May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. The theme of this years’ day is Breaking the Silence. International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT 2020)
The day was first started in 2004, and May 17 was specifically chosen to commemorate the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization officially declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The Gay and Lesbian Association of the Peace (GALAP) held a day of advocacy at City Hall on Thursday morning, where an official proclamation of the day was made by City Councillor Eunice Friesen. A pride flag was raised and flown by City Hall in recognition of the day.
The 17th of May marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. As remarked by the Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić in her statement ahead of IDAHOT, this year addressing homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and interphobia in the 47 Member States is an even more pressing need, as COVID-19 has led to the emerging of new challenges and to the exacerbation of existing equalities, including for LGBTI persons.
2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the first international standard to advance human rights and equality for LGBTI persons. The Council of Europe recommendation proved to be a real catalyst for change but even if progress has been made, discrimination against LGBTI people remains a reality across Europe. On the occasion of IDAHOT 2020, we are sharing some of the main findings on the situation of the implementation of CM/Rec(2010)5 in Member States. The full findings on the implementation progress will be available shortly.
SOGI-based violence
67% have taken measures to ensure effective investigation into alleged SOGI-based hate crimes
52% have taken measures to ensure that victims and witnesses of SOGI-based hate crimes are encouraged to report
57% have taken measures to combat all forms of SOGI-related hate speech
Couples and families
55% have taken measures to protect the right of transgender persons to marry
36% have taken measures to ensure same legal status, rights and obligations to both same-sex and different-sex couples
60% have taken measures to ensure non-discriminatory decisions regarding parental responsibility and adoption of a child
40% have taken measures to ensure non-discriminatory access to assisted reproductive treatment
Education
67% have taken measures to ensure the right to education in an environment free from SOGI-based violence
45% have taken measures to include SOGI-related information in school curricula
48% have taken measures of school equality policies, trainings and teaching aids
Rights of transgender persons
40% have taken measures for the coverage of gender reassignment procedures costs by public or private social insurance systems
38% have adopted quick, transparent and accessible procedures for legal gender recognition
55% have taken measures to protect the right of transgender persons to marry
Discrimination on multiple grounds
67% have taken measures to ensure protection against discrimination on multiple grounds (including SOGI)
52% have taken measures to identify, protect and/or support vulnerable groups affected by multiple discrimination
Asylum seekers and refugees
74% have taken measures to allow access to refugee status and asylum based on a well-founded fear of SOGI-based persecution
74% have taken measures preventing that asylum seekers are sent to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity
40% have taken measures to protect LGBT asylum seekers deprived of their liberty from any form of violence.
Disclaimer: Those percentages correspond to 42 answers received on 47 surveys sent to Member States of the Council of Europe in 2018. The data showed pertains only to states that replied a categorical YES and responses referring partial implementation are not reflected.
To mark IDAHOT 2020, the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Unit has organised a series of awareness raising actions and activities around this date, including:
- an online debate organised by the Polish Ombudsperson Office with several national stakeholders on the situation of LGBTI persons in Poland (19th May);
- the 24th roundtable of the European Network of SOGIESC Governmental Focal Points (EFPN), focusing on the responses of the member states to the vulnerability LGBTI persons during the COVID19 pandemic (20th May);
- ongoing support to activities around IDAHOT and the 10th anniversary of Pride in Albania, in close cooperation with civil society organisations and Horizontal Facility II. The series of event will mainly take place online and include several media campaigns and discussions with LGBTI and feminist authors. Pride celebrations in the country will be organised and broadcasted online;
