europe activity

8 Oct. 2000 - 23 Oct. 2001 ilga report www.ilga-europe.org europe activity ilga report

THANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank everybody who HIVOS (the ), Homosexuelle supported the work of the Board over the Selbsthilfe e. V. (), and the City of last twelve months. Without the commit- for generously funding specific ment and donations of many people and projects and activities of ILGA-Europe; the financial and other support of many (member) organisations this work would ◗ Homosexuelle Initiative (HOSI) Wien not have been possible. We cannot mention (Austria), UNISON, the public sector them all here but special thanks have to go union in the United Kingdom, and Fede- to the following: ratie Werkgroepen Homoseksualiteit (Bel- gium) for substantial financial contribu- ◗ Steffen Jensen who, as outgoing treasurer, tions to our work; The European Region of the continued to take care of ILGA-Europe’s International Lesbian and Gay finances and accounts until the end of the ◗ the for granting us Association calendar year 2000. Together with other core funding and its anti-discrimination activists of the Danish national gay and unit for the good co-operation; Avenue de Tervueren/ lesbian association LBL he also continued Tervurenlaan 94/1 to publish the Euro-Letter on behalf of ◗ MEPs Michael Cashman, Joke Swiebel, B-1040 ILGA-Europe, and on top of that Patsy Sörensen, Lousewies van der Laan, phone +32 2 732 54 88 remained in charge of our web-site; and Baroness Sarah Ludford for their fax +32 2 732 51 64 commitment to support LGBT issues in [email protected] ◗ Mark Bell, Robert Wintemute, Alberto the ; www.ilga-europe.org Volpato, Tom Hoemig, Enrique Góngora, Cathal Kelly, Gerhard Grühn, and Monika ◗ and last but not least to Claudia Roth, for- Bank account # 001- Wienbeck who have supported us with mer MEP and now chair-person of the 3523388-36 expertise, volunteer and fundraising work; German Green Party, who has been a Fortis Bank, Vooruitgangstraat long-term friend of ILGA and came to the 333/9, ◗ the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (Germany), the opening party of our new office to coin its B-1030 Brussels Open Society Institute (OSI) in Budapest, new name: “LGBT embassy in Brussels”. SWIFT: GEBABEEB

ILGA-Europe Activity Report 2000-2001

Editor: Kurt Krickler TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contributors: Nico J. Beger, Tatjana Greif, Pierre Noël, Thanks and acknowledgements 2 C. Organization for Security and Mette Vadstrup, Nigel Warner. Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 13 Introduction 3 Design & Layout: Christian D. Programme of activities in A. European Union 4 Högl (www.creativbox.at) support of LGBT human rights 1. Article 13 anti-discrimination organisations in Central, Eastern Printer: Sofadi, Brussels initiatives 4 and Southern Europe 14 © ILGA-Europe. Reproduction 2. EU Charter of Fundamental Rights 5 permitted, provided that E. Actions to counter human rights 3. Asylum and immigration 6 appropriate reference is made abuses against LGBT and HIV+ to the source. 4. EU enlargement 7 people in Europe 14

This Annual 5. Human rights in member states 8 F. HIV/AIDS prevention 15 Report is pub- G. Transgender issues 15 lished with the 6. The EU and third country human rights 9 support of the H. Development of ILGA-Europe 16 European Commission – The 7. Other EU programmes 10 European Union against dis- I. Other activities 16 8. Civil and social dialogues 11 crimination. The information J. Board membership, meetings contained in this publication 9. Mainstreaming of LGBT issues 11 and board officers 17 does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the Other EU activities 11 K. Financial Report 2000 18 European Commission. It is not liable for any use that may be B. Council of Europe 12 L. Calendar of meetings & 2 made of this information. travels 2000-2001 19 activity europe report ilga

fied as cornerstones for the future develop- ment of ILGA-Europe: INTRODUCTION 1. A continuation of our focus on non-geo- graphical LGBT issues, such as increasingly taking into consideration the need for proj- Since its foundation in December 1996, and of course the monthly Euro-Letter, ects in the field of sexual orientation/gen- ILGA-Europe has produced annual activity which has continued to be published, on der identity and racism, ageism or disability reports of its executive board for the peri- behalf of ILGA-Europe, by the international discrimination in LGBT communities as ods between two consecutive annual con- section of the Danish national gay and les- well as taking into consideration specific ferences – which since are held in October bian association LBL (Landsforeningen for cultural needs of certain LGBT groups; each year. The period between two annual bøsser og lesbiske). conferences is also the period for which the 2. A continuous focus on skill building and annual conference adopts the Work Pro- On the following pages you will thus find a development work in non-EU countries. gramme of ILGA-Europe. detailed report on the manifold activities of This area of work needs specific fundrais- ILGA-Europe. In summary we can say ing activities beyond our core funding that With this report, however, we alter its for- without exaggeration that the activity peri- is restricted to EU work. ILGA-Europe will mat in two ways. There is the obvious out- od 2000-2001 was the most successful so remain strongly committed to not letting ward appearance: thanks to EU funding we far in the history of ILGA-Europe. EU funding regulations restrict the geo- are able to have a proper layout and design graphical area of work for ILGA-Europe. and to print the report instead of just pho- One of the most significant factors that has The past year has already included a clear tocopying typed pages. Additionally, we made this possible is the core funding focus on this area; have altered the way of reporting. In order ILGA-Europe has been receiving from the to make it easier to relate the reported European Commission as from 1 December 3. Focusing more on the issues of family activities to the Work Programme 2000- 2000. We were able to employ two people, and youth which still present the biggest 2001, we have included the various items Mette Vadstrup as full-time information stumbling block to LGBT equality in and paragraphs from the Work Program- officer, and Olivier Collet, as half-time Europe. Here ILGA-Europe aims to become me, as adopted last year in Bucharest, in the administration officer, from February 2001 an information and resource place for this corresponding sections of this report. and to rent office space in Brussels as of 15 crucial debate; February 2001. This certainly has made a big difference. 4. Defining the needs and issues of trans- gender communities in Europe and conse- We can also report that ILGA-Europe is – quently increasing ILGA-Europe’s own finally – registered as an international non- skills in arguing against gender identity dis- profit non-governmental organisation crimination and making the T in LGBT a under Belgian as of 10 August 2001. visible and strong tenet of our work. The last thing to do in this context is to have the registration and necessary docu- The immediate task to establish our work mentation published in the official journal in the direction of those four cornerstones of , the Moniteur belge, which is will involve a closer study of realisation under way. options. Primarily this means an assess- ment of tasks and human resources in and around the board as well as in the office Employees Mette Vadstrup and Olivier Collet in with the aim to develop a long-term per- the new office Perspectives spective of our human resource and fund- ing needs. The board will seek to stabilise Background information on the various The Board has only recently found the time funding from other sources outside the EU activities and the developments leading up to consider the larger future direction of Commission to assure our broad focus of to the current situations can be found in ILGA-Europe. With the office now up and work can continuously be developed. the previous annual board reports, which in operation we are able to consider what are all available at our web-site, and in the future possibilities could open up to us and THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF two issues of our new ILGA-Europe how the work can be best managed. So far ILGA-EUROPE Newsletter, that have been published so far, four broad areas of work have been identi- Brussels, October 2001

