Some Council of Europe member states are "squarely slipping back" towards greater discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity, according to PACE rapporteur Håkon Haugli (Norway, SOC), speaking on the eve of a major conference on freedom of expression for LGBT people, to take place in Warsaw on Tuesday 19 March.

Presenting a memorandum to PACE's Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, Mr Haugli said that all countries faced challenges but there was a group of countries which "systematically oppose any decision that would lend recognition or explicitly affirm rights for LGBTs".

In these countries, the biggest problems were restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly, and a refusal to consider sexual orientation and gender identity as unlawful reasons for discrimination, he pointed out. The gap between those countries where the protection of LGBT people was improving and those lagging behind was "growing wider and deeper", he added. (more...)

Press release 
PACE conference in Warsaw focuses on freedom of expression for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
Memorandum: Tackling discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity