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ILGA-Europe

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ILGA-Europe
Formation1996
Purposelesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) rights
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Region served
47 countries in the Council of Europe; Belarus, Kosovo & Central Asia
Membership
500+ member organisations[1]
Executive Director
Evelyne Paradis
Main organ
ILGA
Staff
24
Websiteilga-europe.org

ILGA-Europe is the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. It is an advocacy group promoting the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, at the European level. Its membership comprises more than 500 organisations from throughout Europe and Central Asia. The association enjoys consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council[2] and participatory status at the Council of Europe.[3]

History

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ILGA-Europe was founded in 1996, when its parent organisation, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, established separate regions.[1] It took over responsibility for supporting the development of the LGBT movement in Europe including Transgender Europe, Inter-LGBT, and for relationships with the European Union, Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.[1]

Initially ILGA-Europe worked entirely on the basis of volunteer resources. However, in 2001, its potential contribution to the European Union's anti-discrimination policies (established under Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam) was recognised through the provision of core funding, currently through the PROGRESS Programme.[4] This enabled ILGA-Europe to set up an office in Brussels, to recruit permanent staff, and to conduct an extensive programme of work in relation to sexual orientation discrimination within the EU Member States and the accession countries.[4] Financial support from the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Open Society Institute, Freedom House, the US State Department and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands allows ILGA-Europe to extend its work in areas not covered by EU funding, including Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and on transgender issues.[4]

ILGA-Europe has hosted its annual conference at the end of October, since 2000, where member organisations elect the executive board and decide on the next year's working priorities.[5]

Current work

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Rainbow Europe Map, 2014
Rainbow Europe 2016–2017

ILGA-Europe works to promote equality and non-discrimination for LGBTI people in asylum, education, employment, family law, freedom of assembly, hate crime, hate speech and health; and works worldwide to protect human rights defenders, trans people and intersex people.[6] The Association provides funding and training for its 500 member organisations, "to maximise efficiency and the use of resources by LGBTI organisations in working towards achievement of their goals; to maximise the impact of advocacy work at the European level; to ensure sustainability of the LGBTI movement in Europe."[7]

ILGA-Europe works with EU Institutions, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to promote equality by lobbying and advocacy, including supporting the adoption of the proposed EU Anti-Discrimination Directive, that would ban discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation in all areas of EU competence.[8] It also uses strategic litigation at the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice to end discrimination, by identifying gaps in protections, encouraging organisations and individuals to develop court cases, and support such cases with legal resources and amicus curiae briefs.[9]

For the 2014 European Parliament election, ILGA-Europe promoted its Come Out 2014 European Election Pledge to candidate MEPs, which focused on priority LGBTI issues for the 2014–2019 Parliament: an EU roadmap on LGBTI equality; EU human rights enforcement; completing the EU Anti-Discrimination directive; combating homophobic and transphobic violence; an inclusive definition of 'family'; trans rights and depatholigisation; action against school bullying; health discrimination and inequalities; LGBTI asylum seekers; and making the EU champion LGBTI rights worldwide.[10] 187 elected MEPs (25 percent) signed the pledge, including 83 members of the PES, 14 ALDE members and 14 from the EPP.[11]

Today ILGA-Europe has more than 20 staff who work in four areas: Advocacy, Communications, Finance and Administration, and Programmes. All are based at the organisation's office in the European Quarter in Brussels.

Rainbow Europe

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Each May, ILGA-Europe releases its Rainbow Europe review, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. It reviews the human rights situation and assesses what life is like for LGBTI people in every European country, covering discrimination, family recognition, hate speech/crimes, gender recognition, freedom of assembly, association and express, and asylum laws. Since 2016 Malta has topped the rankings; in 2021 it was rated to have 94% progress toward respect of human rights and full equality, and in 2023 sits 13 percentage points ahead of Belgium and the Denmark in joint second place. In 2023 Azerbaijan was ranked as the worst for LGBTI equality, scoring just 2%, closely followed by Russia, Armenia and Turkey. The biggest increase since the 2013 review, was that of Malta - increasing by 54 percentage points, followed by Luxembourg with a 40 point gain.[12] A summary of all Rainbow Europe scores since 2013 (when scores were standardised as a %) are given in the table below, as well as a comparison with the scores as released in 2013 and 2023.[13] The most significant deterioration in LGBTI rights is that of the UK, that has decreased 33 percentage points from a peak of 86% in 2015.[12][14]

