window for feedback to the bill closed, and the date for the second and third readings are yet to be set. While the legislation has yet to become law, numerous civil registries across the country have already created obstacles for individuals seeking to change their documents, causing delays or outright refusals under various pretexts. The bill is a massive setback for trans and intersex people and for the LGBTI movement in Russia.
Read more. Read the analysis and full timeline with updates in Russian. |
Sexual and reproductive rights |
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Malta proposes a new bill on abortionOn 23 June, the government of Malta introduced the text of a new bill that will allow for abortions to be carried out in specific circumstances. The Voice for Choice coalition says that the new amendments to a so-called abortion bill are dangerous and will lead to vulnerable pregnant people being left "permanently disabled or dead". The coalition said that the revised version of the Bill is "a step in the wrong direction".
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Notice board |
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Join the event about recognition of parenthoodOn 5 July, ILGA-Europe’s Advocacy Director Katrin Hugendubel will join the event "Cross-border family situations – recognition of parenthood" organised by the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament to talk about recognition of parenthood in the EU. The event will be at the European Parliament in Brussels but also webstreamed and interpretation will be provided in DE, EN, FR, IT and ES.
Read more and watch it live. |
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Apply for a funding on strategic litigation to advance digital rightsDigital Freedom Fund recently opened another call for grant applications, continuing their support for strategic litigation to advance digital rights in Europe. Funding is not just for digital rights organisations, but also provides support to racial, social, feminist, queer, environmental, migrant rights and economic justice movements and organisations working on digital rights.
Read more and apply before 20 July. |
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Take part in the research about LGBTIQ+ women in sportThe Equality Within Sport (EWS) Committee of ENGSO, the European Sports NGO, is conducting a survey to understand the situation of LGBTIQ+ women in sport across Europe. The results will serve as a basis for further education, awareness raising and change campaigns in European grassroots sport to promote visibility, equality, and inclusion in sport. Women athletes, coaches, sport coordinators, board members, referees, we appreciate your participation in the survey. It will take around 6 minutes to answer. It is anonymous and confidential.
Take the survey. |
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New EU grants on healthThe European Health and Digital Executive Agency has published 12 calls for proposals under the 2023 EU4Health Work Programme. The topics include healthcare access, mental health, NCDs, cancer, Substances of Human Origin and medical devices. EU4Health, with a budget of €5.3 billion, is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes.
Read more and apply for grants by 17 October. |
Rainbow Digest May 2023
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Help transform realities for LGBTI communities across Europe and Central Asia.With your support we can do more. Make change happen here. No. 332. May 2023. In this issue… ILGA-Europe
Bodily integrity Family Health Intersectionality Human rights defenders
Sexual and reproductive rights
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ILGA-Europe |
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Rainbow Map and Index 2023 is launchedOn 11 May, ILGA-Europe launched the 2023 version of the Rainbow Map and Index, examining the laws and policies in European countries. Trans and intersex rights at the forefront of positive change for LGBTI people in Europe, this year’s Rainbow Map finds. While the public discourse is becoming more polarised and violent, particularly against trans people, political determination to advance LGBTI rights is paying off. The largest gains on the Map are for countries that introduced legal gender recognition (LGR) using a self-determination model.
Find out your country score and ranking. Read our press release. |
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New call for applications for LGBTI groups in PolandILGA-Europe invites applications from LGBTI organisations and groups in Poland that see a concrete opportunity to propel their agendas and the work of the LGBTI movement in the country, and have a clear practical idea how to seize this opportunity but have been lacking dedicated resources and support to take action. The programme will bring together six LGBTI organisations and groups in Poland over a period of 18 months and will support their work through a combination of project funding, coordination and learning. (Photo by Konrad Żurawowicz / KPH)
Read more and apply before 25 June. |
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New briefing on intersex people publishedOn 3 March, we published the briefing on intersex people, the fourth of our series of Intersections reports, deep-diving into the findings from the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) 2019 LGBTI Survey II. We have collaborated with OII Europe, to further understand the challenges faced by intersex people in Europe, and recommend ways forward.
Read more and download your own copy. |
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Join the second session of the Skills Boost on data visualisation for LGBTI communicationOn 6 June, we are organising the second session of the Skills Boost for LGBTI activists on data visualisation for LGBTI communication. At the second session on data visualisation, you can receive individual feedback to every exercise sent to sho@ilga-europe.org before 5 June. There will be more time for questions, discussions and peer-learning, so join us even if you are not doing “homework”.
Read more and register. |
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Equality Fundraiser 2023 to take place on 29 JuneJoin our special event in Brussels on 29 June and lend your support as we work for the equality, freedom and safety of all LGBTI people across Europe and Central Asia at a time when freedom and safety are under threat. The ILGA-Europe Equality Fundraiser is a relaxed summer party bringing together supporters of equality in solidarity with the LGBTI movement, including many high-level politicians.
Get your tickets now. |
Bodily integrity |
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Cyprus banned conversion practicesOn 26 May, the Parliament of Cyprus passed a bill criminalising conversion practices that claim to modify an LGBTI person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The amendment to the Criminal Code states that “any person practicing for the purpose of changing, suppressing or eliminating one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression of another person’s sex, is guilty of an offence and, if convicted, is liable to a prison sentence not exceeding two years or in a penalty not exceeding five thousand euros or both of these penalties.”
Read more. |
Family |
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Romania failed to protect same-sex couples, European court rulesOn 23 May, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made a decision in a case finding that Romania breached the right to respect for the family life of 21 same-sex Romanian couples by failing to recognise their relationships. The couples had declared that they were unable to access numerous rights available for married couples such as protections in property or inheritance, and other obstacles all same-sex couples in Romania face. ILGA-Europe provided third-party submissions jointly with FIDH, NELFA and ECSOL.
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Health |
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Which countries are pushing to end discrimination in blood donation?For decades, men who have sex with men (MSM) have been barred from donating blood or subject to discriminatory rules. Now, as both our Rainbow Map and Annual Review 2023 show, an increasing number of countries in Europe are dismantling these discriminatory practices. In 2022, 11 countries lifted bans or reduced deferral periods for blood donations from MSM (and trans people in some cases). Bans were lifted in France, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Austria, and Armenia.
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Intersectionality |
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Looking back from 2040: Future activism interviewsWe asked nine LGBTI activists to project themselves into 2040 and imagine different futures for the LGBTI movement across Europe and Central Asia: How did we get better at mobilising with others on social justice issues? The interviews are published in a zine that doesn’t intend or aspire to present the future, but rather to present a snapshot and selection of possible futures without any demand that we fix on one. It’s the act of multiple imaginings that matters.
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Human rights defenders |
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LGBTI activists unfurl rainbow flag at a mausoleum in KazakhstanOn 16 May, LGBTI activists Zhannar Sekerbayeva and Gulzada Serzhan from a feminist initiative Feminita raised a rainbow flag at the Mausoleum of Khawaja Ahmad Yasawi in Kazakhstan. The event aimed to promote LGBTI rights and visibility. Kazakhstan prohibits same-sex marriages and discriminates against trans people by restricting legal gender recognition. The action by Feminita sheds light on ongoing efforts for LGBTI rights in the country.
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Activist harassed during European development bank meeting in UzbekistanOn 17 May, during a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) meeting in Uzbekistan, LGBTI rights activist Nezir Sinani was harassed by Uzbek authorities. Sinani, co-director of Re-course, was prevented from entering the meeting venue in Samarkand and had his meeting materials confiscated. The authorities seized Pride-themed tote bags. Sinani’s case urged the EBRD and other international financial institutions, supporting Uzbekistan, to condemn such actions and demand the repeal of discriminatory laws targeting the LGBTI community. (Photo courtesy of Caspar Veldkamp/Twitter)
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Sexual and reproductive rights |
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State-funded LGBTI-phobia endangers HIV funding and access to care in KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan risks losing a $29 million grant for HIV prevention and treatment as MPs dissolved the coordinating committee fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria last month. MPs opposed the committee’s support to projects targeting men who have sex with men, stating it goes against “national traditions.” The dissolution reflects a concerning pattern of instrumentalising LGBTI issues and stifling social debates in the name of so-called “traditional values.”
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New survey on HIV response during humanitarian crises and emergenciesUNAIDS launched an online survey to get feedback from communities on the impact of humanitarian emergencies on people living with HIV, and their perspective on a minimum package of service interventions for people living with HIV during such emergencies. The survey results will help UNAIDS to write a report on HIV response for people living with HIV during humanitarian crises and emergencies. The survey has 13 questions and takes 15-20 minutes to finish.
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WHO launched a new campaign on mpoxAlthough mpox is no longer a global health emergency, mpox continues to pose public health challenges that require a robust, proactive and sustainable response. The work of community organisations, together with public health authorities, had a huge impact on the decline of mpox cases globally. In an effort to engage with community groups, the World Health Organization Europe launched a new campaign on mpox elimination.
Download editable files for your campaign. Download the toolkit for mpox elimination. Download the case studies compendium. |
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TGEU published its Trans Rights MapOn 11 May, Transgender Europe (TGEU) launched the latest version of their Trans Rights Index and Map. According to the research, the past 12 months saw an increase in trans rights in the region on the whole, however, the risk of regression and anti-trans backlash is pressing at the same time. Some countries lost points in 2023, and are in danger of further regression.
Access the interactive map. |
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OII Europe launched their Good Practice Map on intersex human rightsOn 11 May, OII Europe presented its Good Practice Map 2022. The map highlights advancements achieved in 2022 towards the better protection of intersex human rights across Europe. The section “In the Making” features newly adopted IGM legislation and analyses their protective elements. This year, this section is dedicated to the IGM ban in Greece.
