On 9 and 10 September 2026, civil society representatives from 20 Council of Europe member states attended a pilot training in Ljubljana, Slovenia, organised by the Council of Europe’s SOGIESC Unit with TGEU, ILGA Europe, and the European Implementation Network (EIN).

The first day of the training centred on strategic litigation before the European Court of Human Rights as a tool for protecting the rights of and advancing equality for LGBTI people in Europe. The second day focused on practical advocacy measures for ensuring the effective implementation of the Court’s judgments and how they can be translated into concrete legal, policy, and administrative measures for lasting change at the national level.

Participants developed tailored litigation and advocacy strategies through group exercises, explored how legal action can drive broader policy reforms, and shared good practices in peer learning sessions, laying the foundation for future collaboration. They deepened their understanding of Court procedures and identified key advocacy opportunities at national and European levels.

 The discussions highlighted that both strategic litigation and effective implementation are essential to achieving lasting change: while Court judgments are crucial for identifying and remedying rights violations, their impact relies on effective implementation and turning these judgments into lasting policy and societal change.

This event marked the first pilot activity based on the forthcoming resource, “Making Rights a Reality: A Practical Guide to Litigation and Advocacy for the Implementation of SOGIESC Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.” Planned for publication by the end of the year, the guide will serve as a foundation for future capacity-building activities, supporting efforts to advance equality and safeguard the rights of LGBTI persons across Council of Europe member states.