3 europe activity ilga report

A. EUROPEAN UNION 1. Article 13 anti-discrimination initiatives On 17 October 2000 the Employment and This is indeed a historic development. It Likewise it was one of ILGA-Europe’s main Social Affairs Ministers Council in Luxem- means nothing less than that 15 member tasks in 2001 to closely follow the develop- bourg agreed the first two measures based states and 13 accession countries will have ments concerning the Community action on Article 13 EC (Treaty of ) to introduce, by December 2003, anti-dis- programme and to reach out to its con- that also deal with sexual orientation: crimination legislation at national level stituency with up-dated information, in prohibiting, inter alia, discrimination on particular with regard to the launch of the ◗ Council Directive 2000/78/EC establish- the grounds of sexual orientation in programme and first calls for proposals, ing a general framework for equal treat- employment and occupation. ILGA-Europe and to explain the rather complicated for- ment in employment and occupation, publicised this landmark achievement mat of the programme and these first calls. and through its channels. Information was disseminated by e-mail ◗ Council Decision 2000/750/EC establish- and posted on the web-site. It was also ing a Community action programme to Working together, mobilising and motivat- published in the Euro-Letter (# 88, May combat discrimination (2001 to 2006). ing its member organisations both in the 2001) and the first issues of the ILGA- EU member states and the accession coun- Europe Newsletter in May and August 2001. ILGA-Europe welcomed these achievements tries to make the best possible use of this in a media release on 24 October (see Euro- unique opportunity was also a main issue In order to gain first-hand information, we Letter # 83, October 2000). The formal legal at the first meeting of the ILGA-Europe EU had attended the European Commission’s adoption of the two measures was then national co-ordination network that took information meeting on the implementa- done by the European Council on 27 place in Brussels, 14-15 July 2001 (see box tion of the programme in Brussels on 26 November 2000. On 2 December, both the below). As a follow-up to the network March. The action programme was also a Directive and the Decision were published meeting, a “guide” for implementing the prominent item of discussion at the biannu- in the Official Journal of the European framework directive was produced and sent al meetings between the Commission and Communities (L 303, p. 16 and p. 23 to member organisations in these 28 coun- the Platform of European Social NGOs on 7 respectively). tries in early October 2001. November 2000 and 27 February 2001.

ILGA-Europe EU national co-ordination network

ILGA-Europe’s activity pro- in our struggle for equality and gramme agreed in its funding our fight against discrimina- contract with the European tion. Most things decided in Commission provides for Brussels need to be agreed by communication and co-oper- national governments, and ation with nationally organ- have to be implemented by ised member organisations. It national governments. There- is our task to reach out to our fore, at national level member organisations in the is as important as at EU level. EU member states and inform them about relevant A great deal of the work ILGA- developments at EU level, and Europe is doing is to represent ILGA-Europe needs the input the LGBT perspective in the from its members about legislative process in the Euro- The first network meeting took place on 14 and15 July 2001 developments at the national pean institutions. In order to level relevant in the European benefit even more from this LGBT movement as a whole. dedicate time and resources context. ILGA-Europe will work, the national associations For this purpose, ILGA-Europe to deal with European issues also channel information on need to be closely informed has established an “EU national at national level, and who LGBT issues from its mem- about ILGA-Europe’s activities co-ordination network” made play a key role in their coun- bers to the Commission and, and become involved and carry up of representatives of nation- try, having “access” to their therefore, needs to consult its the pressure on to the imple- ally organised member organi- government. ILGA-Europe member organisations with menting phase at national level. sations in each of the 15 mem- has budgeted annual meet- regard to formulating The national associations and ber states. We approached ings of this new network in demands and policies. networks have always been an organisations and individuals its core funding applications important source and inspira- with whom we already have to the Commission. Moreover, co-ordinated lob- tion for the activities of ILGA- had good co-operation and bying both at the national Europe, and by combining and working relations in the past, The first meeting of the net- level in all member states and co-ordinating efforts, this will who have shown interest in work also received funding at EU level is a crucial pre- lead to more efficient work and European Union matters and from the Heinrich-Böll- condition to achieve progress benefits for the European commitment and ability to Stiftung in Berlin. 4 activity europe report ilga

