Report "Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity" published

Despite progress in many areas over the last decades, people in Europe are still stigmatised because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) persons cannot fully enjoy their universal human rights. They run a risk of becoming victims of hate crime and may not receive protection when attacked in the street by fellow citizens.

Some LGBT organisations are denied registration or are banned from organising peaceful meetings and demonstrations in Europe. Many LGBT persons have fled to Council of Europe member states from countries where their human rights are not protected and they may even risk being tortured or executed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Too few opinion leaders and leading politicians have taken a firm stand against homophobic and transphobic expressions, discrimination and violence. The Commissioner for Human Rights has therefore put the human rights of LGBT persons and the fight against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity firmly on his agenda.

The Commissioner regularly raises this topic with authorities in member states, and has expressed his concerns in country monitoring reports and specific thematic publications, such as the Issue Paper on Human Rights and Gender Identity.

On 23 June 2011 the Commissioner launched a detailed report on ’Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity’, covering all the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. This report is also available in several languages.

Download the report:

- full text
- Part 1 - Foreword, summary, recommendations and introduction, p. 1-20
- Part 2 - Chapters 1-2, p. 21-50
- Part 3 - Chapter 3, p. 51-70
- Part 4 - Chapter 4, p. 71-82
- Part 5 - Chapter 5, p. 83-93
- Part 6 - Chapter 5 (part 2), p. 94-102
- Part 7 - Chapter 6, conclusions and appendix p. 103-134