The European Union has designated 2007 as ‘European Year of Equal Opportunities for All’. The Year aims at making people in the EU more aware of their rights not to be discriminated against and at promoting equal opportunities in various areas, from healthcare to the workplace. Activities at national and EU level will focus on many grounds of discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Between 10 and 13 June this year, millions of people all over Europe will go to the polls to vote for the new European Parliament. The European Parliament plays an increasingly important role in the decision-making process at European level. Looking back at the tenure of the present parliament (1999-2004), the extent of change in the field of LGBT rights has been impressive. Yet, discrimination continues to be a serious concern for many of us: the elections are a great opportunity to keep up the momentum and ensure the fight against discrimination continues. Find out more about ILGA-Europe’s campaign on the European Parliament elections.

An action plan adopted at the Annual Conference, Linz, October 1998

The revision, through Additional Protocol 12, of Article 14 of the European Human Rights Convention presented an historic opportunity to reconsider the list of grounds of discrimination in this article. ILGA-Europe lobbied for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity and made submissions to the Council of Europe to this effect.

An action plan adopted at the Annual Conference, Madrid, December 1996

There are barriers to accessing health care that are specific to LGBT people. Those barriers experienced by other populations, e.g. lack of resources, geographic and social isolation, lack of information about and/or fear of medical procedures etc. may also pertain to LGBT people.