ILGA-Europe is in a process of building a new and modern website. We want you to be a part of it, as we want to show who we represent --> you, as one of the millions of LGBTI people in Europe.

ILGA-Europe is organising a training on Community and Organisational Development to Lead Sustainable Change taking place on 20-22 November 2014 in Ljubljana.

On 17 July 2014, the Advocate General Sharpston of the Court of Justice of the European Union issued an opinion on how asylum authorities should act when verify the sexual orientation of an asylum seeker, and how such assessments comply with the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.

On 18 June, TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland) launched the STAD: Stop Transphobia and Discrimination Report. The STAD report documents hate crimes against trans people in Ireland and is the first report of its kind.

Joint article by ILGA-Europe and 7 other NGO's from 2 July: Today, the European Union 'celebrates' a sadly recurrent anniversary: six years ago, on 2 July 2008, the European Commission proposed a directive on equal treatment.

On 18 July the Andalusian Regional Government adopted a trans inclusive anti-discrimination law. The new law is aiming to protect trans people in a number of aspects. It moreover also simplifies the procedures for legal gender recognition for trans people in the Spanish region, for example by removing the requirement of medical/phychological diagnosis or opinion.

In late July, a roundtable meeting on equality law reform in Minsk, Belarus was organised by the Equal Rights Trust and its partner, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. Leading civil society representatives discussed and agreed the recommendations made in a concept paper setting out the key substantive and procedural elements of a future national equality law, in line with established international law and best practice.

Equinet, European Network of Equality Bodies, organised a training event on LGBTI issues on 17-18 June 2014 in Stockholm. Evelyne Paradis, Excutive Director ILGA-Europe, was invited to speak in a panel.

On 16 July 2014, the European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in the case of Hämäläinen v. Finland. It ruled that Finland did not violate the human rights of a trans woman by requiring that her marriage be downgraded to a registered partnership in order for her to obtain her legal gender recognition.

On 15 July, Croatia adopted a law allowing same-sex couple to enter registered partnership. Croatia is the 23rd European country to legally recognise same-sex unions.

ILGA-Europe opinion in Balkan Insight: Authorities in the region should realise that defining marriage in the constitution as a union between a man and a woman is not only pointless, but actually harmful.

On the occasion of the ”Silver Anniversary” of the Danish registered partnership law,an exhibition: ”Equal Love Silver Anniversary, Copenhagen 1989-2014” will be held at the Copenhagen City Hall where the first same-sex couple said yes to each other 25 years ago. The exhibition aims to collect wedding pictures and rainbow family photos from all over the world. 

How would the job ad look like for the next European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy if it was up to The Human Rights and Democracy Network?

This year’s Kyiv Pride, scheduled for 5 July, was cancelled after the Ukrainian police claimed they would not be able to protect the Pride participants because of expected counter protests. Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, stated that now is not the right time for ‘entertainment’ events such as Pride.

On 27 July, approximately 5.000 people participated in this year's Pride event in Torshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands. The event was organised by LGBT Føroyar.

On 17 July, Advocate General Mengozzi of the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered its Opinion in the case of Geoffrey Léger v Ministre des affaires sociales et de la santé and Établissement français du sang and said that a sexual relationship between two men does not in itself constitute conduct that justifies permanent exclusion from giving blood.

UNAIDS together with ILGA-Europe and IGLYO call upon the European Union, governments, local authorities and member organisations in Europe to strengthen youth leadership to address the challenge of HIV and advance health and human rights of LGBTQI people in Europe.

Currently there are interesting calls for tenders and funding programmes on EU level: 1. Operating grants for NGOs - call closes on 25 September. 2. Joint actions on HIV and co-infections. 3. Call for tenders within health.
If you want to know more, then contact Sophie Aujean, Senior Policy and Programmes Officer.

The first conference of the European Professional Association for Transgender Health, entitled “Transgender Health Care in Europe”will take place in Ghent, Belgium, from 12-14 March 2015. The conference is dedicated to (clinical) training for (new) professionals, and to European research. It offers a forum to present (recently published and new) data, and especially wishes to motivate young researchers to participate. The conference is off course also the place to be for networking and setting up new collaborations in Europe.

The Social Platform, the Platform of European Social NGOs, is looking for a Communication and Media Officer and a Finance and Administration Officer for its office in Brussels. Deadline for applications for both positions: 22 August 2014.

European Women's Lobby (EWL) is looking for a Policy Officer, (temporary full-time position), and a Consultant to support EWL Secretary General for EWL Strategy. Deadline for both positions: 18 August.
Find more information on the position as Policy Officer here
Find more information on the position as Consultant here