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<p><a href="http://www.ilga-europe.org/europe/media" target="_self">Check Media Announcements here</a></p>

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<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">On 27 October 2011, the 15<sup>th</sup> Annual Conference of ILGA-Europe, which is currently taking place in Turin, Italy, received a following message of support from <b>Giorgio Napolitano, the President of the Republic of Italy</b>. </p>

<p>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.</p>

<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">The 15<sup>th</sup> 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.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">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)</p><p> </p>

<p> </p><p class="Default">ILGA-Europe today sent a letter to the President and the Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to demand the immediate end to arbitrary detention and prosecution of men suspected of having engaged in consensual adult same-sex sexual activity; to demand the immediate release of those who are being detained; and to demand the dropping of charges against those who are being prosecuted.</p>

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