ILGA-Europe expects to continue receiving Work programme 2000/2001 core funding under this programme. Thus, we have also had regular contacts with Article 13 anti-discrimination initiatives Commission officials discussing the core Maximise the benefits of the member organisations of social protection (to cover, funding possibility, and we will also attend Article 13 anti-discrimination relevant Calls for Proposals. inter alia, sexual orientation the European conference on the Communi- provisions by: discrimination). ty action programme to be organised by ◗ Working for the development the Commission in Brussels on 18-19 Octo- ◗ Continuing to work for the of a proposal by the Com- ◗ Discussing future proposals ber 2001. implementation of the pro- mission for a directive cov- for directives or other initia- posed general framework ering discrimination in areas tives at an early stage with At the November 2000 biannual meeting we directive for equal treatment other than employment the Commission, advising on explicitly asked whether the Commission in employment and occupa- (within the limits of the pow- the best way to meet the intended to come forward with additional tion and of the proposed ers of the Community), e. g. needs of the LGBT communi- proposals for Directives prohibiting dis- Anti-discrimination Action education, access to and ty and to reflect the princi- crimination, inter alia on sexual orientation, Programme. Once the latter supply of goods and servic- ples of Article 13. in other areas of Community competence, is approved by EU, inform es, healthcare, housing and such as the provision of and the access to goods and services. Odile Quintin, director- general of DG Employment, declared res- sioner Anna Diamantopoulou on the occa- We also attended the regular meetings of olutely that the Commission would not sion of the EP hearing on EU enlargement the anti-discrimination working group of reopen the debate on further Article 13 from a gay perspective on 28 June (see the Platform of European Social NGOs (see measures in the immediate future, although below under item A.4) received a similar below under A.8) and the one organised the European Year on Disability in 2003 answer. Therefore, it is unfortunately more informally by the European Network could create potential for further advances. unlikely that new legislative measures to against Racism (ENAR) where further joint fight sexual orientation discrimination will advocacy activities and opportunities to A similar question posed by ILGA-Europe be prepared by the Commission in the next formulate common demands were dis- representative Nigel Warner to Commis- few years. cussed.

2. EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Only a week after the ILGA-Europe annual ILGA-Europe continued to participate in guaranteed by it. We have also given our conference in Bucharest, the Convention the joint Charter campaign of the Platform input and contributed to the Platform/ tasked to draft the EU Charter of of European Social NGOs and the Euro- ETUC commentary on the Charter which is Fundamental Rights completed its work pean Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) being prepared for publication in due and presented a draft to the European which, for example, was highlighted again course before the Laeken summit in Council in Biarritz. The Charter was finally at the Meeting of Civil Society for a Europe December 2001. The commentary will also adopted and solemnly signed at the Nice of Democracy and Solidarity, co-organised include proposals for improving the text of summit in December 2000 but was not by the Platform in conjunction with the the Charter. ILGA-Europe also attended the incorporated into the Treaties and, there- summit in Nice. The main objectives of this biannual meeting between the Platform fore, is not legally binding. “Sexual orienta- campaign are to make the Charter legally and ETUC on 9 March where this joint tion” was retained in the draft. Article 21, binding and to strengthen the social rights campaign was the main agenda item. paragraph 1 of the adopted Charter reads as follows: Work programme 2000/2001 Any discrimination based on any ground EU Charter of Fundamental Rights such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social ori- ◗ ◗ gin, genetic features, language, religion or Monitor drafting process to if any proposal to delete Continue to participate in belief, political or other opinion, membership ensure that the anti-discrim- these words, mount large the Social Platform/ETUC of a national minority, property, birth, dis- ination article continues to scale campaign for their Charter campaign. ability, age or sexual orientation shall be pro- include “sexual orientation”; retention. hibited.

