EU Enlargement Review 2024
The fundamental rights of LGBTI people need to be a core part of the accession process and EU institutions need to work with the authorities in each accession country to ensure the gaps are tackled and important pieces of legislation are advanced over the next year.
The EU enlargement process has leverage and needs to be fully used to support the adoption of important legislation protecting the fundamental rights of LGBTI people, as well as call out when governments advance laws that go against EU principle of fundamental rights, democracy and rule of law.
Over the last year, not only have we seen the worrying trends of governments challenging the rule of law, an increase in LGBTI phobic hate speech by politicians and religious leader continuing and foreign influence being exerted to challenge advances on human rights continue, but in a number of candidate and accession countries, ruling parties have been pushing legislation forward that is actively limiting the human rights of vulnerable groups including LGBTI people. We have also seen governments putting forward Russian style foreign agent laws in Georgia and Republika Srpska in Bosnia- Herzegovina. LGBTI rights are being used to polarise society, often to distract from a broader undermining of democracy and the rule of law in these countries and other more important socio- economic and political issues.
The annual enlargement report process is a key moment to remind governments of the criteria that need to be met and point out where advancement on rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights are needed to advance the process. While in some countries progress has been too slow and the EU should ensure that important legislative processes are finally seen through (such as the legal gender recognition in Montenegro and partnership recognition for same-sex partners and a new hate crimes legislation in Ukraine), it is important to be very clear that the attempts to put forward laws that actively cancel EU fundamental rights cannot be tolerated and will need to lead to a reconsideration of the status granted by the EU.
It is especially important in this context that the EU insist that the protection of LGBTI people’s human rights are a core part, as they are often falling behind the requirements. The recommendations regarding the human rights of LGBTI people in the EU enlargement reports are key in holding governments accountable to the commitments made. This also means putting an emphasis on ensuring proper implementation of the laws protecting and granting access to fundamental rights. It is key that the EU makes this a priority in all the countries, also by supporting initiatives for training and education.
Through the region of all enlargement and candidate countries, we can clearly see how foreign forces are gaining influence and are challenging alliance with EU values and fundamental rights. The strength of disinformation and anti-LGBTI sentiment being spread across the Western Balkans region, particularly in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia, has intensified even more since Russia’s war in Ukraine, with LGBTI people and civil society as targets of smear campaigns, hatred and hostility, often originating from the government level, pro-Russia forces and religious leaders. We can see the anti-gender movement gaining more ground, spreading countless hostile and hateful statements and protests, disturbing public order and democratic processes. Politicians, religious leaders and newly formed organisations were among the most common perpetrators of hate speech, which translates into actual hate and violence against LGBTI people.
The anti-rights movement, which is well funded and coordinated, has taken root strongly in the Western Balkans region in the last years. In order to stand against this increasing influence of anti- gender forces and foreign governments trying to undermine the EU rule of law and democracy, strong civil society organisations are key as they continue to build social acceptance for fundamental rights, support vulnerable groups and are a corner stone of democratic societies.
The fact that LGBTI organisations in the Western Balkans have seen EU support decrease has further weakened their work and social cohesion in those countries. A number of LGBTI organisations had to close, and many at brink of closing, while they are facing organised attacks against their physical spaces, as well as against the legal framework which protects and guarantees their equal rights. The EU must be a supporting partner to these organisations, including their views meaningfully in consultations and negotiations, modelling civil dialogue as an important part of a democratic society, and continuing to support LGBTI organisations in the region through funding in the extremely fragile context.
Strategic Framework 2024-2029
This Strategic Framework re-affirms our commitment and mandate to work with and for the LGBTI movement in all its diversity. It examines and expands on the roles ILGA-Europe will play over the next five years, where the organisation has a unique value to add and where we’re uniquely placed to play those roles.