Country Overall by Year Change from 2013 to current score (2023)[15][16] Change from previous peak year(s) to current score (2023) Rankings
2013[17] 2014[16] 2015[18] 2016[19] 2017[20] 2018[21] 2019[22] 2020[23] 2021[24] 2022[25] 2023[15] Peak Year(s) Change from Peak Current Highest Lowest
Albania Albania 38% 38% 42% 34% 33% 33% 31% 31% 33% 32% 35% -3% 2015 -7% 26 16 28
Andorra Andorra 21% 21% 31% 32% 35% 35% 28% 35% 35% 32% 37% 16% 2023 0% 24 22 34
Armenia Armenia 8% 9% 9% 7% 7% 7% 7% 8% 8% 8% 8% 0% 2014-15 -1% 46 46 48
Austria Austria 43% 52% 52% 64% 56% 56% 50% 50% 50% 48% 49% 6% 2016 -15% 18 12 18
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan 8% 7% 5% 5% 5% 5% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% -6% 2013 -6% 49 47 49
Belarus Belarus 14% 14% 14% 13% 13% 13% 13% 13% 12% 12% 12% -2% 2013-15 -2% 45 39 45
Belgium Belgium 67% 78% 83% 82% 72% 79% 73% 73% 74% 72% 76% 9% 2015 -7% 2 2 4
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 20% 20% 29% 39% 31% 31% 31% 37% 40% 38% 40% 20% 2021, 2023 0% 22 21 35
Bulgaria Bulgaria 18% 30% 27% 24% 23% 24% 13% 20% 20% 18% 20% 2% 2014 -10% 38 25 41
Croatia Croatia 48% 56% 71% 67% 62% 51% 47% 46% 46% 45% 49% 1% 2015 -22% 18 5 19
Cyprus Cyprus 20% 20% 18% 32% 29% 29% 23% 31% 31% 31% 31% 11% 2016 -1% 29 26 37
Czech Republic Czech Republic 35% 35% 35% 32% 29% 29% 26% 26% 26% 26% 26% -9% 2013-15 -9% 33 18 33
Denmark Denmark 57% 60% 68% 71% 68% 68% 68% 68% 64% 74% 76% 19% 2023 0% 2 2 10
Estonia Estonia 29% 35% 34% 36% 33% 39% 35% 38% 38% 36% 36% 7% 2018 -3% 25 19 25
Finland Finland 47% 45% 62% 75% 68% 73% 69% 66% 65% 60% 70% 23% 2016 -5% 6 4 17
France France 64% 64% 65% 67% 71% 73% 63% 56% 57% 64% 63% -1% 2018 -10% 10 4 13
Georgia (country) Georgia 21% 26% 36% 30% 26% 26% 30% 30% 27% 25% 25% 4% 2015 -11% 34 22 34
Germany Germany 54% 56% 56% 55% 54% 59% 47% 51% 52% 53% 55% 1% 2018 -4% 15 12 16
Greece Greece 28% 31% 39% 58% 47% 52% 49% 48% 47% 52% 57% 29% 2016 -1% 13 13 24
Hungary Hungary 55% 54% 50% 51% 45% 47% 41% 33% 33% 30% 30% -25% 2013 -25% 30 11 30
Iceland Iceland 56% 64% 63% 59% 47% 47% 47% 54% 54% 63% 71% 15% 2023 0% 5 5 18
Republic of Ireland Ireland 36% 34% 40% 55% 52% 52% 47% 52% 53% 53% 54% 18% 2016 -1% 16 14 22
Italy Italy 19% 25% 22% 29% 27% 27% 22% 23% 22% 25% 25% 6% 2016 -4% 34 32 36
Kosovo Kosovo 14% 17% 18% 32% 30% 33% 28% 35% 35% 35% 35% 21% 2020-23 0% 26 24 39
Latvia Latvia 20% 20% 18% 18% 17% 16% 17% 17% 17% 22% 22% 2% 2022-23 0% 37 33 41
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein 16% 18% 19% 18% 18% 18% 14% 18% 19% 20% 20% 4% 2022-23 0% 38 35 40
Lithuania Lithuania 21% 22% 19% 18% 17% 21% 23% 23% 23% 24% 24% 3% 2022-23 0% 36 30 39
Luxembourg Luxembourg 28% 28% 43% 50% 46% 47% 70% 73% 72% 68% 68% 40% 2020 -5% 7 2 28
Malta Malta 35% 57% 77% 88% 88% 91% 90% 89% 94% 92% 89% 54% 2021 -5% 1 1 18
Moldova Moldova 10% 17% 16% 11% 13% 13% 14% 19% 20% 21% 39% 29% 2023 0% 23 23 45
Monaco Monaco 10% 10% 11% 11% 10% 10% 11% 11% 11% 13% 13% 3% 2022-23 0% 44 43 46
Montenegro Montenegro 27% 47% 46% 45% 39% 38% 36% 62% 63% 63% 61% 34% 2021-22 -2% 12 8 26
Netherlands Netherlands 60% 70% 69% 66% 64% 60% 50% 62% 61% 56% 56% -4% 2014 -14% 14 4 14
North Macedonia North Macedonia 13% 13% 13% 18% 16% 14% 11% 25% 27% 27% 29% 16% 2023 0% 32 31 44
Norway Norway 66% 68% 69% 76% 78% 78% 68% 68% 67% 68% 67% 1% 2017-18 -11% 9 2 9
Poland Poland 22% 28% 26% 18% 18% 18% 18% 16% 13% 13% 15% -7% 2014 -13% 42 28 42
Portugal Portugal 65% 67% 67% 76% 69% 69% 66% 66% 68% 62% 62% -3% 2016 -14% 11 4 11
Romania Romania 31% 28% 28% 23% 21% 21% 21% 19% 19% 18% 18% -13% 2013 -13% 41 21 41
Russia Russia 7% 6% 8% 7% 6% 11% 10% 10% 10% 8% 8% 1% 2018 -3% 46 45 49
San Marino San Marino 14% 14% 14% 14% 12% 12% 13% 13% 13% 14% 14% 0% 2013-16, 2022–23 0% 43 39 44
Serbia Serbia 25% 30% 29% 32% 30% 30% 28% 33% 33% 37% 35% 10% 2022 -2% 26 23 28
Slovakia Slovakia 27% 31% 29% 29% 28% 29% 30% 30% 30% 34% 30% 3% 2022 -4% 30 23 32
Slovenia Slovenia 35% 35% 32% 43% 44% 48% 40% 42% 42% 42% 46% 11% 2018 -2% 21 17 25
Spain Spain 65% 73% 69% 70% 67% 67% 61% 67% 65% 62% 74% 9% 2023 0% 4 3 11
Sweden Sweden 65% 65% 72% 65% 60% 60% 62% 63% 65% 68% 68% 3% 2015 -4% 7 4 12
Switzerland Switzerland 29% 29% 28% 33% 31% 38% 31% 36% 39% 42% 47% 18% 2023 0% 20 20 30
Turkey Turkey 14% 14% 12% 9% 9% 9% 5% 4% 4% 4% 4% -10% 2013-14 -10% 48 39 48
Ukraine Ukraine 12% 12% 10% 13% 19% 21% 22% 22% 18% 19% 20% 8% 2019-20 -2% 38 34 46
United Kingdom United Kingdom 77% 82% 86% 81% 76% 73% 66% 66% 64% 53% 53% -24% 2015 -33% 17 1 17

