EU Statements on Combatting Violence Against Women and LGBTQI+ people

In May 2024, the European Union delivered two statements at the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers meetings. They were made on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention’s entry into force.

On 7 May 2024, the EU delivered a statement at the Committee of Ministers’ meeting ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on 17 May. The Union, on behalf of its Members States and aligned partners, called on governments around the world to repeal discriminatory legislation and take action to prevent all forms of violence against LGBTIQ persons.

On 29 May 2024, the EU made a statement at the Committee of Ministers’ meeting on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention’s entry into force. The EU stated that it will continue to place the prevention and elimination of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence both online and offline at the centre of its efforts. The EU Head of Delegation also recalled that the Union acceded to the Istanbul Convention in June 2023 and adopted the first-ever EU law on combatting violence against women in May 2024.