Statement
High time for the authorities to accept LGBTI people and their rights, the perpetrators of the attack in Banja Luka must be sanctioned
"The violence unleashed against LGBTI people, human rights defenders and journalists in Banja Luka last Saturday is a worrying and dangerous development and violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. The authorities must condemn and investigate the incident, and...
Human Rights Comment
Nothing to cure: putting an end to so-called “conversion therapies” for LGBTI people
There is nothing therapeutic about so-called conversion therapies. These are the words of a transgender (trans) person and activist who spoke with me at a recent gathering for civil society. This simple sentence reveals the insidious nature of interventions which claim that one can, and should,...
Speech
The human rights challenges faced by intersex people need to be urgently addressed
At the Conference on Advancing the human rights of intersex people. High-Level session: launching the work on the drafting of a new Committee of Ministers Recommendation on equality of rights of intersex people, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, gave the...
Country visit report
United Kingdom: Commissioner warns against regression on human rights, calls for concrete steps to protect children’s rights and to tackle human rights issues in Northern Ireland
“Both the overall system for protecting human rights, and the rights of specific groups, are currently under pressure in the United Kingdom (UK). The authorities should spare no effort to reverse this trend”, warns today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, while...
Speech
Europride 2022 - closing remarks by Dunja Mijatović
At the closing session of the International Human Rights Conference held in Belgrade for Europride 2022, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, gave the following speech: "Dear colleagues, dear Europride organisers, dear activists, dear friends, This Europride has...
Statement
Serbian authorities should withdraw the ban on Europride march and protect participants
“It is highly regrettable that the Serbian authorities have decided to ban the Europride march scheduled for 17 September. Weeks of uncertainty concerning the holding of this march have sent a wrong message to the public and made space for hateful rhetoric and more threats against LGBTI people,...
Country visit report
Georgia should ensure effective implementation of the anti-discrimination legislation and improve protection of human rights in the fields of labour and the environment
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report following her visit to Georgia in February 2022, with recommendations on combating discrimination against LGBTI people and those belonging to religious minorities, as well as protecting human rights...
Country visit
United Kingdom: backsliding on human rights must be prevented
“Legal reforms should not weaken human rights protections in the United Kingdom”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, following a five-day visit to the country (27 June to 1 July), which focused on the system for human rights protection, the situation...
Statement
LGBTI people affected by the war in Ukraine need protection
“On the occasion of this year’s International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, I call on all member states to pay attention to the situation of LGBTI people who are either still in Ukraine or are fleeing the war, so that their vulnerability and needs are fully taken into account...
Third party intervention
Commissioner publishes observations on the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Russia
Today the Commissioner published her written observations to the European Court of Human Rights on the case of Irina Borisovna FEDOTOVA and Irina Vladimirovna SHIPITKO and 2 other applications v. Russia, which is pending before the Grand Chamber, concerning the absence of legal recognition of...
Country visit
Georgia should step up the fight against discrimination and better ensure labour rights and the human right to a healthy environment
“Georgia has taken significant steps to reinforce labour rights including by adopting broad legislation and setting up the labour inspectorate. However, increased efforts and additional measures are required to address the negative impact of a decade of deregulation on occupational safety and...
Statement
Hungarian government must stop instrumentalising and weakening the human rights of LGBTI people
“The decision of the Hungarian government to conduct a national referendum regarding children’s access to information concerning sexual orientation and gender identity issues on the same day as the parliamentary elections is deeply regrettable as it furthers the instrumentalisation of the human...
Report
Human rights of LGBTI people in Europe: current threats to equal rights, challenges faced by defenders, and the way forward
“LGBTI human rights defenders are facing an increasingly hostile environment in many European countries. Member states of the Council of Europe must do more to protect them”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, upon releasing the report of an online...
Speech
ECRI 2021 annual seminar with Equality Bodies
Joining Forces to Promote and Protect the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons. Opening statement by Dunja Mijatović. Dear all, dear friends, It is a real pleasure for me to be here this morning with you for this seminar organised by ECRI, an essential partner in the fight against all forms of...
Statement
In their response to Afghans seeking safety, Council of Europe member states should not undermine human rights protections
“Member states should unequivocally commit to handling the arrival of persons fleeing the horrendous situation in Afghanistan in accordance with their human rights obligations”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, today. “Various governments and local...
