Today, on 17 May 2023, we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Intersexphobia by renewing our firm commitment to ensuring effective equality and respect for the human rights and dignity of every member of our societies.

We stand together in solidarity to acknowledge and respond to the discrimination, violence and hatred, including increasingly online, faced by LGBTI+ people on our continent and beyond. We strive to build an inclusive Europe, respectful of diversity, where all people are free to enjoy their human rights and are able to participate in all areas of life, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.

Promoting and protecting human rights is for the common good of all humankind. Diversity and inclusiveness benefit not only individuals but societies as a whole. As the European Court of Human Rights has held, it would be incompatible with the underlying values of the European Convention on Human Rights if the exercise of the Convention rights by a minority were made conditional on its acceptance by the majority.

We acknowledge the pioneering role of the Council of Europe in developing standards for protecting the human rights of LGBTI+ persons, as well as in providing guidance and supporting domestic reform efforts in this area. We also pay tribute to the European Court of Human Rights and its case-law which has been and continues to be crucial in this regard.  We further acknowledge the significant progress achieved in the last decade as a result of the engagement and leadership of Council of Europe member States in cooperation with equality bodies and civil society actors.

We are deeply concerned by the backlash when it comes to LGBTI+ rights worldwide and that such backlash fuels disinformation, prejudice, stigmatisation and hate against LGBTI+ people. Such phenomena risk unravelling our societies’ values and must be countered. 

We recognise that intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI+ persons are often accompanied by multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and affects private and family life, access to education, employment, housing and healthcare, and experiences of physical and psychological violence. We acknowledge the importance of taking a nuanced approach.

We therefore call for a renewed commitment from the Council of Europe and its Committee of Ministers, from the EU institutions and from European states, to advance LGBTI+ equality across Europe. This requires us to maintain a strong, united response to the growing backlash against the human rights of LGBTI+ people, continue our invigorated and targeted action in international fora, and develop human rights standards and inclusive policies that address multiple and intersecting challenges for LGBTI+ people.

Signed by:

• Andorra - Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• Austria – Ms. Susanne Raab, Federal Minister for Women, Family, Integration and Media in the Federal Chancellery
• Belgium – Ms. Marie-Colline Leroy, State Secretary for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities and Diversity
• Bosnia and Herzegovina – Mr. Sevlid Hurtić, PhD, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees
• Cyprus - Dr. Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Czech Republic – Ms. Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, Government Commissioner for Human Rights
• Denmark – Ms. Marie Bjerre, Minister for Digital Government and Gender Equality
• Estonia – Ms. Signe Riisalo, Minister of Social Protection
• Finland – Mr. Thomas Blomqvist, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality
• France - Mme Isabelle ROME, Ministre déléguée auprès de la Première ministre, chargée de l'Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes, de la Diversité et de l'Égalité des chances
• Germany – Ms. Lisa Paus, Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
• Greece – Mr. Georgios Gerapetritis, Minister of State
• Iceland – Ms. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister
• Ireland – Mr. Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• Latvia – Mr. Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Lithuania – Ms. Ewelina Dobrowolska, Minister of Justice
• Luxembourg – Mr. Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister
• Malta - Hon. Rebecca Buttigieg, Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms
• Netherlands – Mr. Robbert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Culture and Science
• North Macedonia – Ms. Jovana Trencevska, Minister in Ministry for labor and social policy
• Norway – Ms. Anette Trettebergstuen, Minister of Culture and Equality
• Portugal – Ms. Ana Catarina Mendes, Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and for Parliamentary Affairs
• Serbia – Mr. Tomislav Žigmanov, Minister for human, minority rights and social dialogue
• Slovenia – Mr. Luka Mesec, Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
• Sweden – Ms. Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life
• Switzerland - Mr Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation
• United Kingdom - The Rt. Hon. Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Equalities and Sport, Gambling and Civil Society