While building on the previous Framework (2019-2023), it expands on our growing understanding of the ecosystem and strategies, and more clearly defines what we hope to achieve under each pathway: empowered and inclusive LGBTI communities, strong and growing LGBTI movements, and laws and policies recognising and protecting LGBTI people’s human rights. It also puts much more focus on working, as a movement, towards deeply-rooted social acceptance and inclusion, and towards fair, just and equal societies and economies.
Inventory of relevant SOGIESC case law and pending cases before the ECtHR and CJEU
In order to focus our strategic litigation efforts across Europe to fully protect and advance LGBTI rights, with this inventory ILGA-Europe wants to support members and partners across the region to identify trends and gaps in protection at the European level, which can commonly be tackled through litigation. The inventory can further strengthen cooperation and help guide our work and efforts by others in bringing forward and supporting strategic cases.
This inventory and continuous assessment of the European landscape informs ILGA-Europe’s ongoing engagement in strategic litigation through identification and support of strategic opportunities.
This inventory covers relevant SOGIESC cases from 2010 up until December 2023.
Annual Review 2024
the 13th edition of our Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe and Central Asia.
The publication includes events that occurred between January and December 2023.
It provides a snapshot of what happened during the year, at national, regional and international levels, and it documents progress and trends regarding the human rights situation of LGBTI people.
We must warn that some parts may be potentially triggering for some readers. We must also stress that this document is not an exercise in apportioning blame. ILGA-Europe’s goal is not to point fingers at specific countries. Instead, this publication intends to serve as a tool for the exchange of best practices and policies, and as an open invitation for enhanced cooperation between governments and LGBTI civil society.
ILGA-Europe want this publication to meet our readers’ expectations and needs, and welcome any suggestions for improvement. We hope that you will find this edition of the Annual Review informative and useful.
Select INFORMATION
2024 Highlights and trends
Here are the Highlights and Trends that we currently identify for the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people in Europe and Central Asia.
Institutional Reviews
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
Country Reviews
Themes
EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION
FREEDOM FROM TORTURE, CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT
PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL LIFE
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
Download full report
Do you have any questions? Reach out to us at info@ilga-europe.org.
Our submission to the EC 2024 Rule of Law report
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.
Particularly stark among this year’s submissions is the continual problem of non-implementation of European court judgments, especially around the right of LGBTI people to respect for their private and family life and the best interests of their children, as well as judgments related to legal gender recognition.
Efforts by authorities to restrict civic space; legal harassment, threats, hate speech and smear campaigns against LGBTI human rights defenders; and inadequate implementation of hate crime and anti-discrimination laws also remained prominent in 2023.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Persons with Disabilities Analysis
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
This briefing analyses the results of the FRA LGBTI Survey II and summarises the most relevant data about the experiences of LGBTI persons with disabilities in Europe.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Homelessness Analysis
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
This briefing analyses the results of the FRA LGBTI Survey II and summarises the relevant data about experiences of homelessness among the LGBTI community.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Bisexuals Analysis
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
This 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.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Migrant and Racial, Ethnic and Religious Minorities Analysis
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
This briefing seeks to elaborate on existing analysis of the FRA LGBTI Survey II, and summarises the most relevant data about the experiences of LGBTI persons in Europe with a migration background coming from outside of EU, LGBTI non-migrant ethnic minorities and LGBTI religious minorities in the EU.
To understand the challenges faced by LGBTI migrants from outside of the EU and belonging to ethnic or religious minorities, we created sub-populations of respondents, who identified themselves as belonging to these groups, and compared them with all respondents to the survey.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Trans and Non-binary Analysis
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
This briefing 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 2019 FRA LGBTI Survey II, in order to show the differences in their lived experiences. To understand the diverse challenges faced by trans and non-binary people, we created subpopulations of trans men, trans women, and non-binary people, and compared them with all respondents to the survey.
Despite limitations, this data set remains the largest available of trans and
non-binary people in Europe and provides a valuable insight into the experiences of a large number of trans and non-binary people across the EU. That it has been and will be repeated enables useful comparisons over time.