Read more and download a copy of the Map. |
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New guidelines on LGBTI policy for European municipalitiesOn 17 May, the Rainbow Cities Network (RCN) published guidelines on how to create an LGBTI policy for cities that do not yet have such a policy in place. They recommend areas to focus on as well as issues to address and actions to implement. They also present a selection of good practice examples that can serve as templates for the development of customised measures. RCN is an international network of municipalities who have adopted a dedicated LGBTIQ policy, actively working against discrimination and for equal rights of LGBTIQ in their cities.
Read more and download your own copy. |
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Social Platform seeks a Head of Policy and AdvocacySocial Platform, the network organisation working on EU social rights, is looking for a new Head of Policy and Advocacy to join its Secretariat in Brussels. The post holder will oversee their own policy and advocacy portfolio, as well as coordinate and supervise the work of Senior Policy Officers within the team.
Read more and apply before 19 June. |
Rainbow Digest April 2023
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Help transform realities for LGBTI communities across Europe and Central Asia.With your support we can do more. Make change happen here. No. 331. April 2023. In this issue… ILGA-Europe
Bodily integrity EU enlargement Equality and non-discrimination
Family Hate crime Intersectionality Legal gender recognition Public opinion Notice board |
ILGA-Europe |
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We’re seeking an Executive DirectorILGA-Europe is seeking an outstanding Executive Director to lead and set the direction for the organisation, someone to steer ILGA-Europe to continue to drive political change at the regional level, and to strengthen our movement amidst the complex and fast changing evolution of LGBTI equality in Europe and Central Asia.
Read more and apply before 19 May. |
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We’re looking for a new Strategic Litigation OfficerWe are looking for a dynamic team player to lead on key activities aimed at strengthening strategic litigation on LGBTI rights in the EU, in a position linked to a project that runs until Spring 2025. The Strategic Litigation Officer post is an integral part of our advocacy work for a strong legal and policy framework and implementation, protecting LGBTI human rights across Europe.
Read more and apply before 24 May. |
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Strategic planning process for 2024-2029 has startedILGA-Europe started our strategic planning process in March with staff and board, and now collects members’ input through an online consultation. The input gathered through this online consultation will be important to help shape the agenda of the Strategic Planning Session, which will take place in June.
Are you a member of ILGA-Europe? Contact us to join the process. |
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The 5 crucial elements to raise funds effectivelyDo you want to start a fundraising campaign for your LGBTI organisation but are unsure of where to begin? Our latest Skills Boost session looked at how to create effective fundraising campaigns targeted at individual donors, exploring some good practices and examples. In a blog post we brought the main learnings from the latest session, case studies and examples of the work done by participants.
Read our blog post. Watch back the recording of the Skills Boost. |
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Join our Skills Boost session on data visualisation for LGBTI communicationDo you wish you could visualise data to tell better stories for your LGBTI activism? Have you wanted to use an infographic but are not confident in your data or design skills? Join our next Skills Boost about data visualisation for LGBTI communication on Thursday 25 May, 12 noon CEST. This will be a beginner-friendly 60-minute session focusing on creating simple graphics using data from the freshly launched ILGA-Europe 2023 Rainbow Map and Index.
Read more and register here. |
Bodily integrity |
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Calling on the EU co-legislators to criminalise intersex genital mutilationOn 26 April, ILGA-Europe, OII Europe and End FGM EU organised a lunch briefing at the European Parliament on addressing intersex genital mutilation (IGM) in the EU Directive on combatting violence against women and domestic violence with the participation of MEPs. In response to the event, we joined OII Europe’s call on the EU co-legislators to criminalise IGM, particularly against intersex women and girls.
Read more. |
EU enlargement |
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This year’s Enlargement Review is out onlineOn 11 April, ILGA-Europe and ERA launched this year’s Enlargement Review. Our annual LGBTI Enlargement Review assess gaps in legislation and policy for the protection and advancement of the human rights of LGBTI people in the enlargement countries, and identifies priorities the EU should insist authorities in each country need to tackle in the coming year, as identified by LGBTI activists in the respective countries.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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Over half of EU member states joined to support the EC infringement against Hungary6 April was the deadline for the EU member states to send their written support for the European Commission infringement procedures against Hungary at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), targeting the 2021 law discriminating against LGBTI people and the disclaimer imposed on a children’s book regarding LGBTI content. Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Finland, France, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Slovenia joined to support the procedure.
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European Commission published their progress report on the LGBTIQ Equality StrategyOn 12 April, the European Commission published their progress report on the first-ever LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025. In parallel to the EC progress report, ILGA-Europe published our evaluation of its implementation, highlighting five key aspects and setting out recommendations to ensure strong implementation of the full strategy by 2024. Half-way through, the evaluation of LGBTI organisations is positive, but also pointing clearly to where more is needed to ensure the implementation of the strategy in all areas of EU competence and to fully live up to the commitments the EC proudly adopted with the strategy. |
Family |
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Disappointing decisions from the European Court of Human Rights on trans familiesOn 4 April, the European Court of Human Rights published its decisions on two cases of trans parents from Germany. In both cases, the applicants challenged the fact that the birth certificate of their child does not show their recognised gender identity. The Court found that it is within the State’s discretion to list a trans parent on their child’s birth certificate using a “deadname” and sex assigned at birth. |
Hate crime |
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Combating hate crime: How can LGBTI organisations work with authorities?Tackling hate crimes against LGBTI people requires the cooperation of police authorities, but for different reasons this doesn’t always happen. The European Commission has developed a guide for national authorities on how to work collaboratively with civil society organisations in combating hate crime. In a new blog post, we share some ways in which LGBTI organisations can contribute to combating attacks against the LGBTI community, which are still on the rise across Europe.
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Intersectionality |
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New briefing report on older LGBTI people with intersecting identitiesOn 3 April, alongside AGE Platform Europe, ILGA-Europe launched the third report of our Intersections series, taking a deep dive into the FRA 2019 LGBTI II Survey. The briefing focuses on experiences of older LGBTI people when it comes to discrimination, violence, housing, parenting and making ends meet. The report takes a specific look at older LGBTI people with intersecting identities. |
Legal gender recognition |
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Slovakian Parliament discusses to make LGR impossibleOn 21 March, the National Assembly of the Slovak Republic approved the first reading of a bill to make legal gender recognition impossible – a de facto ban. The change in the law would require people seeking to access LGR to undergo a genetic test to “prove that the person’s sex has been incorrectly determined in the past”. ILGA-Europe calls on Slovakian policymakers to reject this bill and ensure alignment with international human rights standards.
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Public opinion |
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What the data says about the acceptance of LGBTI people in EuropeDespite a rise in anti-LGBTI hate speech and violence across Europe, in our recent Annual Review, we have conversely seen a rise in acceptance of LGBTI people in many countries, including places where politicians and public representatives are known for their anti-LGBTI views. We’ve compared the evolution of public opinion between 2020 to 2023 through our Annual Reviews.
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CIVICUS updated their donor finder directoryCIVICUS updated and expanded the edition of their Donor Finder directory, first published in 2021. It contains a list of progressive donors offering funding and non-financial resources to civil society, including small and even informal groups and individual activists. Listed donors offer resources mostly for general activities and projects that do not require immediate action. It is available in English, French and Spanish.
Download your copy of the directory. |
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SOGI Campaigns has a new online course on disinformationOn 4 May, SOGI Campaigns is launching their new online course on disinformation with a panel of LGBTI activists and disinformation experts. The course is specifically aimed at LGTBQ campaigners around the world. It is free to anyone and includes guides to all the different types of disinformation, interactive exercises, and case studies.
Register for the launch event. Take the course online. |
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ILGA World is looking for a Senior Officer – Gender Identity and Gender ExpressionILGA World is hiring for the position of Senior Officer – Gender Identity and Gender Expression to engage in women’s rights, feminist, sexual and reproductive health and rights, trans, and gender-diverse spaces, and to identify opportunities for collaboration and mutual support. The Senior Officer will work closely with the United Nations Department at ILGA World to identify advocacy opportunities for trans, gender diverse and LBQ women, as well as intersecting and decolonial identities.
Read more and apply by 14 May. |
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IGLYO accepts applications for their Activist AcademyIGLYO will organise their fifth edition of the Activist Academy in Tallinn, Estonia, from 9-16 July 2023. The Activist Academy is a skills-based training programme for young people between 18 and 30 at the beginning of their activist careers who are passionate about activism, advocacy and learning, and have a strong interest in LGBTQI rights.
Read more and apply before 10 May. |
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IPPF has two new vacanciesIPPF – International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network has new vacancies for a Youth Networker and a Governance, Accreditation and Safeguarding Advisor. As part of their new strategy, Come Together – Strategy 2028, they are looking for new team members to join their team. The strategy commits IPPF to shaping laws, policies and norms through feminist action and international solidarity; and to strengthen the federation adding new drive for real and lasting impact.
Read more and apply. |
Rainbow Digest March 2023
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Help transform realities for LGBTI communities across Europe and Central Asia.With your support we can do more. Make change happen here. No. 330. March 2023. In this issue… ILGA-Europe
Decriminalisation Equality and non-discrimination
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of expression Freedom of movement Participation in public, cultural and political life Notice board |
ILGA-Europe |
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Our Executive Director announces her departureThe team at ILGA-Europe are deeply sad that our beloved ED Evelyne Paradis will be leaving us, but we know she will go on to do more world changing work, after the brilliant job she did leading our team. We know it will be a smooth transition, but this is emotional for us. “I’ve come to my decision with great serenity and calm knowing that ILGA-Europe is in such a solid and healthy position and that everything is in place for the leadership transition to be done smoothly,” says Evelyne Paradis as she announces her decision to step down from her role at ILGA-Europe after 13 years.
Read Evelyne’s letter. Read ILGA-Europe Board’s response. |
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New call for project proposals: Addressing LGBTI homelessness in the EUILGA-Europe published a new call for project proposals addressing LGBTI homelessness in the European Union. With this programme, we’ll be working to enhance and advance the work of LGBTI organisations with considerable existing expertise in the field of homelessness. With this work, we’re seeking to sustain the vital work of understanding the root causes and forms of LGBTI homelessness, and advocate for improving access of LGBTI communities to services and housing in the EU.
