Brussels, 24/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Meeting at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 18-19 November, lawyers, elected town representatives and representatives of associations, as well as the Council of Europe, adopted a declaration on the rights of LGBTI (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals and Intersexuals) and the recognition of same sex unions within the EU. Failure to recognise such unions gives rise to frequent failings, mainly regarding the right to move freely from one country to another, the authors of the statement say. They also call for an end to be put, immediately, to the legal obstacles that hinder the international mobility of lesbian and gay couples and to ensure that homosexual couples have rights that are equal to those of heterosexual couples. They say legal strategic appeals must be stepped up resulting in jurisdiction and imposing change, and say that public and private sectors must be encouraged to recognise diversity by proposing specific training or by helping these sectors to better integrate LGBTI employees and to respect their family rights. Such action was initiated by the association known as L'Autre Cercle, a watchdog association in defence of LGBTI rights. (SP/transl.jl)