On 17 May, we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). Created in 2004, the day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention to the harmful stigma, discrimination and violence that is still faced by LGBTI persons.

On this occasion, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić released a statement warning about hostile rhetoric from elected politicians, surges in homophobic and transphobic violence and the proclamation of so-called LGBT-free zones. She said that “better laws and policies are needed, and for these to be adopted and implemented, political will and genuine commitment to equality are indispensable”.

The Council of Europe is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights of LGBTI persons, especially through its 2010 Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5 to the Council of Europe member states on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. This work is supported by the Council of Europe human rights system - the European Convention on Human Rights, the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the recommendations of the Committee of Ministers and resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, recommendations of the monitoring bodies (European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), the European Committee of Social Rights) and the reports of the Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Council of Europe and the SOGI Unit are organising a series of awareness raising actions and activities around IDAHOTB, including:

• 14-25 May, Albania - International Week Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia will be marked by a series of online and offline events (videos, performances, photo exhibitions, flash mobs and online campaigns) under the slogan “Together: Resisting, Supporting, Healing!” More information

• 17 May (10 a.m.12 p.m.) – A public discussion on the responses to hate speech and hate crimes, hosted by the Council of Europe, the European Union, the Ministry of Interior and the NGO Queer Montenegro, will be the occasion to present two new tools for police forces in Montenegro: the Local Manual for Training Police Officers to work with LGBTI persons and the Montenegrin-language version of the Council of Europe Manual Policing Hate Crime against LGBTI persons. The event is part of the action on ‘Promotion of diversity and equality in Montenegro. Programme - Link to the livestreaming

• 17 May, Belgrade (4.30 p.m.) – The European Union and the Council of Europe, in cooperation with Serbian partners, will launch a series of art initiatives and cultural exchanges at the Centre for Cultural Decontamination, focusing on how art and culture can help better communicate diversity and equality , with a special focus on rights of the LGBTI community. The activities are part of the action on “Promotion of diversity and equality in Serbia”.
• 18 May (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.) – Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, together with the UK Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, and Cypriot Minister of Justice and Public Order, Emily Yiolitis, will deliver opening remarks at the launch event of the “2021 IDAHOT+ Forum”, organised by the UK and Cyprus, the co-Chairs of the Council of Europe’s LGBTI Focal Points Network. More information - Registration
• 19 May –  27th Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network Roundtable roundtable. This will serve as an opportunity to share good practices that can be replicated around Europe, in line with the two main aims of the Network that are notably to mainstream equality by exchanging experiences among policy experts/advisors from CoE Member States and competent regions and to interact with the European policy level to always be updated with the latest SOGIESC developments.

• 19 May (3-4.45 p.m.) – The German Embassy in Warsaw on behalf of the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in cooperation with the US Embassy in Warsaw will hold a discussion “On the Agenda of the Council of Europe: the Role of Towns and Regions in Guaranteeing LGBTI Rights” bringing together practitioners and decision-makers from local and regional authorities in Poland, the Czech Republic, the USA and Germany. More information

• 20 May (9-11 a.m.) – The Ukrainian adaptation of the training manual “Policing Hate Crime against LGBTI Persons: Training for a professional police response” and training for police in Ukraine on LGBT issues will be launched under the EU-COE regional project “Strengthening access to justice for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in the Eastern Partnership countries”, in co-operation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the NGO Fulcrum. More information - Link to livestreaming

The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) is a chance to stand up for equality. Join us!

>>> More on the work of the Council of Europe on the rights of LGBTI persons >>>