Read more and apply before 1 May. |
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New podcast episode on trans inclusion in the women’s movementOur new episode of The Frontline podcast focuses on the ways in which actors in the women’s movement are actively inclusive of trans women, questions the exclusionary narrative that dominates much of the media, and how this dominant narrative is both being driven by and playing into the hands of anti-democratic forces. With us to investigate the exclusionary narrative and look at it from the more prevalent inclusionary perspective, are Caroline Hickson, Tanya von Knorring and Marion Böker.
Listen to the podcast on your favourite platform. |
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New resource on tackling anti-trans narratives: top tips from trans groupsOn 20 March, we published a new report on trans groups’ tips to tackle anti-trans narratives on The Hub, ILGA-Europe’s resource sharing centre. In 2021, 11 trans groups across 14 different countries took part in the Creating Opportunities programme by ILGA-Europe in cooperation with Transgender Europe. First through learning from each other, then from experts in media relations, audience strategy, messaging research and artivism, the participants undertook experiments in responding to the anti-trans narratives spreading across the region.
Read more on the resource card. |
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New Skills Boost session on effective fundraising campaigns in times of crisesOn 4 April, we will hold the second Skills Boost session on effective fundraising campaigns targeted at individual donors. These practices are applicable to any campaign but particularly in times of crisis. ILGA-Europe’s Partnerships Manager, Anna Shepherd will answer questions about individual fundraising, both in times of crises and during regular work.
Read more and register for the session. Read our blog post about fundraising in times of crisis. |
Decriminalisation |
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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Uzbekistan to decriminalise same-sex relationsOn 15 March, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a press release after his visit to Uzbekistan. The Commissioner mentioned encouraging legislation to decriminalise same-sex relations, in line with Uzbekistan’s international human rights commitments. He also assured the Uzbek Government about the willingness of his office to assist the country to change its legislation criminalising HIV transmission in all circumstances.
Read more. |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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6 April is the deadline for EU states to support the infringement against HungaryThe European Commission has confirmed that member states still have until 6 April to confirm their written support for the EC infringement procedures against Hungary at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), targeting the 2021 law discriminating against LGBTI people and the disclaimer imposed on a children’s book regarding LGBTI content. So far 9 member states have given their support to the case.
Read more. |
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ECRI published a new report on HungaryOn 9 March, The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) released a scathing report on Hungary, calling for efforts to address political hate speech, protect the bodily integrity of intersex people, re-instate legal gender recognition, review laws adopted under the “state of emergency” and repeal its so-called “anti-propaganda” law.
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Freedom of assembly |
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One person with LGBTI symbols was detained at the women’s march in BishkekOn 8 March, people who attempted to join the International Women’s Day march in Bishkek with LGBTI symbols were removed from the march by the police. One of them was detained and later was released, but the police imposed fines on the person for “disobeying the law enforcement”. Hundreds of people marched across Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan.
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Attacks against LGBTI people following police’s ban on events in Bosnia and HerzegovinaOn 18 March, LGBTI activists were violently attacked by a group of hooligans in Banja Luka, the administrative center of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The attack happened after local police banned the film screening and a panel discussion about the human rights of LGBTI people, citing security concerns. ILGA-Europe said that “it shows clearly how politicians are inciting hatred against LGBTI people and refusing their international human rights obligations to protect from violence and ensure fundamental freedoms for all people”.
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Freedom of expression |
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A new anti-LGBTI propaganda law has been initiated in KyrgyzstanOn 17 March, MP Jamila Isaeva of Kyrgyzstan initiated an “anti-LGBTI propaganda” legislation. She proposed to amend the existing law on protecting children from harmful information and expand the definition of “harmful information” as “any information that denies traditional family values, propagates for non-traditional sexual relations, and any information that spreads disrespect to parents and other family members”. The first attempt to introduce a similar bill in 2015 failed as the initiative saw a very strong and united resilience from the LGBTI movement.
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Freedom of movement |
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Bulgaria’s Supreme Court rejects Baby Sara’s Bulgarian citizenshipOn 1 March, the application for a Bulgarian birth certificate for a child of two mothers, one of whom is a Bulgarian citizen, was rejected by the country’s Supreme Administrative Court, despite an opposite ruling from The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). In December 2021, the CJEU ruled that it is contrary to the fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 7 and 24 of the Charter for Baby Sara to be deprived of the relationship with one of her parents when exercising her right of free movement or for her exercise of that right to be made impossible or excessively difficult on the ground that her parents are of the same sex.
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Participation in public, cultural and political life |
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Zhanar Sekerbayeva became first openly LGBTI candidate in elections in Central AsiaOn 19 March, Zhanar Sekerbayeva, co-founder of Feminita and feminist and LGBTI activist ran in municipal elections for the Almaty City Council. This is the first time an openly LGBTI person was a candidate in an election in Central Asia. Her election campaign centred around women’s rights including rights of marginalised women, which she announced at the women’s rally on 8 March. Although she did not secure a seat in the Almaty council, Zhanar’s candidacy was exemplary of the growing visibility of LGBTI people in Kazakhstan.
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ILGA World launched their database with key data on the human rights situation of LGBTI people worldwideILGA World launched their database, an online knowledge base on laws, advocacy opportunities, human rights bodies and news related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics worldwide. You will be able to access the information on the Database in two ways: either through each of the areas or, in a cross-cutting way, by jurisdiction. Each of the 193 UN member States and 47 non-UN member jurisdictions have their own profile, where you will find all the information relevant to each of them.
Access the database. |
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New call for funding for community-based organisations working on HIV combination preventionEuropean AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) launched a call for applications from community-based organisations in Europe and Central Asia for funding for the translation or production of a community-informed, population-specific informational resource material related to HIV combination prevention. Up to 5000€ (VAT included) of funding is available for community-based organisations working within the field of HIV combination prevention.
Read more and apply before 12 April. |
Rainbow Digest February 2023
ILGA-Europe |
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Deadliest rise in anti-LGBTI violence in over a decade, our Annual Review showsLaunched on 20 February, ILGA-Europe’s Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBTI People in Europe and Central Asia finds that 2022 was the most violent year for LGBTI people across the region in the past decade, both through planned, ferocious attacks and through suicides in the wake of rising and widespread hate speech from politicians, religious leaders, right-wing organisations and media pundits.
Read more on our press release. Download your own copy of the report. |
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New call for projects working with the racialised LGBTI communities towards socio-economic justiceWe launched a brand-new programme that focuses on the work being done by and for racialised LGBTI communities in Europe. We’ll be supporting up to 15 organisations’ work on socio-economic justice for racialised LGBTI communities through a combination of grants and regular peer-learning. We are looking for projects on evidence-based awareness raising and mobilisation work or developing/strengthening collaboration with service providers and/or other partners working on socio-economic justice.
Read more and apply before 2 April. Watch our video explanations about the programme. |
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New skills boost sessions for LGBTI activists on effective fundraising campaigns in times of crisisAt our new Skills Boost sessions taking place on 14 March and 4 April, ILGA-Europe’s Partnerships Manager, Anna Shepherd will provide some tips and advice for effective fundraising campaigns targeted at individual donors in times of crisis. At the first session, Anna will talk about effective fundraising campaigns, share the most effective tips and point to the things you need to think about before the launch of the campaign. At the second session, Anna will provide individual feedback to every exercise and will answer questions about individual fundraising.
Read more and register for the sessions. |
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Improve your organisation’s internal communications with our new resourcesWe published two new resources about internal communications on our Hub, resource center for LGBTI activists. In the first resource, our Communications Director Brian Finnegan talks about what internal communications are and why they’re so important for your organisation and gives you guidance and tips for a well-working communications structure within your organisation. In the second resource, he gives top five tips for internal comms and shares a resource document you can download and use too.
Read more about what internal communications are. Read more about 5 steps to improve your organisation’s internal communications. |
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Save the date for the ILGA-Europe Equality Fundraiser 2023The Equality Fundraiser will take place in Brussels on Thursday 29 June 2023, 18:30 CEST. It is a special event in support of the LGBTI equality movement in Europe and Central Asia. Join us for a summer party to raise much needed funds for ILGA-Europe’s vital work to advance equality and support frontline activists across Europe and Central Asia.
Read more and save the date on your calendar. |
Ukraine |
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How we’re supporting LGBTI activists and organisations one year after the Russian invasion of UkraineOn 24 February 2022, Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For the last twelve months, civil society organisations across Europe, including ILGA-Europe, have had to run the extra mile to fill in the gaps, but sustainable responses remain a crucial challenge. In our new blog post, we listed the five main areas in which we’ve been working over the past year to support those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Read our blog post. |
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“LGBTI Ukrainians need humanitarian NGOs to provide more help and less bureaucracy”On 22 February, Reuters’ Openly published an opinion piece written by ILGA-Europe Executive Director Evelyne Paradis about the needs of LGBTI Ukrainians, one year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “The humanitarian aid agencies need to invest in the work that’s already being done on the ground and to regain the trust of LGBTI organisations in Ukraine” said-she.
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Bodily integrity |
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Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights calls for an end to so-called “conversion therapies”On 16 February, Dunja Mijatović, The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, published a human rights comment on ending so-called “conversion therapies”. In it, she calls for collecting data on SOGIE conversion practices, ensuring accountability through enforceable bans with consequences for perpetrators, bans of advertising these practices, support and rehabilitation services for victims, and efforts to raise awareness of the negative consequences of these practices for LGBTI people.
Read the human rights comment. |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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European Commission ended the infringement procedure against Poland over “LGBT-free zones”On 7 February, together with Polish LGBTI and women’s rights organisations, ILGA-Europe wrote to the European Commission (EC) to find out why infringement against Poland is not moving forward. On 16 February, media reported that the EC had ended the infringement procedures against Poland regarding anti-LGBT resolutions. In July 2021 the Commission launched an “infringement” procedure against Poland regarding anti-LGBT resolutions and charters adopted at local levels of governance, which introduce a possible discrimination against LGBTI people in various places in Poland. Although some Polish regions have repealed such resolutions, they still exist at county and municipal level, endorsing discrimination against LGBTI people and impacting decisions concerning use of EU funds.
