ILGA-Europe at the 5th European Gay Police Association Conference in Vienna
Every other year, police officers and other police staffs from all over Europe gather at the European Gay Police Association (EGPA) conference. This year’s conference was organised by the Austrian organisation GayCopsAustria, in Vienna, from 30 June to 4 July 2010.
ILGA-Europe was invited to present an overview of the situation of homophobic and transphobic crime in Europe, and participated to two workshops in which the protection of LGBT fundamental rights and the mission of police authorities were discussed. Participants made it clear that investigators, but also prosecutors and all public services involved in an inquiry should adopt LGBT-sensitive procedures.
The speakers also addressed the specific role that associations of LGBT police officer can play in the prevention of hate crime. Some national cases (the UK, Catalonia, Germany, Switzerland) provided evidence that they can be of real importance to trigger the awareness strategies needed to improve policing standards.
Another central theme of the conference was the condition of discriminated police officers. The conference brought together a number of experts in discrimination issues and was an important opportunity to raise awareness on the situation of LGBT officers within their police force.
The situation of LGBT police associations vary a great deal depending on the countries. Some of them are recognised and regularly consulted by their national interior ministries, while others are still struggling for visibility.
As the Vienna Pride (Regenbogen Parade) was organised on 3rd July, it was interesting to notice than some participants were allowed to march wearing their uniforms, while other LGBT officers couldn’t do so because of their police authorities’ veto.
