Today the European Parliament adopted a revised version of the asylum directive on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection and the content of the protection granted. This directive recognises gender identity for the first time as grounds on which individuals can claim asylum in the EU. Moreover, this updates the concept of gender reassignment that was referred to by European law from a process to a stand alone concept.

The 15^th Annual Conference of ILGA-Europe begins on 27 October 2011 in Turin, Italy. It is the largest gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) activists in Europe. 343 delegates from 43 European countries will take part in the Conference.

Joint statement by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe), the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), Homofobiye Karşı İnisiyatif (Initiative Against Homophobia)

On 27-30 October 2011, ILGA-Europe holds its 15^th Annual Conference in Turin. The title of this conference is “Human Rights and "Traditional Values": clash or dialogue?”

On 12 October 2011, the European Commission issued its annual Enlargement Strategy and Progress Reports on EU accession and pre-accession countries. The 2011 Enlargement Package includes Progress Reports on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/1999), Turkey and Iceland. In addition, the Commission published its Opinion on Serbia's application for membership of the EU which contains a more detailed Analytical Report on the progress made by Serbia towards European integration.

The Belgrade Pride 2011 march, which was planned to take place on Sunday 2 October, has been banned by the Serbian National Security Council according the news website B92.

Today, the Council of Europe launches its social-legal report on discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. This is the first ever report covering all 47 member states of the Council of Europe on a range of human rights issues that are pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people.

On the eve of World Refugee Day, which is marked on 20 June, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) is taking charge of supporting the asylum processes of the EU. The current discriminatory and incoherent provision of protection across the EU and the lack of expertise on gender/sexual orientation/gender identity-related persecutions are putting individuals at risk.

On 11 June 2011, two very different Pride events took pace in Europe: the very first pride event in Split (Croatia) and EuroPride in Rome. ILGA-Europe’s representatives took part in both events which clearly showed what different realities lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people in Europe live in. While Rome was a massive celebration of diversity, the event in Split turned violent and demonstrated inability and unwillingness of the police forces to ensure safety and to prevent violence.

On 11 June, EuroPride 2011 will culminate with a Pride March through the central streets of Rome. ILGA-Europe will be participating to show its supports to this March.

On 18 May 2011, the European Commission proposed a package of legislative measures to strengthen victims’ rights in the European Union including a proposal for a new directive establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime which would improve the existing Framework Decision on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings (2001.220/JHA).

17 May – the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia:
Europe is divided and far from full legal equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people

Today is the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. This year ILGA-Europe highlights the issues of same-sex families and the legal obstacles that they face due to the lack of legal recognition in Europe. For this purpose, between 10 and 20 May, ILGA-Europe is hosting its Different Families, Same Love exhibition in the main building of the European Commission in Brussels, the Berlaymont. The exhibition is taking place under the patronage of Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission and EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.

On 17 May, the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), Viviane Reding, the Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, meet with ILGA-Europe’s secretariat and representatives of ILGA-Europe memberships and LGBTI communities.

On 10 May 2011, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered its judgement in the case of Jürgen Römer v Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg which dealt with the issue of whether lower supplementary retirement pension for registered same-sex partners compared to married partners constituted unequal treatment. The CJEU ruled that registered same-sex partners must be treated equally to married partners and such pension fall under the meaning of ‘pay’ within the EU Employment Framework Directive (Dir 2000/78/EC).