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Hate crime |
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European civil society issued a joint statement on the European Day of for Victims of CrimeOn 22 February European Day of for Victims of Crime, ILGA-Europe joined Victim Support Europe and other leading European NGOs and civil society organisations for a strong joint statement calling on every person to stand as one for victims and to ensure that no victim is forgotten or remains voiceless.
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Health |
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Why cancer is disproportionally affecting LGBTI peoplePeople are affected by cancer no matter what their identity is, but barriers in access to screening, prevention, and treatment puts LGBTI people at increased risk of developing fatal cancers. “The cancer community has recognised that the LGBTIQ+ community has historically been marginalised within the healthcare system, which translated into some discrimination, exclusion and unequal treatment in cancer care,” says Mike Morrissey, CEO of the European Cancer Organisation with whom we have been working together.
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Share your feedback on the mpox resources if you were active in outreach to Pride eventsIn July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) jointly published a Monkeypox Resource toolkit to support national authorities and event organisers in their planning and coordination of mass and large gathering events. As the toolkit is being updated, feedback is being sought by community-groups who were active in outreach to Pride events during the mpox outbreak. |
Legal gender recognition |
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Finland adopted the Trans Law based on self-determination for adultsOn 1 February, the Finnish Parliament adopted the “Trans Law”, a new law that makes legal gender recognition (LGR) based on self-determination for adults. While there is more work to do, including regulating LGR for minors, this is a significant step for the country. The previous law had requirements of psychiatric diagnosis, medical intervention, and sterilisation for those who wanted to access LGR. The new law will come into effect on 3 April 2023.
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Legal gender recognition remains impossible in Hungary after the Constitutional Court decisionOn 2 February, the Constitutional Court of Hungary rendered its decision in one of the pending cases on the impossibility of legal gender recognition for trans people. The decision rejected the petitioning judge’s argument that Section 33, adopted in May 2020 and rendering legal gender recognition impossible, runs contrary to the right to human dignity and respect for private life. With this decision, the Constitutional Court not only contradicted international human rights standards, but also its own previous decision from 2018 which ruled that a lack of legislation providing for legal gender recognition is unconstitutional. ILGA-Europe will work closely with Hátter Society on bringing this case to the ECtHR.
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Bulgarian Supreme Court ruled that legal gender cannot be changedIn an advisory opinion with impact on all pending and future cases, the Bulgarian Supreme Cassation Court ruled on 20 February that the legal gender of Bulgarians cannot be changed based on Bulgarian law. This ruling means that legal gender recognition is in practice impossible now in the country. On 21 February, activists held a protest against the ruling.
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Spanish Senate approves the LGTBI and Trans LawsOn 16 February, the Spanish Senate approved the LGTBI and Trans Laws as a last legislative step before becoming law. The law is very broad, and includes legal gender recognition based on self-determination for all aged 14 and more, a ban on intersex genital mutilation, a ban on so-called “conversion therapies”, and equal parenthood rights for lesbian mothers.
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UN experts welcomed the new legislation in SpainOn 21 February, nine UN experts, including Victor Madrigal-Borloz, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, shared a press release welcoming the adoption of new “LGTBI and Trans Laws” in Spain. The experts noted that the legislation aligns the Spanish system of recognition of gender identity with the UN-identified best practice of self-identification. The experts urged other States to follow suit. “Such legislative measures address deep-rooted causes of widespread human rights violations against women and girls and LGTBI persons” they said.
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“It is vital for Sweden to modernise its legal gender recognition process”On 27 February, ILGA-Europe signed a joint statement together with Swedish and international organisations to encourage the Swedish government to modernise its legal gender recognition process and allow access based on self-determination, the human rights-based approach. There is already a draft bill that the previous government prepared in 2021.
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European Court rules against intersex person’s request to have “neutral” gender markerOn 31 January, the European Court of Human Rights released its judgement in the case of Y v. France, which concerned the French authorities’ refusal to allow for the “male” gender marker of the applicant, an intersex person, to be replaced by “neutral” or “intersex” on the person’s birth certificate. The Court held that there had been no violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. While regretting the rejection of the application ILGA-Europe and OII Europe hope that the doors are left open by the Court for future positive decisions – including acknowledgment of the suffering of the applicant and of the importance of protecting one’s identity. |
Sexual and reproductive rights |
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5 reasons why sex workers’ rights in the EU must be protectedPolicy makers must listen to the voices of sex workers, including LGBTI sex workers, in the development of policies that affect them. Particularly now, when the members of the European Parliament are discussing the proposal on Violence against women and domestic violence, they must reject any attempts to criminalise any aspects of consensual sex work among adults. Criminalisation is not the solution. ILGA-Europe shared a blog post with a handful of clear and fair reasons for the EU policy makers to ensure protection of rights of sex workers.
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Notice board |
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New funding call from the European Commission on civic spaceThe European Commission’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) has launched a call for projects aimed at empowering and reporting on civic space issues. Projects should monitor civic space at national level, breaches of fundamental rights of human rights defenders, and can also support the protection of CSOs, their members, and human rights defenders under attack.
Read more and apply by 25 May. |
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ILGA World seeks an Operations ManagerILGA World seeks an Operations Manager to supervise and develop the Operations team of their office. The role of the Operations Manager is to conceptualise, lead and oversee the operational support of the organisation and office, to supervise operations staff and to strategically develop ILGA World’s operations infrastructure in collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders.
Read more and apply before 6 March. |
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European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation has two vacanciesThe EGLSF – European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation is looking for an European Projects Coordinator and a Membership and Communications Officer. The European Projects Coordinator will be responsible for coordination and fulfilment of work from a portfolio of Erasmus+ funded projects. The Membership and Communications Officer will provide member liaison and prepare quality internal and external comms, including social media.
Read more and send your applications before 20 March. |
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European Institute for Gender Equality is looking for an expert on gender-based violenceThe European Institute for Gender Equality is looking for applications for the Seconded National Expert (SNE) – Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The selected SNE will enhance the Unit’s operational and research capacity on GBV. The post requires a very good understanding of contemporary policies and research on violence against women in addition to analytical skills, project management, excellent writing skills in English and very good communication abilities.
Read and apply before 31 March. |
Rainbow Digest January 2023
ILGA-Europe |
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New report on rule of law in the EUOn 26 January, ILGA-Europe published its report of submission to the European Commission on rule of law. The submission covers developments in eight EU Member States as regards rule of law developments in the countries which have had an impact on the fundamental rights of LGBTI people and their democratic participation. The largest attacks which we have highlighted to the EC are anti-LGBTI bias, harassment and intimidation of LGBTI human rights defenders, anti-LGBTI legislation, judgments not being implemented, hate crimes not being investigated.
Read more on our blog summarising the report. Download your own copy of the report. |
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Join our team as a new Advocacy OfficerWe are looking for an Advocacy Officer to lead on building alliances with actors who are central in translating human rights principles, laws and policies into practice to create change in the lived realities of LGBTI people. We are particularly interested in building alliances with organisations and/or institutions who are active in addressing socio-economic inequalities, as well as actors who can contribute to more effective implementation of existing policies regarding LGBTI human rights in the region.
Read more and apply by 16 February. |
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Apply for the consultancy to conduct legal research on conversion practicesWe are seeking a consultant or team of consultants to assess the legal frameworks and relevant risks of bans which do and do not include banning conversion therapies for adults. In recent years, there is increasing interest in legislation relating to conversion practices (i.e. so-called “conversion therapies”), with a number of States in Europe and Central Asia seeking to ban these practices. Arising in these discussions is the issue of the ability to adults to consent to conversion practices, and whether legislation should ban the practices for minors only or for all persons.
Read more and apply before 26 February. |
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Resources on connecting with media for LGBTI activistsAs part of our current Strategic Communications programme, our latest Skills Boost sessions focused on media relations. To get stories that aren’t headline-grabbing out there, building a good relationship with journalists is vital for activists. However, the ever-changing media landscape, activist workloads, juggling advocacy and community needs, and emergencies that arise so often, make it difficult for activists to connect, and stay connected with media representatives. ILGA-Europe’s media officer, Ana Muñoz walked participants through a part of her daily routine.
Read our blog post talking through the learnings of the session. Watch the recording of the session. |
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Night of live music for ILGA-EuropeAre you based in or near Milan? Don’t miss out on a night of live music in support of ILGA-Europe produced by Beats for Relief. The benefit concert will take place Wednesday 1 March at the beautiful Doping Bar in Milan, featuring a live performance by Ash Bates. The event is part of a series of benefit concerts raising money for Oxfam, Italian Climate Network and ILGA-Europe.
Read more and get your ticket. |
Employment |
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After Polish case, CJEU rules to protect self-employed workers based on sexual orientationOn 12 January, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that sexual orientation cannot be a reason to refuse or conclude a contract with a self-employed worker. In its judgement, the CJEU holds that the Directive 2000/78 must be construed broadly, covering the access to any occupational activity, even if the worker is self-employed under contract with an employer. According to ILGA-Europe’s Head of Litigation, Arpi Avetisyan, “The judgement clarifies that EU law protects from discrimination based on sexual orientation also for self-employed and thus reinforces the protection against discrimination equally for the self-employed across the EU”.
Read more. |
Family |
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European Court delivered judgement in favour of legal protection for same-sex couplesOn 17 January, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered a judgement on the case of in Fedotova v Russia, reiterating the Council of Europe States’ positive obligation under the ECHR Article 8 to ensure legal recognition and protection for same-sex couples by putting in place a “specific legal framework.” The case concerned the Russian authorities’ refusal to ensure legal recognition and protection for the applicants as same-sex couples. The Court concluded that the respondent State had overstepped its margin of appreciation and had failed to comply with its positive obligation to secure the applicants’ right to respect for their private and family life.
