From the landmark Coman Case to the ban on LGBTI events in Ankara ILGA-Europe’s 2019 Annual Review reveals both achievements gained and challenges ahead for the LGBTI movement across the region.

The ILGA-Euroope Annual Review’s presentation of the human rights situation of LGBTI people highlights the advancement and stagnation of equality laws and policies, while providing concrete examples of on-the-ground situations in each of the 51 countries documented.

Presented to high-level EU officials in Brussels this morning, it was noted as coming at a crucial time for reflection of political, legal and social developments, with the European elections just around the corner.

“While we celebrate achievements, our movement is all too aware of the multiple challenges that lie ahead. For example, too few European countries are taking the necessary measures to ensure that LGBTI refugees and asylum-seekers are treated with adequate rights, despite the increasing urgency to do so,” stated Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director for ILGA-Europe.

“We also see recurring trends including widespread hate speech by public figures and religious leaders, public authorities banning or failing to protect prides and other public events, and attacks against human rights defenders. With these challenges in mind, we call on political leaders to commit to supporting and furthering the advancement of human rights that LGBTI people both need and deserve.”

While the Review provides in-depth specific examples for each country, notable highlights include:

• Two Central Asian countries included in the Review for the first time: Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
• A clarification by the EU Court of Justice on the term “spouse” as inclusive of same-sex couples in the Freedom of Movement Directive – meaning all couples must be treated equally across EU member states when exercising their right to freedom of movement
• Anti-gender and -LGBTI narratives in surrounding the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
• Increased safety and security risks for human rights defenders with targeted physical and verbal attacks, torture, deaths and infringements on freedom of assembly, association and expression reported across Europe
• A number of Universal Periodic Review recommendations issued including on hate speech, investigation into violence, detentions and killings of LGBTI people, banning unnecessary medical interventions on intersex children and protection of freedom of assembly

This year’s Annual Review marks the first to come preceding ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map & Index, which will reflect the review’s findings on its release this coming May.

• Now digital and newly formatted as country-by-country interactive factsheets, it is available to download here.

The Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe and Central Asia between January-December 2018.

This 2019 edition of the Annual Review perfectly captures the multiple layers of the “state of play” for LGBTI people in Europe and Central Asia at the moment. We do hope that this Annual Review will inform many conversations, especially between civil society and political actors, and will contribute to political decision-making which puts the needs of people at its core.

The 2018 Rainbow Europe package, launched by ILGA-Europe today, provides real evidence that progress on LGBTI equality law and policy is slowing down in Europe.

The 2018 Rainbow Europe Map and Index reveal that fewer countries are moving up the country ranking; many are stagnating, including countries that are traditionally perceived as equality ‘frontrunners’. ILGA-Europe’s annual benchmarking tool, which ranks 49 countries in Europe on their LGBTI equality laws and policies, reveals a region where advances are not being made at the rate they once were. This lack of sustained progress on LGBTI equality issues should set off alarm bells for policymakers and advocates alike.

“Against a backdrop of backlash on human rights across Europe, how can states possibly think the work on LGBTI equality is finished?” said ILGA-Europe Executive Director Evelyne Paradis. “The incredible achievements of the past decade are at stake. Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that we have achieved equality. There are too many signs that trends like populism and nationalism aren’t political buzzwords – they can have a lasting impact on the lives of LGBTI people in Europe.  There are too many signs around us that many of the recent wins are fragile. So let me say it again – we are nowhere near done.”

Unveiled in Lisbon this morning at an intergovernmental Forum in front of high-level government officials, the Rainbow Europe Map is a stark reminder for national governments and European institutions of how easy it is for complacency to set when it comes to enshrining rights firmly in law. Indeed, while Malta continues to feature at number one spot, other countries that are typically viewed as progressive are not among the Map’s frontrunners – including the Netherlands, who have actually dropped outside the Rainbow Europe top 10.

For ILGA-Europe, this stagnation is a worrying picture considering the current political climate of rising levels of populism, nationalism and civil society scapegoating, which have a particularly high negative impact on more vulnerable groups, like LGBTI people.

Joyce Hamilton, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board commented:  “Our communities unfortunately know all too well how vulnerable we are to undemocratic tendencies. Law and policies are often the last line of defence for LGBTI people so that is why we insist on making sure our countries’ legislation explicitly protects our human rights.

And this goes for everyone within our communities – ensuring full equality for LGBTI people has never and will not stop at marriage equality!  All governments in Europe have to pick up the pace, stick to their commitments and make legal protection a reality for all LGBTI people, particularly trans and intersex people.”

To the politicians in countries with consistently poor Rainbow Europe records and who claim LGBTI equality issues aren’t a priority, ILGA-Europe and our members stand firm:

 “Avoiding your responsibility to work for LGBTI equality is not an option for any political leader or government official in 2018. Now is the time for them to show leadership by fully backing policies that make equality an everyday reality for the people they serve. Across Europe, the only way for policymakers to protect the great LGBTI equality advances of the last two decades is to build on them and commit necessary resources to ensure that the everyday life for LGBTI people is transformed for the better. I

LGA-Europe’s Rainbow Europe package gives policymakers (at every level of the country ranking) very concrete recommendations for where they can start to legislate and make a real impact – and our member organisations throughout the region have even more suggestions. We have all worked hard together for these advances. It’s time now to push hard to make them real for LGBTI communities everywhere.” remarked Brian Sheehan, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board.

• Access Rainbow Europe 2018 here

The Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in europe between January-December 2017. 

The Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe between January-December 2016.

The Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe between January-December 2015. 

The Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in europe between January-December 2014.

The Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in europe between January-December 2013.

This edition of ILGA-Europe’s Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People covers events that occurred between January-December 2012.

The very first edition of ILGA-Europe’s Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People covering events that occurred between January-December 2011.