Important achievements/events

ILGA-Europe receives a first substantial grant from the Sigrid Rausing Trust.

The Trans Working Group is formed in April.

Ailsa Spindler represents the views of the Social Platform on an EU advisory group which is steering a major EU information campaign to combat discrimination.

The third EU National Co-ordination Network meeting takes place in Ghent (Belgium) in April.

ILGA-Europe’s Constitution and Standing Orders are reviewed.

In November, the EP Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights organises a public hearing on “Sexual Orientation Discrimination” in the European Parliament in Brussels. More than 120 participants discuss the state of affairs regarding the implementation of the EU framework directive on equal treatment in employment and occupation. ILGA-Europe and its member organisations are prominently represented at the hearing.

Staff news: Birgit Hardt starts working as public affairs officer in February, and Sheila Swatschek as interim policy and research officer in April when Licína Pereira moves on to work for the European Commission. In October Iain Gill joins the staff team as stagiaire until May 2004.

Publications: Again, four issues of the ILGA-Europe Newsletter are published, and Euro-Letter # 104-109. ILGA-Europe also published its policy paper “Families, Partners, Children and the European Union” written by Mark Bell.

Annual Conference in Glasgow, Scotland

The conference (theme: “Policy into Practice – Making LGBT Equality Happen”, 15-19 October) is organised by Stonewall Scotland. More than 180 participants from more than 30 countries participate. As in previous years, ILGA secretary-general Kürşad Kahramanoğlu addresses the conference. So does Angela Mason, former director of Stonewall and now head of the UK government’s Women and Equality Unit. The mayor of Glasgow invites the delegates to an official reception in the City Chambers.

In this year’s award ceremony, Christine Goodwin is honoured in recognition of her successful action against the UK government that culminated in a landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in July 2002.

A new board is elected:

Tiia Aarnipuu (Finland), Maxim Anmeghichean (Moldova), Philipp Braun (Germany), Riccardo Gottardi (Italy), Tatjana Greif (Slovenia), Deborah Lambillotte (Belgium), Jackie Lewis (United Kingdom) and Nigel Warner (United Kingdom).

Riccardo is elected co-chair and remains so until today.

Reserves:

Vera Cîmpeanu (Romania) and Miha Lobnik (Slovenia).

Kurt Krickler does not run again for the board and becomes the first holder of a new post within ILGA-Europe, that of Honorary Vice-President, in recognition of his commitment for the organisation in the last past seven years.