Human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons (LGBT)
Despite
progress in many areas over the last decades, people in Europe are still
stigmatised because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or
gender identity. Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT )
persons cannot fully enjoy their universal human rights. They run a risk of becoming victims of hate crime and may not receive protection
when attacked in the street by fellow citizens.
Some LGBT organisations are denied registration or are banned from
organising peaceful meetings and demonstrations in Europe. Many LGBT
persons have fled to Council of Europe member states from countries
where their human rights are not protected and they may even risk being
tortured or executed because of their sexual orientation or gender
identity.
Too few opinion leaders and leading
politicians have taken a firm stand against homophobic and
transphobic expressions, discrimination and violence. The
Commissioner for Human Rights has therefore put the human
rights of LGBT persons and the fight against discrimination on
grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity firmly on his
agenda.
The Commissioner regularly raises this
topic with authorities in member states, and has expressed his
concerns in country monitoring reports and specific
thematic publications, such as the Issue Paper on Human Rights and
Gender Identity.
On 23 June 2011 the
Commissioner launched a detailed report on 'Discrimination on
grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity', covering all the
47 member states of the Council of Europe
This report presents the results of the largest socio-legal study ever
carried out on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and
gender identity in the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. Six
thematic chapters give a broad overview of the human rights situation of
LGBT persons and recommendations are provided for developing and
implementing effective measures to address discrimination. The report
is intended as a tool for dialogue with authorities
and other stakeholders. It constitutes a baseline
study for further action in both legislative and
policy fields to ensure that all LGBT people can
effectively exercise their human rights.
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full text
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Part 1 - Foreword, summary, recommendations and
introduction, p. 1-20
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Part 2 - Chapters
1-2, p. 21-50
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Part 3 - Chapter 3, p. 51-70
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Part 4 - Chapter 4, p. 71-82
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Part 5 - Chapter 5, p. 83-93
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Part 6 - Chapter 5 (part 2), p. 94-102
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Part 7 - Chapter 6, conclusions and appendix p.
103-134
The
challenge of protecting the human rights of everyone
is to apply a consistent human rights approach and
not to exclude any group of people. It is clear that
many transgender persons do not fully enjoy their
fundamental rights in terms of legal guarantees and
in everyday life. There is a need to take a closer look at their
situation.
This Issue Paper is intended to continue the
debate on transgender human rights issues and make
the problems encountered by transgender people known
more widely.
This publication provides an accessible and comprehensive compilation
of the standards adopted by the Council of Europe.
It should serve as a reference for the governments,
international institutions, NGOs, media
professionals and to all those who are - or should
be - professionally or otherwise involved or
interested in protecting and promoting the human
rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
persons.
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Despite
progress in many areas over the last decades, people in Europe are still
stigmatised because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or
gender identity. Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT )
persons cannot fully enjoy their universal human rights. They run a risk of becoming victims of hate crime and may not receive protection
when attacked in the street by fellow citizens. 
This report presents the results of the largest socio-legal study ever
carried out on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and
gender identity in the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. Six
thematic chapters give a broad overview of the human rights situation of
LGBT persons and recommendations are provided for developing and
implementing effective measures to address discrimination. The report
is intended as a tool for dialogue with authorities
and other stakeholders. It constitutes a baseline
study for further action in both legislative and
policy fields to ensure that all LGBT people can
effectively exercise their human rights.
A
documentary on the launch of the report
The
challenge of protecting the human rights of everyone
is to apply a consistent human rights approach and
not to exclude any group of people. It is clear that
many transgender persons do not fully enjoy their
fundamental rights in terms of legal guarantees and
in everyday life. There is a need to take a closer look at their
situation.