Read the judgement in full. |
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Turkish Parliament to discuss to redefine marriage as a union between a man and a womanOn 25 January, the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup issued a press release regarding Turkey’s leading party’s proposals to amend the Constitution on the grounds of ‘constitutional guarantee for the headscarf and protection of the family’. The proposals seek to redefine marriage by stipulating that “marriage shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman”. THe LGBTI Intergroup said “Draft amendments to the Turkish Constitution threaten to further rollback on LGBTIQ rights and violate European Convention on Human Rights.” |
Freedom of expression |
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European Court rules against Lithuania labelling LGBTI-inclusive fairytale book harmful to childrenOn 23 January, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that labelling a book of fairy tales as harmful to children solely because of LGBTI content breaches the European Convention. The case concerned a book that was entitled ‘Amber Heart’ (‘Gintarinė širdis’), and contained fairy tales with story lines about relationships and marriages between persons of the same sex. The publishing house suspended distribution of the book in March 2014. A year later distribution was resumed, with the book bearing a warning label that it might be harmful to children under 14 years of age.
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Health |
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Ukraine adopts a new law protecting people living with HIVOn 12 January, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted a draft law on combating the spread of diseases caused by HIV, and legal and social protection of people living with HIV. The law revokes the “risk groups” but introduces “risky practices” and guarantees universal access to HIV-related services for everyone, including people without Ukrainian citizenship and refugees.
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How does ideal HIV combination prevention look like to you?ILGA-Europe joined European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) and 7 other international organisations to conduct a survey of individuals belonging to and/or working with populations most affected by HIV in Europe and Central Asia. This community survey seeks to understand specific community perspectives on how HIV combination prevention services are designed and delivered at local level. The survey is anonymous, available in English and Russian and takes about 10 minutes to complete. |
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Armenia revokes ban on gay men for blood donationOn 16 December 2022, the Minister of Health of Armenia issued a ministerial order changing the procedures to donate blood and lifting the ban on gay men for blood donation. The new procedure introduces the requirement of “not having sex with a non-permanent partner in the last 6 months.” The new changes are the results of advocacy works of the Community, Rights, Gender (CRG) work group of Country Coordinating Mechanism against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (CCM), where LGBTI activists were part of.
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Legal gender recognition |
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Spain is one step closer to a legal gender recognition law based on self-determinationOn 22 December, the Spanish Parliament approved the LGTBI and trans laws with a final vote expected in February. The trans law regulates legal gender recognition based on human rights standards. Among other improvements, LGTBI law will ban conversion therapies and intersex genital mutilations and provide medically assisted reproduction for lesbian, bisexual and trans and non-binary people with the capacity to become pregnant. (Photo: FELGTBI+)
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Scottish Parliament adopted legal gender recognition reformOn 22 December, the parliament of Scotland adopted a reform on legal gender recognition based on self-determination. The reform improves the system by giving trans people over 16-years-old being able to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate in an easier, transparent, and just procedure. The adopted changes would come into effect after the government develops the new systems created by the Bill, however on 16 January the UK Government wrote to the Scottish Government to say that they would be using section 35 of the Scotland Act to block the Gender Recognition Reform. (Photo: Scottish Trans)
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Sexual and reproductive rights |
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Open letter to the MEPs to reject any attempts to criminalise sex workIn an open letter published on 10 January, 170 organisations, including the members of the Coalition on Sex Workers’ Rights and Inclusion, called on the Members of the European Parliament to reject any attempts to criminalise any aspect of sex work as a part of the Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence Report, that is currently negotiated in the European Parliament. |
Notice board |
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New call for proposals on combating violence against childrenThe European Commission published a new call for proposals to prevent and combat gender-based violence and violence against children. The call will finance a limited number of transnational, national or regional actors/intermediaries which will build the capacities of and re-grant to civil society organisations active at local, regional, national level. Through this mechanism, EU funding should help organisations active in preventing and combating all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls and all forms of gender-based violence, including against LGBTIQ people, women and children in the migration context, as well as different forms of violence against children.
Read more and apply before 19 April. |
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Join the steering committee for the research project on gambling harm amongst LGBT+ peopleA group of researchers at the University of Brighton, UK is pursuing an academic research on the gambling harm in LGBT+ people. The study aims to review the lived experience of LGBT+ people as they access support and the promising practices that might help address harmful gambling. For this research, they are looking for steering group members who will involve joining two virtual meetings of about an hour and sharing any knowledge of organisations who work in the field.
If you’re interested, contact Laetitia Zeeman. |
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Systemic Justice is looking for a Head of CommunicationsSystemic Justice, an organisation in Europe that works with community partners on strategic litigation by taking a community-driven and intersectional approach, is now looking for a Head of Communications. They offer competitive fees, flexible working hours, and a creative and professional work environment. The Head of Communications will be responsible for the strategic development and implementation of Systemic Justice’s communication strategy.
Read more and apply before 5 February. |
Rainbow Digest December 2022
ILGA-Europe |
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New video on the last 12 months in 7 minutesOver the past 12 months we have seen huge change for LGBTI people in Europe and Central Asia. It was a year of many challenges for LGBTI communities, but also a year of great victories that came from strong, resilient and passionate activism. We published a video charting the change, the highs and lows of 2022.
Watch our seven-minute video. |
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New briefing report on the challenges faced by young LGBTI people in EuropeOn 6 December, ILGA-Europe and IGLYO launched their joint briefing report, deep-diving into the data from the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) 2019 LGBTI Survey II, to further understand the challenges faced by young LGBTI people in Europe today. In this second of our series of Intersections reports, we created sub-populations of respondents aged 15-24, 15-17 and 18-24, and compared them with all respondents to the survey. In coming months, we will publish further in-depth briefings on intersex people, religious and ethnic minorities, older LGBTI people, trans people, and others.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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New podcast: The World Cup ‘one love’ controversy: How the media got it wrongThe big story at the beginning of the World Cup 2022 centred on FIFA banning all players on European teams from wearing the ‘One Love’ armband during matches, highlighting the human rights situation for LGBTI people in Qatar. ILGA-Europe published a new episode of The Frontline podcast that deep-dives into the ‘One Love’ armband controversy and what it means for the LGBTI movement. Our guests are Ryan Heath, Editorial Director with Politico; Gurchaten Sandhu, Director of Programmes at ILGA World, and the Executive Director of ILGA-Europe, Evelyne Paradis.
Listen to the podcast on your favourite platform. |
Education |
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Polish president vetoes discriminatory bill targeting sex educationOn 15 December, President Andrzej Duda of Poland vetoed an education reform that threatened sex education, including about sexual orientation and gender identity. The proposed legislation was a revised version of a bill including similar provisions that the president vetoed earlier this year. Civil society organisations had been campaigning against the bill and organising collective letters calling the President to veto it.
Read more. |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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Commissioner warns the UK against regression on human rightsOn 9 December, Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights published a report on the United Kingdom. The country visit report has a clear position on the rights LGBTI people, calling for government actors to refrain from harmful discourse against trans and LGBTI people, the government to rebuild trust with LGBTI community, to act to combat anti-trans intolerance, discrimination, and hate crime, to bring legal gender recognition in line with human rights standards, to ensure equal treatment for trans people, and to adopt a trans-inclusive ban of so-called “conversion practices.”
Read more about the report. |
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New booklet about the repeal of the banned jobs for women in KazakhstanAfter several years of advocacy, in 2021 feminist initiatives in Kazakhstan managed to abolish the list of banned professions for women – a Soviet Union legacy Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries had adopted. They have published a book sharing their experience of fight against this discriminatory practice. The list of banned professions included hundreds of occupations which women could not pursue as a profession. Queer women were at the core of fight in making the case for this advocacy work. Uzbekistan is another Central Asian country that had abolished the similar list. Following Kazakhstan’s success there are now initiatives across the region to terminate this discriminatory practice. |
Family |
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LGBTI organisations welcome EU parental recognition proposalOn 7 December, the European Commission published a proposal for a Council Regulation on recognition of parenthood, which sets out the full recognition of parenthood for cross-border movement within the EU, while ensuring every child’s fundamental rights are fully protected everywhere in the EU. According to ILGA-Europe and NELFA, this is a major step forward for bringing legal security for children in cross-border situations to have their family life protected and having both their parents recognised across the EU. Currently, many children, including children of LGBTI parents, ‘lose one parent’ when crossing a border because of parenthood not being recognised.
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Freedom of expression |
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Uzbekistan plans to adopt an “anti-propaganda” lawOn 16 December, the Agency on Information and Mass Media of Uzbekistan published a Draft of the Information Code for public discussions. Article 54 of the Code prohibits abuse of freedom of Mass Media Means. This norm prohibits any “propaganda of unnatural relations between people of same sex”. This restriction is being proposed in addition to already existing criminalisation of consensual sexual conduct between men, for which LGBTI people have been prosecuted and detained.
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Health |
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PReP and ending AIDS by 2030On World AIDS Day, ILGA-Europe shared a blog post about what governments need to do to make PReP available for all. Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is the ambitious goal set by the United Nations eight years ago, to which EU countries committed along with many others. PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a vital component of this plan. The blog lists some key recommendations for governments in order to make PrEP available to everyone who might benefit from it, following the research by UNAIDS and AIDS Action Europe.
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Funding for a PhD project on ‘conversion therapy’ in international human rights lawThe University of Leicester’s Leicester Law School has a new funding opportunity for a PhD project on ‘conversion therapy’ in international human rights framework. The project aims to identify and chart the rapidly developing international human rights norms and standards that have been recognised as being applicable to conversion therapy. Looking across the various relevant international and regional human rights instruments, the project will set out the relevant standards that have so far been adopted with respect to the practice.