5 europe activity ilga report 3. Asylum and immigration

In the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam the Euro- ding to that of married couples”.We had Additionally, ILGA-Europe prepared a posi- pean Union embarked upon a plan to estab- proposed that this be strengthened to allow tion paper on the proposal for a Council lish common rules covering asylum and any “spouse or unmarried partner living in a Directive laying down minimum standards immigration by 2004 (articles 61-69 EC durable relationship with the applicant” to on the reception of applicants for asylum Treaty). This project is also referred to as the be joined by their partner, whatever the leg- in Member States (COM(2001) 181). “establishment of the European area of free- islation of the member state. ILGA-Europe’s dom, security and justice (AFSJ)”. position paper on this proposal had been ◗ Proposal for a European Parliament and sent to Commissioner Vitorino in May 2001 Council Directive on the right of citizens of The Commission is in the process of issuing (the paper was also published in Euro-Letter the Union and their family members to a series of draft Directives covering the # 89, June 2001). Mr Nunes de Almeida move and reside freely within the territory whole range of asylum and immigration advised that, in the current negotiations of the Member States: this crucial proposal subject matters. We have been monitoring between the member states, even the Com- (COM(2001) 257) published by the Com- these developments closely. After publication mission’s proposal was meeting with signifi- mission in May 2001, covers the whole of each draft Directive, we have commis- cant opposition on the basis that there are question of the free movement of EU citi- sioned an expert in this field, Mark Bell, lec- difficulties in establishing whether an zens within the Union. It therefore raises turer at Leicester University, to draft a posi- unmarried relationship was genuine.* It was the question of the “family reunion” of tion paper analysing the proposal from the likely that the whole issue of the recognition same-sex couples, where one moves to perspective of LGBT people, and making of unmarried couples would be left to indi- another member state and wishes to be recommendations for amendments as vidual member states, and therefore would accompanied by her/his partner. The draft appropriate. not be subject to harmonisation. We argued Directive uses a formulation similar to that that at the very least unmarried couples in of the draft Directive on family reunion Over the year, there were so many issues of registered partnerships should be treated on (described above). Mr Nunes de Almeida concern that we finally also asked for a the same basis as married couples. felt that there was more possibility here meeting with a representative of Commis- than in the case of family reunion for third sioner António Vitorino, who as Commis- ◗ Approximation of rules on recognition and country nationals, with member states less sioner for Justice and Home Affairs, is content of refugee status: a draft Directive concerned about movement within the responsible for these areas. on this area is being worked on by the Com- Union, than with movement from outside The meeting took place on 16 July 2001, mission, and is due to be published later this the Union. with Jackie Lewis, Kurt Krickler, Nigel year. ILGA-Europe’s objective is to ensure Warner and Mette Vadstrup representing that any common definition of “refugee” ILGA-Europe’s position paper and recom- ILGA-Europe, and Mr Joaquim Pedro Nunes explicitly includes people persecuted on the mendations, arguing for extensive rights of de Almeida representing Mr Vitorino. The grounds of their sexual orientation or gender movement for same-sex couples, was pub- following proposals were discussed: identity. Mr Nunes de Almeida assured us lished in October 2001. All the position that the Commission’s draft definition does papers mentioned above are, of course, ◗ Proposal for a Council Directive on the include sexual orientation, and may also available at our web-site. right to family reunification: this applies include gender identity. This is an excellent mainly to third country nationals (i. e. non- start, although a Europe wide campaign will In the context of these proposals, ILGA- EU nationals) residing in a member state be necessary to ensure that the Commission’s Europe is also lobbying the European Par- lawfully for at least one year. The Commis- definition is retained, and that the Directive liament which is preparing reports and res- sion’s original proposal (COM(1999) 638) itself is approved by the member states. olutions on each of the proposals either was for these people to be joined in the under the consultation or the co-decision European Union by their “spouse, or an We also handed over our position paper on procedure. We participated in the European unmarried partner living in a durable rela- the proposal for a Council Directive on min- Parliament hearing The situation of Funda- tionship with the applicant, if the legislation imum standards on procedures in Member mental Rights in the European Union and of the member state concerned treats the sit- States for granting and withdrawing refugee the establishment of the European area of uation of unmarried couples as correspon- status (COM(2000) 578). freedom, security and justice which was organised by the Committee on Citizens’ Work programme 2000/2001 Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs in Brussels on 21 March, and dis- Asylum and immigration tributed a 15-page written contribution. ◗ Work to ensure the inclusion cies developed by the Euro- 1612/68 (free movement of ILGA-Europe representatives also attended of persecution on grounds of pean Union recognise fully persons). the European Commission Stagiaire Com- sexual orientation in any the residence rights of mittee’s conference Towards an EU Asylum ◗ definition of refugee status same-sex couples and their Work for implementation of Policy? held in Brussels on 21 February. adopted by the European children. the proposal for a Council Union. directive on the right to * Following consultation with the European Parliament, ◗ Work for implementation of family reunification for third the Economic and Social Committee and the Commit- ◗ Work to ensure that any the Commission’s proposed country nationals. tee of the Regions, the Commission amended the origi- common immigration poli- amendment to Regulation nal proposal on 10 October 2000; the document num- ber of the current proposal is COM(2000) 624. 6 activity europe report ilga 4. EU enlargement

Enlargement of the European Union pres- saság a Melegekért in Budapest, Lambda The hearing was preceded by a press con- ents important opportunities for combat- Warszawa in , ACCEPT in ference in the Parliament on 27 June at ing sexual orientation discrimination in the Bucharest, and SˇKUC-LL in , and which board members Tatjana Greif and accession countries. Candidates for mem- co-ordinated by ILGA-Europe. Both proj- Nigel Warner presented the findings of the bership of the European Union are ects were financed by the Open Society research. required: Institute (OSI) in Budapest. There is strong evidence that these ◗ To implement existing EU (which The findings of these projects have been efforts by MEPs, ILGA-Europe, and its include protection from sexual orienta- communicated to the relevant Directorates member organisations, are succeeding in tion discrimination in the field of of the European Commission, to the Presi- putting LGBT rights onto the accession employment under the terms of the dency, to the European Parliament rappor- negotiations agenda. In the hearing Ms framework Directive, see item A.1 above) teurs on the individual accession countries, Petra Erler stressed that there was “no flexi- and to the chair-persons of the specific EU- bility in negotiations regarding equal ◗ To respect the principles of “liberty, [Accession Country] Joint Parliamentary opportunities and minorities”.She com- democracy, respect for human rights and Committees. They also made a significant mented that Romania had been called on fundamental freedoms, and the rule of contribution to a one-day hearing in the “time and again” by the Commission to law”. European Parliament on 28 June, entitled repeal its discriminatory laws, and that EU Enlargement: A Gay Perspective, organ- Cyprus “still had work to do”.Other ILGA-Europe has sought to make the most ised by the EP Intergroup on Gay and Les- countries with discriminatory laws were of these opportunities by providing evi- bian Rights, led by MEPs Joke Swiebel, “being scrutinised”.In a subsequent letter dence of the extent to which laws and prac- Michael Cashman and Patsy Sörensen. to ILGA-Europe, Günter Verheugen, the tices in the accession countries fail to meet ILGA-Europe board members Tatjana Greif Enlargement Commissioner, confirmed these criteria to the relevant EU institu- and Adrian Coman took part in the hearing that the “principle of elimination of dis- tions, namely the European Parliament, as panelists. Important figures from the EU criminations due to sexual orientation” was European Commission and the Presidency. institutions contributed to the hearing, among “the principles that new Member In so doing, ILGA-Europe has two main including the EU Commissioner on Equali- States will be expected to accept upon objectives: ty, Ms Anna Diamantopoulou, who explic- accession”,and gave his assurance that itly thanked ILGA-Europe for all the infor- “full attention will be brought to the issues (i) The repeal of discriminatory criminal mation collected, Ms Petra Erler, a member raised in the report you sent me”.We also laws in those countries where these still of the cabinet of the Enlargement Commis- issued a media release welcoming Ver- remain, namely Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hun- sioner, and the European Parliament rap- heugen’s statement on 26 July (see also gary, Romania. Two other countries, porteurs for and Romania, Euro-Letter # 91, September 2001). All this Estonia and Lithuania, have recently Demetrio Volcic () and Baroness is a big advance – prior to this year, the repealed such laws, giving clear evidence Emma Nicholson (UK). The afternoon ses- Commission had made no commitments of of the influence of the accession sion involved a “roundtable” discussion principle concerning sexual orientation dis- process; with LGBT representatives from all acces- crimination in the enlargement process, sion countries, including Cyprus and and had only addressed it briefly in the (ii) Demonstrating the extent to which Malta, commenting on the situation in annual reports of two countries, Romania other forms of discrimination remain their countries. and Cyprus. endemic in the accession countries, with a view to intensifying public debate, and Work programme 2000/2001 persuading national governments to implement anti-discrimination meas- EU enlargement tries: if insufficient ures. progress, seek to apply ◗ Finalise preparation of ◗ Publicise continuing viola- pressure through friendly The evidence presented by ILGA-Europe report on situation of LGBT tions of EU human rights national parliaments and and its member organisations is the fruit of people in candidate coun- standards, inter alia, by European Parliament. two projects: the first resulted in the publi- tries. Highlight where dis- seeking to persuade the cation in March 2001 of a report entitled crimination conflicts with European Parliament to ◗ Lobby Commission to carry “Equality for Lesbians and Gay Men: A Rel- principles established under refer to them in its Annual out report into homophobia evant Issue in the EU Accession Process”. EU law and the European Human Rights Resolution, by in candidate states, with a This surveys the situation of the LGBT Convention on Human persuading the Council to view to making statement community in each of the accession coun- Rights. include them in its Annual that combating homophobia tries. Human Rights Report, and by forms part of the human ◗ Provide report to govern- making a submission at the rights condition for acces- The second involved researching and ments, and to Commission Annual EU Human Rights Dis- sion (cf. 1999 Commission reporting on the extent of discrimination officials responsible for cussion Forum. report on “Countering in four accession countries, Hungary, accession. racism, xenophobia and Poland, Romania and Slovenia. The ◗ Monitor developments in anti-Semitism in the candi- detailed research was carried out by ILGA individual accession coun- date countries”). member organisations Háttér Baráti Tár- 7 europe activity ilga report

