The 2025 European IDAHOT+ Forum, under the theme “Advancing SOGIGESC Equality and Inclusion in a Transforming Europe”, will take place on 20 May 2025 in Valletta, Malta. Hosted by the Government of Malta under its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and co-organised by the Council of Europe’s SOGIESC Unit, the Forum marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia, and Intersexphobia (IDAHOT), observed annually on 17 May. Since its inception in 2013, the European IDAHOT+ Forum has evolved into a prominent platform for advancing LGBTI equality and inclusion across Europe.
The 2025 edition will bring together representatives from member states, international organisations, and civil society to address pressing issues concerning SOGIESC equality in Europe. This year’s discussions will centre on the shifting legal and social landscape, emerging challenges, and critical opportunities for advancing inclusive policies and practices. Participants will examine strategies for implementing national and regional action plans aimed at combatting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. Particular emphasis will be placed on the rise of anti-LGBTI movements and the growing need to counter both misinformation and disinformation, and protect existing gains.
As in previous editions, the Forum will include highly anticipated presentations by European LGBTI civil society organisations, showcasing their annual maps and indexes that provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of LGBTI rights across Europe. These presentations will serve as a focal point for discussing the evolving legal and social landscape and will provide valuable data to inform policy discussions. Experts will outline strategies for implementing action plans at national and regional levels while addressing persistent legal gaps that hinder progress towards full equality. Additionally, the Forum will feature discussions on transforming recommendations into tangible legal protections for intersex persons through legislative reforms, access to justice, and awareness-raising initiatives.
Parallel sessions will delve into key thematic areas. Discussions will examine discrimination against LGBTI people in sport and the importance of promoting inclusive practices within the sector. Other sessions will focus on intersecting forms of discrimination and legal protections for LBTIQ+ women, shedding light on the compounded vulnerabilities experienced by marginalised groups. Furthermore, intergovernmental cooperation will be underscored as a vital component for ensuring sustainable progress in advancing SOGIESC equality across Europe.
The Forum will conclude with compelling testimonies from civil society representatives, presenting powerful accounts of frontline experiences and underscoring the urgency of sustained, coordinated action. These testimonies will spotlight the lived realities of LGBTIQ+ persons in diverse contexts, drawing attention to persistent challenges and the collective efforts required to effect meaningful change.
On 21–22 May 2025, the third meeting of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (ADI-SOGIESC) will take place in Valletta. The meeting will focus on key deliverables, including the development of a Draft Recommendation on Equal Rights for Intersex Persons and a review of the implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5, which addresses measures to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
On 21 May 2025, civil society representatives from Council of Europe member States will convene in Malta as part of the IDAHOT+ Forum to exchange strategies on designing communication materials for awareness-raising initiatives under the EU/CoE joint project “Combating Anti-LGBTIQ Violence and Hate Speech, and Strengthening Awareness and Fact-based Narratives about LGBTIQ People”. The focus will be on developing impactful messaging, identifying target audiences, and promoting inclusive narratives.
