On Tuesday, 23 January, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) approved—with 46 votes in favour and 8 against—the draft report on the implementation of the European Union’s LGBTIQ Equality Strategy for the 2020–2025 period.
This text had already been the subject of a progress report last April (see EUROPE 13160/19).
Sixteen of the 17 compromise amendments were adopted, with the exception of amendment 4a. This point highlighted the impact of discrimination on the health and well-being of LGBTQI individuals.
The aim of the report by José Gusmão (The Left, Portuguese) was to monitor the application of the EU strategy and encourage the development of future strategies.
The draft report presents conclusions and recommendations based on the strategy’s four pillars: combating discrimination against LGBTQI individuals, ensuring their safety, building inclusive societies, and leading the fight for LGBTQI equality on a global scale.
The report stresses the importance of taking a holistic approach to protecting LGBTQI rights, including various aspects such as education, housing, and asylum policy.
It recognises the progress that has been made while highlighting the persistent challenges in ensuring equal treatment. The text also mentions intersectional discrimination and calls for comprehensive national action plans to be developed.
In this report, the EU’s commitment to promoting LGBTQI equality is not limited to [the EU’s] borders but extends to its international actions, in line with international human rights law.
The report reveals worrying trends in some Member States, such as the homophobic murder that took place in Slovakia and anti-LGBTQI legislation in Hungary, and emphasises the need for a united position against hatred, violence, and discriminatory laws.
Read the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/aj7 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)