The European Parliament’s annual debate The day before the Parliament had been the Baltic states, Bulgaria, , Malta on the accession negotiations took place on addressed by Commissioner Günter Ver- and the Czech Republic. A meeting with 5 September 2001. The resolutions tabled heugen, who again emphasised the Com- activists from these countries took place in the preceding week in respect of Bulgaria, mission’s opposition to sexual orientation Brussels on 27 June to discuss the details. Hungary and Romania had all called for discrimination: “I want to make it crystal the elimination of “provisions in the penal clear that the Commission will continue to All the documents mentioned here are code that discriminate against homosexual press in the enlargement negotiations for available at our web-site. men and lesbian women”.But that for full observance of human rights and the Cyprus ignored the subject, despite the fact rights of minorities. This includes a ban on We have also actively participated in the that equivalent wording had been proposed any discrimination based on age, gender, working group on enlargement of the Plat- during the drafting of the resolution. The sexual orientation or religious conviction.” form of European Social NGOs (see item ELDR group and the group of Green par- A.8 below). The group was set up in Febru- ties tabled amendments to include such The next landmark in this process will be ary 2001 and commissioned, as one of its wording in the Cyprus resolution. We sup- the publication of the Commission’s annual first activities, a qualitative study to assess ported these by a fax campaign directed to reports on the accession countries in Octo- the role, strength and nature of the civil dia- approximately 125 MEPs just before the ber. It will be particularly interesting to see logue, in the accession countries, between final debate and vote of the resolutions. whether the Commission makes a point of social NGOs and public bodies, between the The amendments were opposed by the the discriminatory laws in the reports on NGOs themselves and with organisations at European People’s Party, but carried by 292 Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and Hungary, EU level. We provided contact details of our to 242. With its support for the resolutions and whether it addresses the need for gov- members in these countries and encouraged in respect of the other three countries, this ernments to combat sexual orientation dis- them to participate in the questionnaire meant that the European Parliament had crimination in other areas. survey. urged the abolition of discriminatory laws in all four countries. We issued a media ILGA-Europe and its member organisations The working group is planning an enlarge- release on the very same day once more are continuing to research and publicise evi- ment seminar in Brussels on 26 November emphasising the consistent position of the dence of sexual orientation discrimination 2001, which will involve NGO activists from Commission (see also Euro-Letter # 91, in the accession countries. A further project both within the EU and the accession coun- September 2001). is being launched which will hopefully pro- tries. The enlargement study will be pub- vide detailed evidence of discrimination in lished on this occasion.

