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The Council of Europe's 7th Conference of Ministers responsible for Equality between Women and Men which took place on 24-25 May 2010, has recognized the need to combat discrimination against women and girls and transgender persons on account of their sexual orientation or gender identity.<br /> </p>

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The Conference Resolution, entitled &quot;Bridging the gap between de jure and de facto equality to achieve real gender equality&quot;, refers to the multiple-discrimination which they face, and the taking of &quot;all necessary measures to ensure their full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.&quot; (paragraph 30)<br />
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The Conference also adopted an Action Plan which recommends that the Council of Europe “undertake research on the situation of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women with a view to drafting specific guidelines on preventing and combating all forms of discrimination against them.&quot; (Section VII)<br />
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This is believed to be the first time that a Council of Europe Ministerial Conference has taken up LGBT rights. It follows on a recent Committee of Ministers Recommendation, and Parliamentary Assembly resolution, both addressing the need to combat sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, and underlines the increasing commitment of the Council of Europe to fighting homophobia and transphobia. The planned research into discrimination and the resulting guidelines should provide authoritative documents underlining the need for action by member states, and the measures to be taken by them.<br />
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These developments follow <a href="http://www.ilga-europe.org/europe/get_involved/notice_board/resources/submission_to_the_council_of_europe_ad_hoc_committee_on_preventing_and_combating_violence_against_women_and_domestic_violence" target="_self">the submission by ILGA-Europe of a report on violence against lesbian, bisexual and transgender women</a> and of proposals for action to the Council of Europe's intergovernmental Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men.<br />
 <br /><a href="https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=PR418(2010)&amp;Language=lanEnglish&amp;Ver=original&amp;BackColorInternet=F5CA75&amp;BackColorIntranet=F5CA75&amp;BackColorLogged=A9BACE" target="_blank">A Council of Europe press release with links to the texts of the Ministerial Resolution and the Action Plan can be found here.</a></p>

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