How can organisations continue to lead with inclusion in a complex regional landscape? Today’s Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Townhall at Workplace Pride in Amsterdam seeks to reply exactly to this question. Yanna Parnin, Head of the SOGIESC Unit at the Council of Europe, together with representatives of the private sector, is discussing the current state of LGBTI inclusion and how it is anticipated to evolve across the EMEA region.

She highlights the link between fostering inclusive workplaces and strengthening democracy across the continent, one of the objectives of the Council of Europe’s recently launched New Democratic Pact for Europe. Built on 75 years of European commitment to democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, the Pact recognises that equality is a backbone of democratic resilience and emphasises the need to revitalise democratic processes and rebuild trust in institutions through participation and inclusion.

We already have a strong foundation and a clear understanding of what works. The correlation between LGBTI inclusion and economic competitiveness is clear. LGBTI inclusive cities are more innovative, hold a higher retention rate for business and attract more talent. Discrimination, on the other hand, in addition to the personal costs to those affected, has the very tangible consequence of economic losses reflected in the national GDP.  The challenge now is to ensure that our approaches are organised, coordinated and sustained over time, including in contexts where progress is not straightforward or where we are faced with new challenges such as those posed by new and emerging technologies and online spaces.

We are committed to supporting inclusion in workplaces through common standards, guidance, and dialogue. The Council of Europe’s objective is to ensure that progress is not isolated, but becomes systemic, durable and resilient across Europe.