Overview of ILGA-Europe’s Finances in 2022
In the financial year 2022 ILGA-Europe obtained and recognized 3 687 082 € in revenues, which is approx. an 11% (over 365 000 €) increase from the 2021 revenues. Another 200 000 € in donations and approx. 600 000 € in core grants were received in the course of 2022 but carried over to 2023 and further, to secure more operational budgets in the nearest future. The majority of funding recognized in 2022 was sourced from long-term projects and grants, raised in the preceding years.
The 2016 – 2022 comparison (see chart below) of proportions of core funding, unrestricted funding (donations and sponsorships), operating funding (European Commission) and project funding recognized in each year shows that in 2022 ILGA-Europe continued to prioritize flexible resources. The share of unrestricted funding (core grants, unrestricted donations and sponsorships) increased significantly over the past years, but it should be noted that in 2022 the amount of unrestricted donations received was lower than expected (480 000 € in 2021 and 280 000 € in 2022). The income of the European Commission operating grant was increased slightly in 2022, and will further increase in 2023. 2022 marked the beginning of a new Framework Partnership with the EC, under which ILGA-Europe will soon begin re-granting.
The two core grants used throughout the year (Wellspring Philanthropic Fund – 417 670 € and Open Society Foundations – 200 000 €) corresponded to 24% of the total budget. The share of project funding (over 1.7M € in 2022) increased to 66% of the total budget, with more resources mobilized to answer specific needs, and in lieu of higher unrestricted incomes. Within this category of project funding ILGA-Europe included two grants which in their nature were core, but were earmarked for providing funding in response to the war in Ukraine.
In terms of project financing, the majority of projects active in 2021 continued into 2022, with only one stream of programmatic funding (Anonymous) was closed and not renewed, but replaced with a project from another funder. The highest non-flexible revenues recognized were issued by:
- European Commission (Operating Grant) – 1 000 000.00 €
- Global Equality Fund – 464 301.41 €
- Anonymous – 315 561.55 €
- The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands – 210 000.00 €.
While the previous financial years have been heavily affected by Covid-19 in terms of both revenues and our ability to process funds and carry out activities, 2022 cannot be analysed without the mention of the impact of the invasion of Ukraine. ILGA-Europe quickly shifted its work and budget to enable as much coordination and support as possible be offered to the movement in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. No active fundraising was carried out – given the significant number of ongoing fundraisers, ILGA-Europe prioritized mapping existing efforts and needs, in order to be able to channel donors to where resources were needed, where gaps occurred (especially keeping in mind wider reach and distribution of resources, in particular to groups with less access to donors).
At the same time, significant amounts of ILGA-Europe’s resources were earmarked for financial and other support to groups operating in and around Ukraine. Two core grants (with the total value of 210 688 €) were received and assigned to the purpose of supporting the LGBTI movement in those areas with subgrants.
Additionally, just over 9 000 € in extraordinary revenues was recorded from write offs, unreconciled refunds and round up differences. These are income items recognized largely at year-end. While they constitute unrestricted funding, ILGA-Europe limits their generation through internal controls, and they serve to balance any negative write offs, currency exchange balances and other similar losses.
The total of expenditures registered in financial year 2022 amounted to 3 606 265 €.
| Total 2021 Actual | Total 2022 Budget | Total 2022 Actual | |
| Staff costs | 1,762,609 | 1,867,737 | 1,844,873 |
| Office Costs | 277,169 | 324,087 | 335,052 |
| Gathering Online / Annual Conference | 60,009 | 408,600 | 398,980 |
| Board Meetings | 45 | 22,000 | 28,130 |
| Work Programme Costs | 266,038 | 340,700 | 264,652 |
| ILGA-Europe Capacity Dev. | 25,998 | 40,000 | 47,376 |
| Fundraising | 6,247 | 30,000 | 18,761 |
| Re-granting | 749,885 | 1,262,000 | 654,856 |
| Other and losses | 4,160 | 24,640 | 13,584 |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | 3,152,160 | 4,319,765 | 3,606,265 |
The audit of financial year 2022 took place in January 2023 and found no issues. It confirms recognized income of 3 687 082 €, expenses of 3 606 265 €, and a year-end result of 80 817 €. This year-end result was primarily sourced from unrestricted funds and extraordinary income.