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Legal gender recognition |
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Landmark judgement from the European Court on LGROn 1 December, the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgement in the case of A.D. and others v. Georgia. The Court found a violation of Article 8 (right to respect to private and family life) due to lack of clear framework in domestic legislation governing legal gender recognition procedure (LGR). The Court reiterated that this is in contradiction of states’ positive obligation to provide quick, transparent and accessible procedures for LGR. In light of the judgement, ILGA-Europe called on the Georgian authorities to put in place a clear legal framework allowing for quick, transparent and accessible procedures for LGR in collaboration and coordination with national LGBTI groups. |
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RFSL has funding for trans communities in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and UkraineRFSL, the Swedish Federation for LGBTQI rights, is currently accepting grant applications to support initiatives, groups and organisations, focusing on the unique needs of trans, non-binary and gender-diverse rights movements from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. In addition to funding, grantees are offered capacity strengthening, professional development opportunities, advocacy mentorship and assistance in organisational development. Maximum grant amount for the call is 7300 Euros.
Read more and apply before 8 January. |
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ILGA World seeks a Human Resources ManagerILGA World seeks a a Human Resources Manager. Currently, human resources management does not have a dedicated staff person in the organisation but is a shared responsibility of the Senior Management Team. ILGA World is currently introducing a flexible workplace regime – under the new rules this position can be implemented remotely and does not require relocation to Geneva, Switzerland. The position is advertised at 60% of a full-time position.
Read more and apply before 24 January. Check out other opportunities at ILGA World. |
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The Council of Europe SOGI Unit is looking for consultancy servicesThe Council of Europe SOGI Unit has a new call for tenders for consultancy services in the field of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) with expertise in legislative and policy development/reviews, institutional capacity development and/or raising awareness.
Read more and submit your offer by 30 December. |
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Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community has two new positionsThe EL*C- EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community is recruiting for the positions of Grants and Sustainability Manager and Advocacy and Research Officer – both remote work with one year contracts. The Grants and Sustainability Manager will be responsible for managing grants, re-granting programs and funder relationships, including capacity assessment, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and compliance management. The Advocacy and Research Officer will work on advocacy for human rights of lesbians at national, regional and international levels.
Read more and apply by 15 January. |
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AGE Platform Europe is looking for a Media and Campaigns OfficerAGE Platform Europe, European network of non-profit organisations of and for people aged 50+, is looking for an Media and Campaigns Officer to amplify older people’s voice and increase the outreach of AGE’s age equality storytelling. Using social media, campaigns and other relevant communication channels, the successful candidate will help disseminate AGE’s positions and policy recommendations and contribute to positive progress towards equality in old age.
Read more and apply before 16 January. |
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HURIDOCS is seeking their next Executive DirectorHURIDOCS (Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems) is seeking their next Executive Director to lead in shaping the future of the organisation and ensuring that the organisation will deliver on its strategic objectives. This is a full-time position, with location preference in Geneva. HURIDOCS operates a small office from Geneva but the majority of team members are working entirely remotely.
Read more and apply before 6 January. |
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Funding opportunity to support strategic litigation projects on digital rightsThe Digital Freedom Fund opened its call for funding to support strategic litigation on digital rights in Europe that contributes to advancing human rights in the digital context. You can submit applications for litigation track support or pre-litigation research. DFF funds not just digital rights organisations, but also provides support to racial, social, economic, gender, LGBTQI+, disability, migrant and environmental justice organisations working on digital rights.
Read more and apply by 28 February. |
Rainbow Digest November 2022
ILGA-Europe |
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Strategic communications grantees met in Brussels for peer learningFrom 16-18 November, as part of our strategic communications programme, a 3-day meeting took place in Brussels. Eleven people representing 5 organisations, alliances and coalitions from Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Ireland and Slovenia participated the meeting for learning and peer-learning (as each organisation or group facilitated their own sessions) and discussions about some of the most difficult communications dilemmas. The participant organisations and groups are ILGA-Europe’s grantee-partners within the Supporting strategic communications by LGBTI organisations project.
Read more about our programme on strategic communications. |
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Our Annual Conference 2022: Photo essayILGA-Europe posted a photo-essay about the Annual Conference that took place in Sofia between 19-21 October and was hosted by the Bulgarian LGBTI organisations, Bilitis Foundation, Deystvie and Glas Foundation. Our photo essay, taken by Ukrainian photographer Marina Bandelyuk, aims to give a sense of the enthusiastic atmosphere, the vital networking, and the joy of being together as LGBTI activists from across Europe and Central Asia in person once more.
Check out our photo-essay. |
Bias-motivated violence |
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Two more European countries added to annual report on trans murdersThis year, for the first time, Estonia and Switzerland reported the murders of trans people. In total, the last twelve months saw 327 reported murders of trans and gender-diverse people in the world as a result of anti-trans violence, according to TGEU’s Trans Murder Monitoring. Although TGEU has been collecting information since 2008, most trans murders still go under-reported.
Read more on our blog post. Access the full report from TGEU. |
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GREVIO publishes its report on Bosnia and HerzegovinaOn 8 November, the Council of Europe Expert Group on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) published its first baseline evaluation report on Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention. It acknowledges the steps taken by the country to comply with the treaty but identifies areas where progress is still needed. Among others, GREVIO calls on the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure that data collection on gender-based violence is intersectional and inclusive of violence against LBTI women.
Read more and download the copy of the report. |
Bodily integrity |
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How activism led the way forward to protect intersex children in GreeceTo mark Intersex Awareness Weeks, ILGA-Europe shared a blog post looking into the efforts and experiences of activists in Greece, who worked for many months alongside the national government, resulting in the country becoming just the fifth in the world to ban intersex genital mutilations on children. Intersex minors under the age of 15, living in Greece, are now protected from surgical operations and other invasive treatments.
Read more. |
Decriminalisation |
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Ireland opened a public consultation on historic convictions of gay and bisexual menOn 4 November, Ireland’s Minister for Justice launched a consultation on the development of a scheme to disregard historic convictions of gay and bisexual men. The criminalisation of consensual sexual acts between men in Ireland came into effect prior to the foundation of the State and remained in place until its eventual decriminalisation in 1993. Although anyone may add their feedback, affected persons and representative organisations are particularly being encouraged to provide input on a number of key issues based on their lived experiences. The consultation is open until 9 December.
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Equality and non-discrimination |
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Mandate of the Independent Expert on SOGI renewed for a second time, unchallengedOn 17 November, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution presenting the Annual Report of the Human Rights Council without a challenge to the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI) for a second time. ILGA-Europe joined 1,256 non-governmental organisations from 149 States and territories in all regions supporting a campaign to renew the mandate.
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Call for input to a thematic report on freedom of belief and SOGIThe Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, intends to present a thematic report to the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2023 on the right to freedom of religion or belief in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). The Independent Expert invites all interested States, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, faith leaders, academics, international organisations, national human rights institutions, activists, corporations, and others, to provide written input for his thematic report.
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Family |
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Landmark judgement from the European Court on children’s rights in surrogacy casesFor the first time, the European Court of Human Rights has applied a ruling from the children’s rights perspective in surrogacy cases to same-sex families. In a judgement delivered on 22 November, in the case of ‘D.B. and Others v. Switzerland’, the European Court found that the right to private life (under Article 8 ) of the child born to same-sex couple through surrogacy was violated because of the non-recognition of the intended second parent. At the same time, the Court acknowledged that because surrogacy as a means to start a family is against Swiss public policy, and the parents knew this beforehand, the parents’ rights were not violated.
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Foreign policy |
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Three Central Asian countries to join the UK’s Developing Countries Trading SchemeKyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will be benefiting from the UK DCTS preferences (Developing Countries Trading Scheme) as of 1 January 2023. DCTS preferences are similar to those granted by the EU to countries with a GSP status. While Tajikistan and Uzbekistan benefit from DCTS’ LDC Standard preferences (Least Developed Countries), Kyrgyzstan will be benefitting from DCTS’ Enhanced preferences. The Enhanced preferences of UK DCTS scheme retains the power to suspend a country’s preferences for serious and systematic violations of human rights and labour rights based on 27 international conventions. LGBTI and human rights activists can use this trade scheme as a leverage to enter into dialogue with their governments on improving the human rights situation of LGBTI people in the respective countries.
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Freedom of expression |
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Russian Parliament extended anti-LGBT propaganda lawOn 24 November, the Russian Parliament adopted a new law extending the law on so-called “propaganda”. The new legislation bans any advertising, media, books, films, or theatre productions that are deemed to promote homosexuality or gender identity for all ages. These acts are now punishable with fines of up to 400,000 rubles (€6,400) or up to 5 million rubles (€80,000) for legal entities.
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Legal gender recognition |
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Calling on the Spanish government to reject the amendments to limit LGR for minorsOn 29 November, ILGA-Europe wrote a letter to the Spanish government regarding proposed amendments to the legal gender recognition reform. “We are concerned by recent reports regarding amendments which would weaken the law and limit access for minors” says the letter. Human rights-based LGR allows access for minors using the same method as adults. ILGA-Europe strongly encourage the rejection of amendments that would limit this access.
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Notice board |
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RFSL has a funding for bi+ communities in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and UkraineRFSL, the Swedish Federation for LGBTQI rights, is currently accepting grant applications to support initiatives, groups and organisations, focusing on the unique needs of bi+ and queer movements from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. In addition to funding, grantees are offered capacity strengthening, professional development opportunities, advocacy mentorship and assistance in organisational development. Maximum grant amount for the call is 7 300 Euros.
