Rainbow Digest February 2024
29.02.2024
Greece adopts marriage equality, EU agrees on first ever rules on combatting domestic violence…
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ILGA-Europe |
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Annual Review 2024 reports alarming surge in transphobic speech across EuropePublished today, our 13th Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBTI People in Europe and Central Asia alarmingly shows a stark rise in anti-LGBTI, and in particular, transphobic statements from politicians across Europe, sparking concern for the EU Elections next June. The vast majority of anti-trans statements instrumentalise children, using scare tactics to create opposition to trans minors’ access to healthcare and restrictions on education.
Read more and download your own copy of the report. |
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Get ready for crisis communications with our learning eventOn 3-6 May, we will organise a learning event to support LGBTI organisations in Europe and Central Asia in preparing for specific challenges or potential disruptions related to the activities planned or foreseen this year. The participants will gain more understanding on what is a communications crisis and how their team can prepare for one through a solidarity scenario-based exercise and peer-learning from activists all across the region.
Read more and apply by 10 March. |
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Apply for the programme for racialised LGBTI communitiesWe have an open call under our programme focused on work done by and for racialised LGBTI communities. LGBTI organisations in Europe that are led by racialised LGBTI people and work with and for racialised LGBTI communities are welcome to apply with their project proposals. The programme includes financial support and regular partner meetings.
Read more and apply before 2 April. Join our Q&A session on 21 March. |
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Join our team as our new Strategic Litigation OfficerWe are looking for a dynamic team player to lead on key activities aimed at strengthening strategic litigation on LGBTI rights in the EU, in a position linked to a project that runs until September 2025. The post is an integral part of our advocacy work for a strong legal and policy framework and implementation, protecting LGBTI human rights across Europe.
Read more and apply before 13 March. |
Bias-motivated violence |
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First ever EU rules on combating violence against womenOn 6 February, the European Parliament and Council negotiators reached an agreement on combating violence against women and domestic violence which includes the specific recognition of intersectional discrimination and LGBTI people as vulnerable groups. However, the agreement missed an opportunity to ban “intersex genital mutilation” and forced sterilisation of women and girls.
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Interior Minister of Tajikistan denies the existence of a list of LGBTI individualsOn 15 February, the Interior Minister of Tajikistan, Ramazon Rahimzoda, denied the existence of a list of LGBTI individuals, refuting previous reports. In 2016, law enforcement, in collaboration with the Prosecutor General’s Office, claimed to have identified over 300 LGBTI individuals at “high risk of HIV infection.” A 2017-dated article in the official journal of the Prosecutor General’s Office, authored by Rahimzoda, contradicts the Interior Minister’s recent statement, mentioning the identification of LGBTI individuals during police operations. The issue remains sensitive in Tajikistan, where societal taboos persist despite decriminalising same-sex relationships in 1998.
Read more. |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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Surge in anti-LGBTI attacks in KazakhstanOn 1 February, the Kazakh Senate approved a law prohibiting LGBTI individuals from mentoring orphans. This legislation also introduced changes to education, mentoring, and child safety laws. Subsequently, on 12 February, the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan blocked a newly established website aimed at informing LGBTI teenagers, citing violation of the law on protecting children from harmful information. On 13 February, an anti-LGBTI manifestation took place in Almaty. Zheltoqsan 86 activists performed a cleansing ritual near the statue commemorating victims of the December 1986 protests. This event occurred in response to an earlier protest by a Feminita activist urging Almaty authorities to approve the women’s march scheduled for 8 March, which had previously been blocked by Almaty Mayor’s office. Anti-LGBTI calls and manifestations go unprosecuted by the authorities.
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Turkmenistan received a question on the human rights of LBTI women at the UN review sessionDuring the 87th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 2 February, the Turkmen Delegation was questioned about the human rights situation of LBTI women and their access to public services. Selvi Sysoyeva, Head of the International Relations Department of the Interior Ministry of Turkmenistan, asserted that all citizens, irrespective of sexual orientation, receive state protection, including LBTI women. However, LGBTI individuals in Turkmenistan still face criminal repercussions for their sexual orientation under Article 135 of the Criminal Code, which imposes a jail term of up to 2 years for consensual same-sex relations between men.
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European Parliament calls for a second LGBTIQ Equality StrategyOn 8 February, the European Parliament voted on the Implementation report on the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy for the 2020–2025 period. The MEPs called for the European Commission to adopt a second LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and to establish an LGBTIQ Coordinator in the Commission. All EU institutions must remain strongly committed to LGBTIQ human rights in this time of increased attacks, commented ILGA-Europe.
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New report on Equality Bodies protecting the rights of rainbow families on the moveOn 14 February, Equinet – European Network of Equality Bodies published a new report on Equality Bodies protecting the rights of rainbow families on the move. The report gives an overview of the legal framework ensuring the protection of rights and freedoms of same-sex couples and their children on the move, particularly their fundamental right to non-discrimination and equality, with a focus on the role that Equality Bodies can play.
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Family |
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Greece adopts historic bill introducing marriage equalityOn 15 February, the Greek Parliament adopted a bill introducing marriage equality. The new marriage equality law will grant marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples, as well as fully recognise all marriages and family ties of children who were born abroad to same-sex parents, and comes as a result of clear political leadership from the current Greek government.(Photo by Stavrialena Gontzou on Unsplash)
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Freedom of association |
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‘Foreign representation’ bill passed another reading at the Kyrgyz ParliamentOn 22 February, Kyrgyz lawmakers approved a bill in the second reading amending the law on NGOs by introducing provisions related to “foreign representation,” akin to Russia’s “foreign agent” law. However, during the second reading, lawmakers removed the provisions on criminal liability. Nonetheless, upon final adoption, the law will designate all NGOs receiving funds from abroad as “foreign representatives,” adding scrutiny and control to their operations. This bill faces strong opposition from human rights defenders, NGOs, and the international community. The debates surrounding the legislation are marked by the instrumentalisation of LGBTI people by the initiators.