Treasurer’s Report 2022
While the projections for the financial year 2022 assumed a steady growth of the budget, new programmes, and a slow but steady turn to regular post-pandemic operations, ILGA-Europe did not anticipate that Russia would launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As a result, the work became a delicate balancing act, one which we had been in many ways prepared for by the COVID-19 pandemic two years earlier. ILGA-Europe understood from the outset that the war was not going to be a short-term situation for people in Ukraine, Russia, and neighbouring countries.
The team recognised that there would be particular vulnerabilities experienced by LGBTI refugees, and those LGBTI people who were either forced, or chose to remain in Ukraine and Russia. With this understanding, a significant amount of immediate time, resources and energy was required to respond – practically, financially and strategically – to the needs of LGBTI organisations both in Ukraine and across the region ILGA-Europe work in.
Resources were shifted and workplans were adjusted to align with these needs and realities. Some previously planned programmes and activities were delayed further into 2022 or, in some cases, into 2023. ILGA-Europe proved to be able to adapt to the context and make best use of existing resources. Significant funds were used for re-granting and providing other types of support to affected groups and organisations.
Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2023
- Despite intense anti-LGBTI attacks in several countries, equality is still advancing across Europe.
- 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 using a self-determination model. Over the past 12 months bans on intersex genital mutilation (IGM) are also bringing countries up in the ranking.
- Spain jumped six places to number four with its introduction of LGR with self determination, alongside a ban on IGM, while Finland entered the top ten, again up six places, again with LGR based on self-determination. Greece has also moved up four places with its ban on IGM.
- Gender identity and sex characteristics are included in anti-discrimination and/or hate crime legislation, moving Belgium, Iceland and Moldova up the chart alongside Spain.
- Moldova has jumped 14 places because sexual orientation and gender identity have been positively included in legislation covering employment, education, provision of goods and services, health, hate crime and hate speech.
- Slovenia and Switzerland switched positions. Both countries introduced same-sex marriage and joint adoption. Switzerland also allows medically assisted insemination for couples. Croatia too moved up one spot with its introduction of adoption for same-sex couples.
Executive summary
Rainbow Europe – ILGA-Europe’s annual benchmarking tool – comprises the Rainbow Map and Index and national recommendations. ILGA-Europe have produced the Rainbow Map and Index since 2009, using it to illustrate the legal and policy situation of LGBTI people in Europe.
The Rainbow Map and Index ranks 49 European countries on their respective legal and policy practices for LGBTI people, from 0-100%.
In order to create our country ranking, ILGA-Europe examine the laws and policies in 49 countries using 74 criteria, divided between seven thematic categories: equality and non-discrimination; family; hate crime and hate speech; legal gender recognition; intersex bodily integrity; civil society space; and asylum. More information on the list of criteria and their weight on the total score can be found at www.rainbow-europe.org/about
Policymakers, researchers and journalists are able to go ‘behind’ the points and see the original information sources that we base our Map and Index ranking on. This additional layer of information is available through our updated Rainbow Europe web module, www.rainbow-europe.org.
The Rainbow Map and Index presents a picture of what the policy landscape is like currently, while our country-specific recommendations attempt to answer the question “what’s next?” These recommendations are intended to encourage policymakers to address the most pressing legal and policy priorities within the framework of our Rainbow Map and Index. The recommendations were gathered following an online consultation with a wide range of LGBTI organisations in the various countries. As a result, the recommendations are tailored to the needs of activists working on the ground.
