“European states should pay attention to the specific challenges faced by LGBTI asylum seekers fleeing war”, said the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić; the current Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; as well as the incoming Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs. This statement was made in light of International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) on Tuesday 17 May.
In a Europe “still a long way from the full inclusion of LGBTI persons”, their vulnerability is worsened by armed conflicts, the three signatories underline.
Focusing on the “specific challenges” faced by these people in or outside of Ukraine when seeking asylum, they cite “the absence of identification documents matching their gender identity, the risk of facing homophobia and transphobia from staff at internal and international checkpoints, the risk of harassment in mass accommodation centres, difficulties for transgender and intersex people with continuing hormone and other medical treatment in host countries and the risk of discrimination in gaining access to safe shelters and long-term housing as same-sex couples and families”.
European states are encouraged to show solidarity with all persons seeking refuge on their territory - including LGBTI people - and to build on the Council of Europe Recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)