International Intersex Forum

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Third International Intersex Forum, Malta, December 2013

To include intersex people in its remit, ILGA-Europe and ILGA have jointly sponsored the only international gathering of intersex activists and organisations. The International Intersex Forum has taken place in Europe annually since 2011.[26][27][28][29]

The third forum was held in Malta in 2013 with 34 people representing 30 organisations from all continents. The closing statement affirmed the existence of intersex people, reaffirmed "the principles of the First and Second International Intersex Fora and extend the demands aiming to end discrimination against intersex people and to ensure the right of bodily integrity, physical autonomy and self-determination". For the first time, participants made a statement on birth registrations, in addition to other human rights issues.[29][30][31]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "What is ILGA-Europe?". ILGA-Europe. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  2. ^ "NGO Branch, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs". United Nations. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  3. ^ Base de donées ONG : European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) Archived 2013-11-06 at the Wayback Machine Council of Europe, accessed 2 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "ILGA-Europe's funding". ILGA-Europe. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  5. ^ "Annual Conference". ILGA-Europe. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  6. ^ "Issues we work on". ILGA-Europe. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  7. ^ "Developing the LGBTI movement". ILGA-Europe. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  8. ^ "Working with the European Institutions". ILGA-Europe. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  9. ^ "Strategic litigation in the European Courts". ILGA-Europe. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  10. ^ "Come Out 2014 European Election Pledge". ILGA-Europe. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  11. ^ "A quarter of elected European Parliament committed to LGBTI equality". ILGA-Europe. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  12. ^ a b "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2023 | ILGA-Europe". 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  13. ^ "Report | ILGA-Europe". Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  14. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2015 | ILGA-Europe". 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  15. ^ a b "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2023 | ILGA-Europe". 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  16. ^ a b "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2014 | ILGA-Europe". 2014-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  17. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2013 | ILGA-Europe". 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  18. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2015 | ILGA-Europe". 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  19. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2016 | ILGA-Europe". 2016-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  20. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2017 | ILGA-Europe". 2010-05-17. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  21. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2018 | ILGA-Europe". 2018-05-14. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  22. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2019 | ILGA-Europe". 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  23. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2020 | ILGA-Europe". 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  24. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2021 | ILGA-Europe". 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  25. ^ "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2022 | ILGA-Europe". 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  26. ^ First ever international intersex forum Archived 2013-12-26 at the Wayback Machine, ILGA-Europe (Creative Commons statement), 6 September 2011
  27. ^ First ever international intersex forum Archived 2014-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, ILGA, 7 September 2011
  28. ^ Public statement by the third international intersex forum, Organisation Intersex International Australia, 2 December 2013
  29. ^ a b Global intersex community affirms shared goals, Star Observer, December 4, 2013
  30. ^ 3rd International Intersex Forum concluded Archived 2013-12-04 at the Wayback Machine, ILGA-Europe (Creative Commons statement), 2 December 2013
  31. ^ (in Dutch) Derde Internationale Intersekse Forum Archived 2013-12-20 at the Wayback Machine, Nederlandse Netwerk Intersekse/DSD (NNID), 3 December 2013

Further reading

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