Read more and apply before 8 January. |
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Applications open for the training on the UN human rights system for human rights defendersInternational Service for Human Rights (ISHR) launched its application process for the new 2023 hybrid edition of the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP), which will take place both remotely and in Geneva. The course equips human rights defenders with the knowledge and skills to integrate the UN human rights system into their existing work at the national level in a strategic manner, and provides an opportunity for participants to prepare for and engage in lobbying and advocacy activities at the UN with the aim to effect change back home. (Photo: ISHR)
Read more and apply before 10 January. |
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Representatives of organisations can take part in the survey on fighting against prejudice-based violenceAs part of the Counter Hate Project implemented in Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, and Lithuania, University of Brescia is conducting an online survey on improving the assistance of victims of hate crimes through a victim-centered and intersectional approach. The survey is addressed to representatives and practitioners of civil society organisations fighting against prejudice-based violence and promoting civil rights. It takes about 10 minutes to answer the questions.
Read more and take part in the survey. |
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Fellowship for frontline activist in need of respiteThe Oak Fellowship has issued this year’s call for applications for the 2023 Oak Human Rights Fellowship, which annually offers an opportunity for a human rights activist to take leave from frontline work and spend the fall semester in residence at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, the United States. The focus of this year’s search is Health and Human Rights. The Oak Fellow will receive a stipend of $36,000, plus round-trip transportation from the Fellow’s home, housing, transportation, and meals on campus.
Read more and apply before 31 January. |
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EATG is recruiting peer researchers from sex workers and trans and gender diverse communitiesEuropean AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) is recruiting a team of three peer researchers to address the existing research gap for sex workers (all genders) and trans and gender diverse communities. The research activity will take place between December 2022 and November 2023. The selected community representatives will gain and/or strengthen their skills for the planning and implementation of peer-led research and generate needed data for local community advocacy.
Read more and apply before 6 December. |
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TGEU seeks a Senior Communications OfficerTransgender Europe (TGEU) is looking for an 80% Senior Communications Officer to begin by 1 March 2023 for an initial period of 24 months. The position is located in Berlin, Germany. The Senior Communications Officer will be responsible for TGEU’s external communications which includes the development and implementation of TGEU’s communication strategy as well as the coordination of TGEU’s media work, newsletter, websites, social media, campaigns, and publications.
Read more and apply before 16 December. |
Rainbow Digest October 2022
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Help transform realities for LGBTI communities across Europe and Central Asia.With your support we can do more. Make change happen here. No. 325. October 2022. In this issue… ILGA-Europe
Equality and non-discrimination
Family Hate crime
Legal gender recognition
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ILGA-Europe |
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Annual Conference 2022 took place in Sofia between 19–22 OctoberAfter three years of not being able to gather in person, ILGA-Europe’s Annual Conference took place in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia between 19-22 October. Around 350 people from around the world came together to connect and reconnect, to reflect, realign and identify ways to move our collective work forward as a European and Central Asian LGBTI movement. This year’s conference will be built under the ‘Shaping the World to Come’ theme with two cornerstones: ‘Building alliances in shifting contexts’ and ‘Collective resilience in the movement’.
Read more on our daily reports from the Conference. |
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New funding program for data-collection on violence in Europe and Central AsiaILGA-Europe launched an opportunity for funding to collect and document data on cases of violence against the LGBTI communities in Europe and Central Asia. We will support proposals focusing on collecting evidence that provides advocacy insights on the situations around institutionalised violence as well as tackling lack of support to the victims of domestic violence based on their SOGIESC.
Read more and apply before 15 November. |
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Ljubljana to be the location for our Annual Conference in 2023ILGA-Europe announced that the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, in the heart of Central Europe, has been chosen as the location for our Annual Conference in 2023. We’re looking forward to beginning our work with LGBTI host organisations in Ljubljana to organise the 25th ILGA-Europe Annual Conference, and we’ll be announcing the exact dates as soon as they are tied down.
Read more. |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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ECRI’s new monitoring report on BulgariaOn 4 October, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published reports on their monitoring of Bulgaria, giving clear recommendations on LGBTI issues, including on hate speech and monitoring school bullying. The report indicates that in spite of ECRI’s recommendation in its latest report, “the authorities have not carried out any study or research into the situation of LGBTI people and did not develop legislation on gender reassignment and gender recognition as recommended by ECRI”. ILGA-Europe is “concerned with the government response, and call on governments to engage in monitoring exercises in good faith”.
Read more. |
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PACE calls to end discrimination against women in sportsOn 13 October, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a new resolution on ending discrimination against women in the world of sport. The resolution calls to end discrimination against women in sports and includes explicitly LBTI women’s needs. The Assembly condemns the hate speech and sexism directed at female athletes, including LBTI athletes and calls for efforts to promote access to sport for all women and notes that discrimination against LBTI women has a negative impact on women in general.
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European Coalition on Sex Workers’ Rights and Inclusion was launchedOn 13 October, on the occasion of European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance’s first Congress, 15 organisations have come together to announce the launch of the European Coalition on Sex Workers’ Rights and Inclusion. These leading civil society networks and human rights organisations have come to the same conclusion: criminalisation is not the solution. It is only by adopting a human rights approach, decriminalising sex work, and meaningfully including sex workers and sex worker rights defenders in decision-making that sex workers can be protected.
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New campaign: “What about intersex seniors?”On 26 October Intersex Awareness Day, OII Europe launched a new campaign on the situation of intersex seniors. Older intersex people face very specific challenges and needs, and while there is still very little knowledge and research available on this particular topic, OII Europe’s campaign wants to highlight some of the few existing findings on senior intersex folks, as well as creating a platform for community-based knowledge. (Illustration: OII Europe)
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Family |
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Slovenian National Assembly voted for marriage equality and adoptionOn 4 October, The National Assembly in Slovenia signed same-sex marriage and adoption into law by passing changes to the family code. The changes define marriage as a union of two persons and allow same-sex partners to adopt children under the same conditions as those that apply to all married couples. Drafted by the government, the bill was passed two months after the Constitutional Court announced a landmark ruling deeming discriminatory the definition of marriage as a union of a man and a woman, and the inability of same-sex partners to adopt.
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Hate crime |
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Attack outside an LGBTI bar in Bratislava took two people’s livesOn 12 October, two young LGBTI people were killed outside an LGBTI bar in Bratislava. In their statement, LGBTI group Iniciatíva Inakosť said “The fact that the murder has chosen LGBTI people as target is the result of a long and systematic campaign against LGBTI people by state officials, churches and extremist groups”. Two days after the attack, the LGBTI organisations organised a vigil to commemorate Matus and Juraj who were cut down in the prime of their lives. Estimated 20.000 people attended the vigil. (Photo by Pride Bratislava)
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CoE event on combating SOGIESC-based hate crime took place in DublinOn 27 October, the Irish Ministry for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Irish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Council of Europe SOGI Unit, with the support of the United Kingdom Government Equalities Office, co-organised a roundtable on ‘Right to life, security and protection from violence: combating SOGIESC-based hate crime across Europe.’ Findings and outcomes from the discussions at the roundtable will be reflected in the report of the annual thematic review of Council of Europe Recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, which will be presented to the Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) for adoption in 2023. |
Legal gender recognition |
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Scottish Parliament voted for the bill on LGROn 27 October, the Members of the Scottish Parliament voted in favour for the reform of the Gender Recognition Act with 88 voting in favour and 33 against. The bill foresees to make the process by which trans people can update the sex on their birth certificate simpler and fairer. The bill now moves to Stage 2 and continues its legislative process.
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Depathologisation was at the centre of the EP hearing for the first timeOn 27 October, the European Parliament organised a hearing to discuss how the question of the legal status of trans persons can be taken out of the medical field. MEPs from the Committees on Civil Liberties and Public Health discussed the pivotal role of health professionals can have in ensuring that trans and non-binary persons are not stigmatised and discriminated against in the medical sector, and that they are able to fulfil their right to health by ensuring their access to quality health care. |
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ITF has new grant cycle for trans-led organisationsThe International Trans Fund (ITF) announced their 7th grant cycle for applications from trans-led organisations with budgets below $100,000 USD based in any region of the world. The ITF has two grant types: the SEED grant which is a 1-year general support and/or project grant for trans-led organisations that have never been funded by the ITF and the THRIVE grant which is a 1-year general support grant only for trans-led organisations that have been previously funded by the ITF.
Read more and apply before 12 December. |
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Take part in the survey on lesbophobiaThe EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community – EL*C is conducting research on the cases of lesbophobia from Europe and Central Asia. You can share information about cases of lesbophobic violence that have happened in your country in the past years. You can use whatever data you have available (even from your personal experience).
Read more and fill out the form. |
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The European Institute for Gender Equality has open vacanciesThe European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) has published several vacancies, including a traineeship and an expert on gender mainstreaming. The traineeship opportunity on Knowledge Management & Communications lasts six months for graduates who are either nationals of an EU Member State or an EFTA country or an IPA qualifying country. EIGE also invites applications with a view to establishing a reserve list for the post of Seconded National Expert– Gender Mainstreaming who will support the Institute’s activities in developing and applying various methods, tools and technical assistance for the integration of a gender perspective in different policy areas at various levels of the EU.
Read more and apply for the positions. |
Rainbow Digest: September 2022
ILGA-Europe |
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New call for applications: ‘LGBTI Communications: Learning Journey Grants’We have opened a new call for applications to support LGBTI organisations in Europe and Central Asia in strengthening their own communication capacities. The aim of this call is to support organisations that do work on communications with no, or limited resources or capacities, and those that work with/serve underrepresented communities.
Read more and apply before October 30. |
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New briefing on lesbians launchedOn 29 September, ILGA-Europe launched a brand-new briefing as part of our Intersections series, which will be released over the coming months, taking a deeper look at the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and zooming in on specific groups within the LGBTI community. The first report, developed in collaboration with the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian Community (EL*C), focuses on lesbians, and looks into the experiences of lesbians with disabilities, lesbians from ethnic minorities, trans lesbians, intersex lesbians, and more.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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New guidelines to equip journalists covering LGBTI issuesWhen media reports about LGBTI communities, certain challenges become apparent. While there are many stories about LGBTI people and the things that may shape their lives, there are risks in labelling LGBTI people as ‘other’ and presenting what happens to them as isolated events, detached from the bigger picture. What happens to LGBTI people impacts our societies at large and showcases the good or bad health of our democratic systems. This is why ILGA-Europe have developed the Guidelines for Journalists, with ‘do’s and don’ts’ on how to cover LGBTI-related news and how to approach and talk about LGBTI people and activists.