Human Rights Comment
Pride vs. indignity: political manipulation of homophobia and transphobia in Europe
World Pride is being celebrated on our continent this week, but a surge in intolerance towards LGBTI people in Europe is nothing to be proud about. In more and more European countries, politicians and public officials are shamelessly targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex...
Letter
Turkish authorities should stop the stigmatisation of LGBTI people
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Justice of Turkey, published today, the Commissioner calls on the authorities to fulfil the commitments enshrined in the national Action Plan on Human Rights, stop the stigmatisation of LGBTI people, and uphold their freedoms...
Statement
Commissioner Mijatović urges Hungary’s Parliamentarians to reject draft amendments banning discussion about sexual and gender identity and diversity
“I call on all Hungarian Members of Parliament to reject the proposal to ban the "portrayal and the promotion of gender identity different from sex at birth, the change of sex and homosexuality" aimed at children, said Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights today. “I...
Speech
Exchange of views with the European Committee of Social Rights
Good afternoon to you all and thank you very much for the invitation to this exchange of views! This is the first time that we meet, and the timing is certainly good. Even though there are signs of relief now, at least in Europe, the Covid-19 pandemic has been much more than just a health crisis:...
Joint statement
The right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to live free from violence and discrimina-tion based on SOGI are both built on a promise of human freedom LGBT persons deserve that promise fulfilled
Statement by human rights experts on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia On the eve of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), which will be held on 17 May 2021, a group of United Nations and international human rights experts*...
Memorandum
Poland should stop the stigmatisation of LGBTI people
“Public officials and opinion makers should stop promoting an atmosphere of hate and intolerance vis-à-vis LGBTI people and instead, improve respect for their human rights. Stigmatisation and hate speech carry a real risk of legitimising violence. LGBTI are people, not an ideology”, said the...
Statement
Commissioner urges Hungary’s Parliament to postpone the vote on draft bills that, if adopted, will have far-reaching adverse effects on human rights in the country
“The Hungarian Government bills submitted to Parliament last week comprising proposals to amend the Constitution and other legislative instruments may have serious adverse effects on human rights in the country”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović today. “I...
Letter
The Commissioner calls on the Russian investigating authorities to take urgent action in the case of Mr Salman Tepsurkayev, abducted in September and subjected to torture in Chechnya
Today the Commissioner published a letter she had addressed to the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Mr Alexander Bastrykin, concerning the case of Mr Salman Tepsurkayev, a 19-year old chat moderator on the 1ADAT news channel on Telegram who was abducted,...
Third party intervention
Commissioner publishes observations on the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Poland
Today the Commissioner published her written observations to the European Court of Human Rights concerning the cases of Katarzyna Formela and Sylwia Formela v. Poland and 3 other applications, Cecylia Przybyszewska v. Poland and 9 other applications, and Antoni Meszkes v. Poland, all of which...
Speech
Council of Europe Conference to mark the European Day against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children
Good afternoon to you all and thank you very much for the invitation to contribute to this important event! The world we and our children live in is often described as over-sexualised. Children are exposed to sexualised images and messages from the media, advertisements and popular culture on a...
Third Party Intervention
Commissioner publishes observations on the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Romania
Today the Commissioner published her written observations to the European Court of Human Rights concerning the case of Florin Buhuceanu and Victor Ciobotaru v. Romania and 12 other cases, which relate to the absence of a legal framework for the recognition of stable same-sex relationships....
Human Rights Comment
Comprehensive sexuality education protects children and helps build a safer, inclusive society
Sexuality is an integral part of human life. Children and young people have the right to receive reliable, science-based and comprehensive information about it. Yet, sexuality education in schools is a sensitive issue. Ever since it was first introduced in European school curricula in the 1970’s,...
Speech
How to advance the human rights of intersex people: lessons learned from Finland
Webinar organised by the Permanent Representation of Finland to the Council of Europe and the Council of Europe Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Unit I would like to start with a heartfelt thank you to Finland for taking the initiative of this webinar and for its expressed commitment to...
Country visit report
The Republic of Moldova should ratify the Istanbul Convention, improve its response to hate speech and advance access to quality healthcare, affordable housing and social inclusion for all
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today a report on her visit to the Republic of Moldova in March this year – which included travel to Comrat (Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia) and Tiraspol - with recommendations on violence against women and...
Joint statement
COVID-19: The suffering and resilience of LGBT persons must be visible and inform the actions of States
Statement by human rights experts on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 17 May 2020 Geneva/Washington D.C./Strasbourg, 14 May 2020 On the eve of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May 2020, a group of United Nations...