- For the eighth year in a row, Malta continues to occupy the number one spot on the Rainbow Europe Map, with a score of 89%.
- With 76 points, Belgium now occupies the second place with a rise of four points due to the inclusion of gender identity and sex characteristics as aggravating factors in the country’s penal code.
- Denmark comes third palace with a score of 76 with the rise of two points due to its new equality action plan, which includes specific measures on sexual orientation and gender identity but falls short of inclusion of projects on sex characteristics.
- The three countries at the other end of the Rainbow Europe scale are Azerbaijan (2%), Turkey (4%), and Armenia (9%), exactly the same as the last three years. Among them, only Armenia increased an index point after revoking its ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men.
- Spain, Iceland, Finland, Moldova, Switzerland, and Croatia are the countries with the biggest jump in scores. Spain introduced a comprehensive law that regulates legal gender recognition (LGR) based on self-determination, banned genital mutilations on intersex minors, prohibited so-called “conversion” practices and outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
- Iceland adopted an equality action plan, included gender identity and sex characteristics in their equality law, and added sex characteristics protection in the penal code. Moldova also amended its equality law and penal code to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Finland adopted its Trans Law which regulates LGR based on self-determination.
- Switzerland’s legislation on marriage equality came into effect, which also gave the right to joint adoption and medically assisted insemination for same-sex couples. In Croatia, same-sex couples can now apply for joint adoption and second-parent adoption after a court decision.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Intersex Analysis
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
This briefing on intersex people summarises the findings of data analysis disaggregating the responses of intersex 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.
In 2019, FRA conducted the second round of the LGBTI Survey which shows how LGBTI
people experience their fundamental rights in daily life across Europe. For the first time, the survey included the experiences of intersex people, and determined that intersex people experience some of the highest levels of discrimination across all groups included in the study.
This briefing on intersex people was developed collaboratively with OII Europe.
EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy – Second year implementation evaluation
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.
With this briefing, ILGA-Europe wants to highlight five key aspects of our evaluation of the first two years of implementation and set out recommendations to ensure strong implementation of the full strategy by 2024.
EU Enlargement Review 2023
ILGA-Europe has worked with ERA – LGBTI Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey, to produce our annual LGBTI Enlargement Review, 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 the EU should insist authorities in each country need to tackle in the coming year, as identified by LGBTI activists in the respective countries.
2022 was an historic year for the enlargement process, as the EU expanded its promise of a perspective for EU accession to include Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, following the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022. All three countries are now included in the EU’s annual enlargement reporting process. As ILGA-Europe has member organisations in all of the newly added countries, this year’s LGBTI Enlargement Review covers the perspectives of LGBTI civil society from all ten countries: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
This year’s LGBTI Enlargement Review also follows a new format. We wanted to particularly highlight the importance of implementation of already existing policy and legislation, as it has become commonplace for Enlargement countries to adopt a legal framework aligning with EU standards, but not actually implementing it. As a result, each country chapter is divided into the below headings:
- Main legislation/policy to be drafted/adopted to ensure non-discrimination and access to justice for LGBTI people (priorities for the coming year)
- Implementation of already-existing legislation/policy
- Legislation/policy in process
- Feedback on the European Commission’s 2022 Enlargement Report (where applicable)
- Recommendations to the EU
These headings are then complemented by a section linking readers to the respective country chapter of ILGA-Europe’s Annual Review 2023, in order to understand the reality on the ground and more nuanced context, which often varies significantly from legislative frameworks. The chapter on Turkey is structured in a different way, in order to present the current state of play prior to the elections in May, and will be updated to reflect the priorities that emerge after the elections.
In all of the enlargement countries, we can unfortunately identify a clear trend of rule of law being challenged, foreign influence being exerted to challenge advances on human rights, including the rights of LGBTI people, and an increase of hate speech translating into violence on the ground, as well as ongoing challenges to freedom of assembly and association.