5. Human rights in member states

On 5 July 2001, the European Parliament in the basis of such provisions. As in previous European Union Human Rights Forum Strasbourg debated and adopted its annual resolutions of the Parliament, Austria was organised by the Commission and the report and resolution on the respect of fun- especially mentioned. The EP also calls French EU Presidency in Paris on 13 damental rights in the European Union upon member states to prohibit sexual ori- December. Unlike the 1999 report prepared (A5-0223/2001), drafted by French conser- entation discrimination under criminal or under the Finnish Presidency, the 2000 vative MEP Thierry Cornillet. As in previ- civil law, and to not give their consent to report did not specifically address the situa- ous years, we contacted the rapporteur, the accession of any country that has dis- tion of LGBT people. In the debate we criti- providing extensive information and criminatory laws against homosexuals, such cised this. We also brought up this issue in requesting the situation of LGBT people be as Romania. Finally, the Parliament recom- the talks with representatives of the French addressed. mends that member states recognise non- Presidency (14 December 2000 – Isabelle marital relationships between persons of and Kurt), the Swedish one (22 March 2001 In sub-chapters “Discrimination on the the same sex and assign them equal rights. – Jackie Lewis and Kurt) and in particular basis of sexual orientation” and “Non-mari- Mr Cornillet acknowledged ILGA-Europe’s the Belgian one (8 June – again Jackie and tal relationships”,the Parliament adopted contribution in his report. Kurt) as the 2001 report for the 3rd Forum six recommendations to the member states, to take place in November 2001 will be pre- including to repeal anti-homosexual legis- ILGA-Europe was also represented by pared under the Belgian Presidency. In all lation and to release all prisoners jailed on Isabelle Cruette and Kurt Krickler at the 2nd these talks we also stressed the fact that there still are human rights problems in Work programme 2000/2001 some member states with regard to sexual orientation discrimination. This would cre- ate a huge credibility problem for the Human rights in member states Union when insisting on the respect of ◗ Publicise continuing viola- refer to them in its Annual making a submission at the human rights in the accession countries. tions of EU human rights Human Rights Resolution, by Annual EU Human Rights Dis- standards, inter alia, by persuading the Council to cussion Forum. seeking to persuade the include them in its Annual European Parliament to Human Rights Report, and by 8 activity europe report ilga

Patsy Sörensen (MEP/Greens, Belgium), Joke Swiebel (MEP/PSE, Netherlands), Hein Verkerk (Inter- LGBT representatives from all accession coun- group), Nigel Warner and Tajana Greif (both ILGA-Europe) at the press conference on 27 June 2001 tries participated in the EP hearing on 28 June.

6. The EU and third country human rights

On 5 July, the European Parliament also Work programme 2000/2001 adopted its annual report and resolution on the Union’s human rights policy towards The EU and third country human rights third countries (A5-0193/2001), drafted by Finnish Green MEP Matti Wuori. In para- Explore practicality of a pro- rights violations in third agreements with third coun- graph 116, under the section on “recom- gramme of work designed to countries to Commission for tries. mendations on other issues requiring promote LGBT rights in coun- use in bilateral negotiations. urgent international action”,the Parlia- tries outside the EU (“third ◗ Working on implementing EU ment, stressing “that homosexuals are still countries”) by: ◗ Working for inclusion of spe- human rights and democra- victims of discrimination, prejudice and cific reference to Article 13 tisation strategies in third denial of their basic human rights in coun- discrimination in human countries in regard to the tries all over the world, including some ◗ Researching and providing rights clauses of bilateral rights of LGBT people. Member States and candidate countries information on LGBT human trade and co-operation such as Romania”,“calls upon the eighty countries in the world which still prohibit homosexuality in their domestic law to Thus, on 5 April the European Parliament also issued a media release on 2 July (see change this legislation without delay” and adopted an urgency resolution (B5-0264, Euro-Letter # 90, July 2001). “urges those States which impose the death 0274, 0282, and 0300/2001) strongly con- penalty on homosexuals to stop doing so demning the outburst of homophobia In May police in Cairo arrested 55 gay men immediately”. within the ruling party of Namibia. in a disco. 52 of these men were charged in a state security court with “obscene behav- ILGA-Europe again had provided the rap- On 30 June the Belgrade gay pride march iour” and “expressing contempt for reli- porteur with extensive information about was brutally attacked by large crowds of gion”.They had been held in prison since the situation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and nationalist extremists and football hooli- arrest, and there were serious grounds for transgendered people world wide. gans, and a number of participants were believing that they had been subjected to injured. Despite advanced warning the torture and degrading treatment. In July, On 6 July, we issued a media release on police failed to provide adequate protec- we wrote to both Chris Patten, and to the both EP resolutions expressing satisfaction tion, and were slow in responding to the Belgian Presidency of the European Coun- that the rapporteurs have included some of situation. These events followed immedi- cil, drawing attention to the EU’s commit- our information and that also some of our ately on the 29 June Brussels Donor Con- ment to linking its Mediterranean Area specific proposals had been taken up by ference, at which the European Union development programmes to progress in various political groupings as a result of pledged some € 530 million of aid to human rights. our lobbying both before the reports had Yugoslavia conditional upon compliance been debated in the committee and in ple- with generally respected standards of ILGA-Europe has also taken up closer con- nary (see also Euro-Letter # 90, July 2001). human and minority rights. ILGA-Europe tacts with the Brussels offices of amnesty immediately wrote to the EU Commission- international and Human Rights Watch and We also brought specific human rights vio- er for External Relations, Chris Patten, some MEPs in order to co-operate in the lations to the attention of the institutions of drawing his attention to the failure of the field of fighting human rights violations in the European Union and requested that such Yugoslav authorities to respect the condi- third countries. cases be taken up in an appropriate way: tions of the Brussels Donor Conference. We 9 europe activity ilga report 7. Other EU programmes

