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Protecting and promoting the rights of LGBT people
Latest News
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20/05/2013
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Local EU statement on the events connected with the Day against Homophobia
[59 KB] 
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17/05/2013
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International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia [141 KB]
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30/01/2013
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Catherine Ashton voices concern over LGBTI rights in Russia
Two men with their arms around each other © Reporters
A ‘Toolkit’ adopted by the Council’s working party on human rights in 2010 helps the EU institutions, EU countries, Delegations and others react proactively when the human rights of LGBT people are violated, and to address the structural causes leading to such violations.
Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is prohibited under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as well as the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
In many parts of the world however, the human rights of LGBT people enjoy no legal protection. Indeed, around 80 countries still criminalise consenting adult same-sex relations, including through capital punishment in 7 countries.
The EU actively promotes non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in its foreign policy, including through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
The LGBT Toolkit [99 KB] 
lists priorities and recommendations for addressing the human rights of LGBT people. The document outlines operational tools for raising persecution, discrimination and ill-treatment of LGBT people with third countries and in multilateral forums.
EU priorities include decriminalisation, equality and non-discrimination and support and protection for human rights defenders.