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Freedom of expression |
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Belarus plans to adopt an anti-LGBTQ+ lawOn 19 February, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus announced that a draft law prohibiting “propaganda of non-traditional relations, including pedophilia, sex change, and voluntary refusal of childbirth” has been prepared by their office and is going through the process of approval. According to ILGA-Europe members in the country, the law is targeting LGBTQI+ activists and community members, as well as sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) activists. If adopted, the law will include administrative penalties and will open grounds for political persecutions of those involved in the topics of SOGIE and SRHR.
Read more about the proposed law. |
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Hungarian anti-LGBT propaganda law has created cloud of fearOn 27 February, Amnesty International published their new report on the implementation and chilling effect of the Hungarian anti-LGBT propaganda law. The 2021-dated law which curtails discussions and portrayals of LGBTI people in schools and in the media and has had a far-reaching impact on LGBTI individuals and groups in Hungary, entrenching negative stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes and restricting the right to freedom of expression, said Amnesty International. (Illustration: Amnesty)
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Health |
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European Commission includes LGBTI people as risk group for vaccine-preventable cancersOn 31 January, the European Commission published their proposal for a recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers and included LGBTI people, men who have sex with men, and trans people as risk groups needing targeted action. The proposal is part of the initiatives in the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to support EU Member State efforts to extend routine vaccination against viruses that can cause cancers later in life.
Read more. |
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Take part in the largest survey for MSM and trans people in Europe and Central AsiaThe European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS) has been launched to collect data to inform sexual health interventions in Europe and Central Asia. You can take part in the survey if you’re a man (cis or trans), a trans woman or a non-binary person who has sex with men, who is attracted to other men or who thinks they might have sex with men in the future. The survey is available in 35 different languages.
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Human rights defenders |
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New EU directive sets standards for protecting public watchdogs against abusive litigationOn 27 February, the European Parliament adopted a directive about strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) which would protect journalists and human rights defenders (including LGBTI) from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings. The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) says that the directive sets the minimum standards and the EU Member States should now go further for protecting public watchdogs against abusive litigation in the form of SLAPPs.
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Pioneering research highlights the importance of meaningful digital inclusion for allOn 20 February, ILGA World launched a new report on how the digital divide impacts LGBTI people in specific ways. The research looks into the complex interplay between disparities in digital access and the unique experiences of individuals and communities of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics.
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Intersectionality |
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Commissioner for Human Rights calls for decriminalisation of sex workOn 15 February, Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, published a human rights comment on protecting the human rights of sex workers and called on the human rights-based approach, recognising decriminalisation of sex work.
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IGLYO is organising a study session on LGBTQI youth living in rural areasIGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation is organising a study session on the inclusion and empowerment of LGBTQI youth living in rural areas. The study session will take place in Budapest on 26 May to 1 June 2024, with all costs (travel, accommodation and food) covered, aside from the €50 registration fee. It is open to LGBTQI young people between 18 and 30 years old at the time of the visit, who reside in one of the countries of the Council of Europe, Belarus, Russian Federation, Holy See, Kosovo and Kazakhstan.
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Legal gender recognition |
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Anti-trans attacks grow in CroatiaOn 14 February, U ime obitelji (In the Name of Family), an anti-gender group, submitted a proposal to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia to initiate a procedure to assess the Rulebook which regulates legal gender recognition (LGR) for compliance with the law and the Constitution of Croatia. A similar application was submitted to the Constitutional Court in 2018 with the Court rejecting the request three years later. On 22 February, kolekTIRV, a trans-led organisation in Croatia, launched a campaign called “I am like you” to inform and raise awareness about the rights of trans and gender-diverse people. (Photo by Constitutional Court)
Read more about the attacks. Check out kolekTIRV’s campaign. |
Rule of law |
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New report shows how the weakening of the rule of law impacts the lives of LGBTI peopleWith the expert input of our member organisations, we published our contribution to the European Commission’s rule of law report consultation, in order to show how the weakening of the rule of law and of democratic structures impacts the lives of LGBTI people and the work of LGBTI civil society. Over the past few years it has become increasingly clear that many government-led violations of LGBTI rights in EU Member States go hand-in-hand with an undermining of the rule of law and democracy. This includes in particular the degradation of the independence of judicial systems and the media landscape.
Read the report. |
Notice board |
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ILGA World has two job vacanciesILGA World is hiring for the position of Junior Professional Consultant on audio-visual communications and Strategic Alliances & Coalitions Senior Officer. The Junior Professional Consultant will provide assistance to ILGA World’s communications team in the production of audio-visual content. The Strategic Alliance & Coalitions Senior Officer will be responsible for the work responding to anti-rights and anti-gender actors and working towards deepening collaboration and coordination with global feminist, SRHR movement actors, and other key stakeholders.
Read more about the jobs and send your application. |
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European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian Groups is hiring for two positionsThe European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian Groups is looking for an Executive Officer and a Research Officer – both part-time and remote positions. The Executive Officer will coordinate the project work and everyday activities of the European Forum, in liaison with its Board, Working Groups and membership. The research officer will work for the second run of the research on the inclusivity of European churches towards LGBTI+ people. Applications are due 27 March.
Read more and apply for the position of Executive Officer. Read more and apply for the position of Research Officer. |
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TGEU is looking for an Operations DirectorTGEU is seeking an Operations Director who will work on organisational management, including strategic planning, human resources and personnel management, and development and administration of projects and grants. It is a full-time position, 40 hours per week and is based in Berlin, Germany. TGEU will provide support if a work visa is required.
Read more and apply by 16 March. |
