The Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity were released today by a group of 29 international human rights experts.

On 25 March 2007 the European Union’s leaders will mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome by signing the Berlin Declaration. Prior to the celebration, a disagreement and controversy emerged on various issues including what values should be reflected in the Berlin Declaration. While some were suggesting inclusion of a reference to god and Christianity, the others, including ILGA-Europe, were calling for stressing the principles of equality, democracy and secularism.

Today the world is highlighting the issues of racial discrimination and xenophobia. Last Monday the German Presidency of the EU confirmed its commitment to achieving a consensus on the Framework Decision to combat racism and xenophobia. ILGA-Europe welcomes the efforts to establish a mechanism to fight against and eliminate all form of racial prejudice and discrimination.

Yesterday the European Parliament adopted a resolution on human rights violations in Nigeria and amongst other things called on Nigeria not to adopt the bill currently being debated. The bill is entitled the 'Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act' and it would impose a five-year prison sentence on anyone who 'performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage', but also on anyone involved publicly or privately in positive representation of or advocacy for same sex relationships.

Today people around the world mark International Women’s Day. While Europe has made huge progress towards gender equality, women are still being discriminated against and disadvantaged in many areas of life.