Rainbow Digest January 2026
What Europe’s resolution to end conversion practices means
Council of Europe Assembly adopts resolution to end conversion practices
Yesterday, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution “For a ban on conversion practices”, which outlines the critical actions States should take to end conversion practices in the region.
The rapporteur for the Assembly, Kate Osbourne, UK Labour, faced enormous pressure from organised anti-trans actors to drop gender identity and trans people from the text. Tens of thousands of auto-generated emails packed with anti-trans misinformation were sent to PACE members around the region with these demands. Unfortunately, some of their hateful rhetoric made it into the chamber and the debate.
Through coordinated cross-party effort and patient awareness raising, the Assembly remained firm and adopted this groundbreaking resolution by an overwhelming majority.
Find out what the resolution means in the fight to end conversion practices in Europe.
ILGA-Europe news
Our new report on conversion practices
Our report highlights that trans people, refugees, and those who avoid being open about being LGBTI have much higher incidents of experiencing conversion practices, as well as those with severe activity limitations, who have difficulty making ends meet, and whose highest level of education is primary school.
Your voice shapes LGBTI funding data. ILGA-Europe helps turn it into power.
Calling on all LGBTI organisations and allies in Europe and Central Asia to take part in the global LGBTI funding survey!
This is our shared opportunity to help shape the future of funding for LGBTI movements.
ILGA-Europe is supporting this work as the regional movement partner, and we will not stop at helping build the evidence.
Once reports are out, we will support LGBTI organisations in Europe and Central Asia to use the findings in their own work, because evidence matters most when it is put into practice by all of us.
Take part, share the survey with others, and join our regional online info session to learn more.
Find out more about the survey.
Latest news
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
Russia designates ILGA World as an “undesirable” organisation
As a result of this designation, ILGA World is now treated as an illegal entity under Russian law, and people who engage with it are exposed to significant risks of surveillance, arrest, repression and criminal liability.
We shall continue to support and strengthen LGBTI communities, organisers, and groups working toward a better and freer Russia. As the situation becomes more dangerous, we have adapted our work, prioritising care and safety. We will continue to follow the lead of the Russian movement, offering solidarity and support in ways that are responsible, reliable, and meaningful. ILGA-Europe
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
Budapest Mayor is facing criminal charges over Pride
The Budapest Prosecution Office has announced that it is pressing charges against the city’s mayor, Gergely Szilveszter Karácsony, for organising Budapest Pride last June. The Prosecution states that although the mayor was aware that the police banned the Pride March based on the anti-LGBTI “Child Protection” Act, he went ahead with organising the assembly, and “repeatedly published public calls for participation”.
FAMILY
New Civil Code will distance Ukraine from EU Accession
The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament is currently preparing a new Civil Code without providing a legal framework for same-sex partnerships. The draft defines “de facto family unions” as exclusively opposite-sex partnerships and creates legal insecurity for trans people and their partners. Meanwhile, two civil partnership bills that would extend legal recognition to same-sex couples have remained stalled in Parliament for over two years.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Kazakh President signs the “LGBT propaganda” into law
The President signed the law on 30 December 2025., which will come into force on 2 March 2026. The drafting of the by-laws appears to be taking place in a closed format, led by specific departments within the Ministry of Culture and Information in coordination with other state bodies.
DECRIMINALISATION
How Turkmenistan persecutes LGBT people
In Turkmenistan, one of only two Central Asian countries that still criminalise consensual same-sex relations, the lived reality for LGBTI people remains extremely harsh. This article by DOXA recounts the story of Arslan (name changed), a gay man who managed to flee the country and speak about widespread arrests, torture, and extortion by law-enforcement authorities. Detention conditions are so degrading that a mattress instead of a stone bed, or a five-day sentence instead of years in prison, is seen as a relief, illustrating how criminalisation has pushed expectations of protection and justice to an alarmingly low bar.
LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION
Kyrgyzstan to discuss gendered ID numbers
In Kyrgyzstan, Parliament has approved at first reading a draft law proposed by the Ministry of Digitalisation that would transfer authority over changing personal identification numbers (PINs) from Parliament to the Cabinet of Ministers. PINs are gendered and currently issued once at birth, with limited legal grounds for amendment. If adopted, the law would allow the Cabinet to define and amend criteria through by-laws. While the government has not linked the reform to gender recognition, its adoption could open an opportunity to introduce a long-stalled by-law enabling legal gender recognition and PIN changes for transgender people.
ASYLUM
Say no to mass deportations in Europe
The European Commission’s new Deportation Regulation would tear families apart, expand detention, and turn migration into a business for private security and surveillance companies.
Notice board
- The Digital Freedom Fund funds pre-litigation activities, strategic litigation cases, and post-litigation activities (such as advocacy or enforcement) in Europe that advance human rights, including LGBTI persons’ rights, related to the use of technology or digital spaces. This is particularly relevant for organisations working on strategic litigation cases based on data protection regulations (e.g. following-up on the Mousse and Deldits CJEU judgments); online hate speech; restrictions to freedom of assembly through invasive surveillance techniques, among others. Apply before 17 February.
- The Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (IE SOGI) is calling for input to the thematic report on violence and discrimination experienced by LBQ women. Send your input by 15 February.
- The European Parliament’s Sakharov Fellowship offers up to 14 human rights defenders selected from non-EU countries the opportunity to follow a two-week intensive training. Apply by 15 February.
- The European Federation of Queer Shelters is now officially launched. Your organisation can apply to become a member.
- ILGA World is hiring a Research Manager. Apply by 16 February.
- RFSL is looking for a Head of Program in their International Unit. Apply before 22 February.
- International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network is looking for an EU Advocacy Advisor. Apply before 6 February.
- Systemic Justice is hiring a Head of HR, People and Culture. Apply by 22 February.