Read more and download your own copy of the guidelines. |
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We are looking for Turkish<>English translators and interpretersILGA-Europe has launched tender for Turkish<>English translators and interpreters with the intention to create a database of Turkish-English translators and interpreters. Due to the increase in the volume of work to be made available to Turkish-speakers, ILGA-Europe wants to create a pool of translators and interpreters to work with up until 2025. Translators and interpreters whose applications are selected in this tendering process will be added to the database and contacted when needs for translation/interpretation emerge.
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Asylum |
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“Malta should ensure LGBTIQ+ refugees receive adequate international protection”On the occasion of Malta Pride 2022 and in the run up to EuroPride Valletta 2023, aditus foundation launched the #Safe4All Legal Initiative, seeking to amend Malta’s asylum legislation to stop describing countries that criminalise SOGIESC identities as “safe”. If adopted, the Bill will allow persons fleeing violence and persecution due to their sexual orientation or gender identity to present their claims in a more effective manner, thereby reducing the risks of sending them to unsafe countries.
Read more about the initiative. |
Data collection |
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Make your voice heard with the EC consultation on intersex persons and their parentsThe European Commission (EC) has launched an online consultation to understand the socio-economic position of intersex people in society and the correlation between inclusive legislative, medical, and other policy measures relating to intersex people and their wellbeing. The EC aims to explore experiences of growing up, the healthcare system, education, employment, and later life, among other areas. If you are interested in taking part, you can speak to the research team in an interview (conducted over the phone or on Microsoft Teams) or via a complementary online consultation. You can participate in the research in English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Romanian, Hungarian, or Bulgarian and the consultation is open until the end of November. |
Employment |
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Sexual orientation is not a reason to terminate a contract with a self-employed workerOn 8 September, the Advocate General Of the CJEU issued an opinion in the case of J.K. vs the Polish public broadcaster company TP, stating that discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment is not acceptable under EU law. In 2017, the Applicant and his partner released a video on their YouTube Channel, where they appeared among other members of the LGBTIQ+ community. Two days after the video was posted, the Applicant received an e-mail from his immediate supervisor cancelling his scheduled shifts.
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Enlargement |
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New podcast series on EU enlargement process and what it means for LGBTI activistsOn 30 September, ILGA-Europe launched two episodes of a podcast series looking at the new wave of accession to the EU and what it will mean for LGBTI people. In this two-part episode of The Frontline podcast, presented by Belinda Dear, ILGA-Europe’s Advocacy Officer, we’re joined by former member of European Parliament, Marije Cornelissen, Lenny Emson from Kyiv Pride in Ukraine, Anastasia Danilova from GENDERDOC-M in Moldova, Danijel Kalezić, Co-director of ERA, and Katrin Hugendubel, ILGA-Europe’s Advocacy Director.
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Equality and non-discrimination |
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Bi Visibility Day 2022: Discrimination and bi people at the intersectionsOn 23 September the Bi Visibility Day, ILGA-Europe published a blog post about their findings of analyses of the FRA LGBTI Survey data on bi people. Bi people, particularly those with intersecting identities, experience discrimination in large numbers. The survey shows that while 19.22% of bi respondents experienced discrimination at work, this figure is over double for trans bi people of an ethnic minority, including migrant background, at 42.98%. The same goes for 27.32% of bi people with disabilities, 34.43% of trans bi people, 31.12% of non-binary bi people, and 25.62% of intersex bi people.
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New reports from ECRI on Greece and FranceOn 21 and 22 September, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published reports on their monitoring of Greece and France. In both cases, ECRI calls for clear interventions to tackle LGBTI-phobic violence, bullying in schools, and police mistreatment, and points to the need for intersex-specific protections. About France, ECRI considers that all those who work in or are involved in schools should be made aware of and receive training on human rights, tolerance and respect for diversity, including on LGBTI issues. According to the report on Greece, “despite the national LGBTI equality plan, LGBTI pupils continue to face intolerant and discriminatory attitudes and behaviours in school, including from teachers.”
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Freedom of assembly |
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EuroPride went ahead in Belgrade despite ban and obstructionsOn 17 September, EuroPride took place in Belgrade despite political and administrative obstruction. Several days before the Pride march, on 13 September, the Serbian police announced a ban on the route for the parade, which had already been agreed between the organisers of Pride and the Serbian authorities. Eventually Serbian authorities allowed the march to go ahead on condition of a shorter route. The Pride attracted more than 10.000 supporters and was mostly peaceful, however a number of activists were attacked on their way back from the march. (Photo by Koen Slootmaeckers) |
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Pride took the streets of Kharkiv in UkraineKharkivPride went ahead from 17-25 September as Ukraine regained control of the Kharkiv region and as Russian air strikes continued. The programme of the Pride included many events around the city, including a Metro Pride. On 25 September, the Pride attendees rode the Kharkiv metro and drove through all three lines of the Kharkiv metro, visited 10 stations and made 2 transitions. Two days before the Metro Pride, a car decorated with rainbow wedding attributes drove through Kharkiv in demand of marriage equality in Ukraine. (Photo by Kharkiv Pride)
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Hate speech |
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Anti-LGBTI march organised in IstanbulOn 18 September, an anti-LGBTI group held a demonstration and marched in Istanbul, demanding a ban on all LGBTI-related activities. Prior to the event, the organisers stirred hate against LGBTI people through a video promoting the demonstration which was aired as an advertisement on state TV and collected signatures to demand Turkey adopt a new law that would ban what they called “LGBTI propaganda”. ILGA-Europe called on “all political parties to condemn the march, and on Turkish authorities to ensure full protection for the LGBTI community”.
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Health |
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Malta lifted ban on blood donationsOn 2 September, the Ministry of Health announced to lift the one year deferral period for men who have sex with men to donate blood. The new medical questionnaire for blood donation doesn’t have any discriminatory question regarding donor’s sexual orientation and the criteria are the same for everyone.
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Monkeypox: Why global equity must be central to contain the spread and how it can be achievedOver 18,000 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in the EU since the start of the outbreak in the region in May. Humanitarian organisations, governments and institutions must join forces and put equity at the centre of their thinking so treatments and prevention measures are available for all. ILGA-Europe shared a blog post about what institutions and governments can do in the fight against monkeypox.
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Join IGLYO’s webinar on monkeypox stigma reductionOn 6 October, IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation is organising an interactive online dialogue on monkeypox and the stigma that often comes with diseases capable of sexual transmission. The webinar will explore the most up to date information on monkeypox and host a representative of European Sex Workers Alliance (ESWA) on the unique experience of sex workers.
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Legal gender recognition |
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New trans law in Finland has been submitted to the ParliamentOn 22 September, the government of Finland finalised their draft bill on new trans law and submitted it to the Parliament for discussions. The draft law foresees the process of legal gender recognition based on self-determination but only for adults. SETA said “Seta considers it very important that the law can be reformed for the most part now, but that the remaining shortcomings can be corrected in the next few years. The biggest shortcoming of the proposal is the categorical exclusion of minors from the reform and it is not in line with the rights of the child”.
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ECOM seeks consultants to assess gender barriers for transgender women in receiving HIV servicesECOM, the Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity is looking for national informants for a study assessing gender barriers for transgender women in receiving HIV services. ECOM, together with the Eurasian Women’s AIDS Network, is preparing to conduct an assessment to identify gender barriers in accessing HIV services in 15 project countries, which include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Read more and apply before 5 October. |
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Equal Rights in Action Fund launched a call for nominationsThe National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)’s funding programme Equal Rights in Action Fund (ERA) has launched a new call for nominations for the 5th round of grants for LGBTQI+ organisations. The first step to accessing a grant from the ERA Fund is a nomination from a local embassy representing a country that participates in the Global Equality Fund. These countries include only Hungary, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey from the Europe and Eurasia region.
Read more and apply by 4 October. |
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ITF is seeking activists to be members of its Grant Making PanelThe International Trans Fund (ITF) is seeking applications from activists to be members of its Grant Making Panel (GMP). The role of the GMP is to review grant proposals submitted to the ITF and make decisions on these grant applications in line with ITF’s priorities and principles. The Board will select eight activists to serve as GMP members and ensure diversity across regions, gender identities and expressions, and representation from further marginalised groups within trans communities.
Read more and apply before 10 October. |
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Application is open for the abortion stigma-busting community groupsThe International Network for the Reduction of Abortion Discrimination and Stigma (INROADS) has opened their application window for the Seed Grants to support the healing, well-being, and community care needs of groups to sustain their abortion work and innovative stigma reduction projects that can nourish the abortion stigma-busting community. The Seed Grants are aimed at reproductive justice grassroots groups worldwide who are usually excluded from funding resources and face multiple injustices.
Read more and apply before 16 October. |
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ENAR is looking for two new colleagues to join its teamThe European Network Against Racism (ENAR) has open positions for a Budget & Finance Officer and a Network Communications Associate. Budget & Finance Officer will be tasked with overseeing and monitoring the overall organisational budget as well as specific project budgets, establishing and reporting on projections and financial applications to the organisation’s leadership. Network Communications Associate will be responsible for supporting the execution of the communications portfolio and related programmes.
Read more and apply by 9 October. |
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Astraea is seeking a Vice President of Operations and a Vice President of Strategic EngagementThe Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice has two vacancies for the positions of a Vice President of Operations and a Vice President of Strategic Engagement. The Vice President of Operations is tasked with developing, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic and transformative initiatives for Astraea. The Vice President of Strategic Engagement is tasked with informing donors, institutional partners and the general public about how Astraea is achieving its impact as a feminist fund.
Read more and send your applications. |