The Nice European Council in December access to services provided by the voluntary ILGA-Europe particularly emphasises that 2000 also endorsed the European Social sector: Promoting best practice. SOLIDAR is anti-discriminatory employment practices Agenda 2001-2005 which had been adopted an independent alliance of social welfare, are essential to achieving anti-discrimi- by the Social Affairs Ministers Council on life-long learning, development and nation in access to services and to provid- 27-28 November after negotiating conflict- humanitarian aid NGOs, the project is con- ing quality services that meet people’s ing proposals presented by the European cerned with assessing the anti-discrimina- needs. Commission and the French Presidency. tion practice of four of its members: Arbei- The full text of the Agenda is annexed terwohlfahrt-Bundesverband (Germany), SOLIDAR will facilitate a guide of best (Annex I) to the Conclusions of the Presi- Volkshilfe Österreich (Austria), Lega Provin- practice as a result of the four seminars, dency of the European Council. ciale Cooperative Bolzano (Italy), and the which will be published in several lan- Ligue française de l’enseignement et de l’édu- guages. ILGA-Europe’s representatives in This new social policy agenda refers again cation permanente (France). Together with this project are Jackie Lewis and Nico J. to Article 13 and formulates, under the ENAR, the European Network Against Beger. Jackie attended the first project semi- heading “III. Fighting Poverty and All Racism, Eurolink Age, and UNISON, the nar organised by Legacoop-Bund in Bolzano Forms of Exclusion and Discrimination in public sector union from Great Britain, on 7 May, Nico the following ones organ- order to Promote Social Integration”,the ILGA-Europe provides expert knowledge ised by Volkshilfe in on 25 June and following aim: on the discrimination grounds covered in by Arbeiterwohlfahrt in on 12 Sep- Article 13 EC. The project receives Euro- tember respectively. f) Ensure effective implementation of Com- pean Commission funding under the call munity legislation on combating all types of for proposals VP/2000/013, “preparatory discrimination on grounds of gender, race or measures aimed at combating and prevent- ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, disability, ing discrimination in accordance with Arti- Networking age or sexual orientation. Develop exchanges cle 13 of the Treaty”. of experience and of good practice to ILGA-Europe was also represented in two strengthen these policies. A first steering group meeting in Brussels transnational conferences organised by var- in January 2001 developed the concrete ious associations as part of activities funded proceedings of this project. Each of the as preparatory measures aimed at combat- SOLIDAR members prepares a seminar for ing and preventing discrimination in accor- Projects its employees at which the experts will offer dance with Article 13 of the Treaty, such as workshops and advice for the organisa- in Bad Honnef in November 2000, in Duis- In December 2000, the project Stepping tions’ aims in anti-discrimination. It was burg in September 2001, and in Vienna in Stones and Roadblocks, in which ILGA- decided that the focus would rest on assess- October 2001 (for details see calendar on p. Europe was a project partner (cf. Board ing examples of the publications and flyers 19). report 1999/2000, item D3, and ILGA- through which they present themselves, Europe Newsletter # 1, p. 7), was successfully their policy documents and looking at their In November 2000, we attended the presen- completed. An 8-page report of each of the employment practices. Since the time tation in the European Parliament of the three seminars and a final project report frames are short, these areas were chosen to project Combating Violence against Les- have been produced in English, French and make the input concrete and provide a bians, funded by the Commission under its German. The final report includes a good starting point into a very crucial area DAPHNE programme. detailed list of proposals and recommenda- of work and services. ILGA-Europe will tions that have been formulated as a result focus on sexual orientation discrimination In December 2000, we disseminated infor- of the project. and on transgender issues with the aim to mation about the European Commission’s break certainties about what “normal” peo- ACCESS programme, encouraging organi- In 2000, ILGA-Europe has joined a new ple are and whether certain information sations in candidate countries in Central project. It is participating as expert in the and questions (e. g. on application forms) and to submit funding SOLIDAR-led project Non-discriminatory are accessible or necessary. applications under this programme.

Work programme 2000/2001 In February 2001, ILGA-Europe dissemi- nated information about the call for pro- Other EU programmes posals under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), ◗ Seek to ensure that new crimination, and methods co-operation’ for combating see also Euro-Letter # 86. European Social Agenda pro- used to combat discrimina- discrimination in the crimi- gramme maximises the tion, in such fields as nal law, and follow up with On 9-10 March Nigel Warner participated opportunities for working for employment, education, and action, if appropriate. in the inaugural conference of the Centre LGBT rights. healthcare. for Research and Comparative Legal Stud- ◗ Inform member organisa- ies on Sexual Orientation and Gender Iden- ◗ Participate in EU sponsored ◗ Explore the possibilities tions of relevant Calls for tity (CERSGOSIG) in Turin where the EU- projects on the exchange of offered by the new powers Proposals. funded project of a new web archive on the best practice, extent of dis- covering ‘police and judicial legal situation of LGBT people in the EU 10 member states was launched. He gave a activity europe report ilga

presentation of ILGA-Europe’s work states about the Commission’s approval of is to experiment in new ways to fight towards the EU and the Council of Europe. national plans and funds allocated to the against discriminations and inequalities in individual member states under the new the field of employment. In April ILGA-Europe disseminated infor- EQUAL Community initiative programme mation to organisations in the member (CIP) for the period 2000-2006, whose aim

8. Civil and social dialogues

ILGA-Europe continued to be an active member of the Platform of European Social Work programme 2000/2001 NGOs. It became a founding member when Civil and social dialogues the Platform decided to establish itself as crimination on all grounds an association and held its founding assem- 1. Promote LGBT rights in the Platform of European Social through the social dialogue bly in Stockholm on 21 March. ILGA- civil dialogue by participat- NGOs. mechanism, e. g. through a Europe also participated on a regular basis ing in consultations on code of practice on imple- in the meetings of the Platform’s Steering development of social poli- 2. Encourage employers and menting the employment Group and of its working groups on “social cy, especially through the unions to promote non-dis- discrimination directives. policy/anti-discrimination” and “EU enlargement” as well as in other meetings and conferences organised by the Platform The civil dialogue with other NGOs and the International Federation of Human (for details see calendar on p. 19). Our networks was also pursued in the context of Rights, and Human Rights Watch. The involvement in the Platform has continued the projects mentioned under item A.7. group focuses on specific topics and pro- to be of great importance for our lobbying vides a good opportunity for networking work at EU level. Via the Platform, ILGA- In June ILGA-Europe participated for the with other human rights NGOs. Europe is also co-operating with ETUC, the first time in the EU NGO Human Rights European Trade Unions Confederation (see Contact Group, an informal discussion item A.2 above). forum organised by amnesty international,

9. Mainstreaming of LGBT issues

The mainstreaming aspect of our activities Work programme 2000/2001 is best illustrated by the activities described above. They concern basically the Commis- Mainstreaming of LGBT issues sion directorates-general dealing with ing equality for LGBT people Employment and Social Affairs, Enlarge- ◗ Monitor developments at the sion to ensure that system- in all Community policies, at ment, Justice and Home Affairs, Staff and Commission and engage in atic consideration is given the point of planning, imple- Administration, Information Society, For- dialogue with the Commis- by the Commission to ensur- menting and evaluation. eign Relations, Education and Culture.