In this context, LGBTI topics are being used to polarise society, often to distract from a broader undermining of democracy and the rule of law in these countries and other more important socio-economic and political issues.
It is thus important that the EU renews a clear prospect for EU enlargement, not only for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, but most importantly in the Western Balkans. The commencement of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia is an encouraging step in this regard. It is important that the EU places LGBTI rights firmly into all its considerations, and that demands on advancing the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people are put on the same footing as important processes on fighting corruption and advancing the rule of law.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Older People Analysis
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
This briefing on older people summarises the findings of data analysis disaggregating the responses of older LGBTI 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. In order to make sure that the point of view of older LGBTI people was represented in full, this document is the result of a collaboration between ILGA-Europe ad AGE Platform Europe, both contributing in the data analysis and drafting of the briefing.
Annual Review 2023
the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex people in Europe and Central Asia between January-December 2022.
The Annual Review is ILGA-Europe’s annual publication documenting legal, political and social developments in 54 countries and 4 European institutions over the past calendar year. It is a unique report tracking key positive and negative trends in relation to LGBTI equality and human rights in Europe and Central Asia.
This year’s Review finds that 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.
Errata corrigenda
In Slovakia’s chapter we reported “On 12 October, two young men Matúš Horváth and Juraj Vankulič…” We believe this is incorrect, as it has been widely reported elsewhere that Juraj Vankulič identified as non-binary. Matúš Horváth was openly bisexual.
Also in Slovakia’s chapter we wrote “In late October, LGBTI NGOs launched the’ Ide ám o život/ ‘It’s About Our Life’ initiative…”. There is a typo error in the name of the initiative. The correct name is “Ide nám o život”.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey Analysis project
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation.
This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
Read the briefing reports
Our submission to the EC 2023 Rule of Law report
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, with a focus on the past year (2022).
We have kept our inputs relevant to the content asked for by the consultation, and therefore we have not included all fundamental rights violations against LGBTI people, or all restrictions experienced by LGBTI civil society in the respective countries. We have only included them where there is a clear link to the issues of rule of law contained in the consultation.
Notably the submission covers the following topics:
- Manipulation of judicial processes to attempt to erode the human rights of LGBTI people and their access to justice;
- Politicians attempting to discredit and delegitimise the rulings of courts that uphold the rights of LGBTI people;
- Harassment and intimidation of LGBTI human rights defenders by law enforcement/prosecution services;
- Smear campaigns and negative narratives against LGBTI people, particularly where independence of media is threatened;
- SLAPPs against activists or journalists reporting on topics of public interest related to LGBTI;
- Censorship of LGBTI content;
- Tabling and adoption of laws aiming to reduce fundamental rights of LGBTI people;
- Tabling of laws aimed at restricting the functioning of civil society organistions;
- Arbitrary application of Covid-19 regulations to attempt to restrict the freedom of assembly of LGBTI people;
- Continued non-implementation of CJEU or ECtHR judgements which would improve the lives of LGBTI people;
- Anti-LGBTI discriminatory speech from political and religious leaders affecting public perception of LGBTI CSOs and creating an unsafe climate for LGBTI human rights defenders;
- Insufficient implementation of legal protection (e.g. protection against hate crime) for LGBTI people by responsible services, sometimes including Ombudspersons.
Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Youth Analysis
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 have been partnering with a variety of NGOs in the region to analyse the FRA 2019 LGBTI Survey II data and pull out experiences of those experiencing intersectional marginalisation. This work is based on analysis co-commissioned by ILGA-Europe and TGEU.
This, our briefing on LGBTI Youth, in which we created sub-populations of respondents aged 15-24, 15-17 and 18-24, and compared them with all respondents to the survey, was carried out alongside the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Intersex Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO). In coming months, watch this space for further in-depth briefings on intersex people, religious and ethnic minorities, older LGBTI people, trans people, and others.