As an example of such mainstreaming we of children and child pornography proposals but has not been provided for in can mention the note prepared by ILGA- (COM(2000) 854). In this note, ILGA- this proposal. Europe (and handed over to the cabinet of Europe requests the insertion of a general The demand to mainstream LGBT issues, Commissioner Vitorino in the above-men- non-discrimination clause, based on Article however, is also part of our lobbying activi- tioned meeting on 16 July) with regard to 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental ties towards other EU institutions, such as the proposal for a Council framework deci- Rights, into the proposal. Such a clause has the European Parliament and the EU Presi- sion on combating the sexual exploitation become a standard in new Commission dency.

Other EU activities

Other activities at EU level not specifically Europe both criticised the problematic opin- June respectively (Euro-Letter # 89, June; mentioned in the Work Programme 2000/01 ion delivered by the Advocate-General on 22 both also available at our web-site). include the close monitoring of the decision February and the negative judgement of the of the European Court of Justice in the case Court handed down on 31 May. ILGA- ILGA-Europe also participated in various D. (i. e. Sven Englund) and Sweden v. Coun- Europe issued media releases on 27 Febru- other conferences and meetings organised at cil of Ministers. In this context, ILGA- ary (see also Euro-Letter # 87, March) and 7 EU level (for details see calendar on p. 19). 11 europe activity ilga report

B. COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The past year has seen a much reduced criminatory sexual offences and age of con- and, above all, aggressive or contemptuous level of activity at the Council of Europe sent laws, and the introduction of regis- attitudes.” compared with the previous year. This tered partnership, across Europe. It also reflects both the more limited opportuni- repeats the Assembly’s call for sexual orien- While the Recommendation constitutes a ties in 2001 for promoting LGBT rights at tation to be added to the grounds for dis- most important declaration of European the Council and the limited resources that crimination prohibited by the European opinion, in procedural terms it is actually a could be dedicated to this area of work, Convention on Human Rights. Recommendation to the Committee of given the need to direct intensive efforts Ministers of the Council of Europe to take towards the significant opportunities pre- Put forward by Hungarian Socialist Mem- action. ILGA-Europe therefore submitted a sented by the European Union and to ber of Parliament Csaba Tabajdi, it was the report to the Committee of Ministers sup- establish the office in Brussels. most important statement of support for porting the recommendations. This was lesbian, gay and bisexual rights by the entitled “The Equal Dignity and Intrinsic Recommendation on the situation of les- Assembly since a historic declaration in Equality of Human Beings” (available at our bians and gays in Council of Europe mem- 1981. It included a forthright preamble web-site), and provided the Committee ber states (Recommendation 1474 (2000)) which attacked homophobia by certain with detailed evidence of discrimination politicians and religious leaders: against lesbian, gay and bisexual people At the time of writing last year’s Board across Europe. A number of ILGA-Europe Report, this Recommendation had been “Nowadays, homosexuals are still all too member organisations lobbied their govern- debated by the Assembly in June 2000, and a often subjected to discrimination or vio- ment in support of the recommendations. vote was imminent at the September session, lence at school or in the street. They are where it was supported by an overwhelming perceived as a threat to the rest of society, On 19 September 2001, the Committee of majority – some 77 %. We welcomed this as though there were a danger of homosex- Ministers adopted, at the 765th meeting of success in a media release on 26 September uality spreading once it became recognised. the Ministers’ Deputies, a formal reply to (see Euro-Letter # 83, October 2000). … This form of homophobia is sometimes the Assembly’s recommendations. This propagated by certain politicians and reli- reply is a historic move of the Committee The Recommendation calls for anti-dis- gious leaders, who use it to justify the con- since it “stresses the importance of covering crimination legislation, the repeal of dis- tinued existence of discriminatory laws all forms of discrimination within the framework of the Council of Europe’s Work programme 2000/2001 activities and underlines in this respect the relevance of the new Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights Council of Europe (general prohibition of discrimination). the abolition of the discrimi- ◗ Follow the development of Clearly a broad range of legal instruments 1. The European Convention on natory laws made a pre-con- policy and activities by and activities have the potential to con- Human Rights dition of membership. Intergovernmental Commit- tribute to progress in combating discrimi- Promote the most effective tees in all areas relevant to nation against lesbians and gays.” use of the European Conven- ◗ Work with the rapporteurs of LGBT people and seek to tion in support of LGBT rights the Monitoring Committee to ensure that they take The Committee of Ministers also “agrees inter alia by: ensure that Armenia com- account of LGBT rights. with the Parliamentary Assembly that, plies with its obligation to regrettably, discrimination and violence ◗ Encouraging and supporting repeal its law that crimi- against homosexuals still occur. Differenti- 4. Transgender issues individuals and organisations nalises same-sex acts ated treatment of homosexuals under the to take suitable test cases. between men and releases ◗ Consider what action can be law and in practice still exists in member any people still imprisoned taken by ILGA-Europe at the states as do contemptuous or intolerant ◗ Establishing an international under this law. Council of Europe on trans- attitudes towards them.” network of experts on the gender issues. Convention and LGBT issues With regard to the proposal concerning the 3. The Committee of Ministers to give advice to lawyers Council of Europe Commissioner for 5. General issues and individuals taking cases, ◗ Organise campaign by mem- Human Rights, the Commissioner, when and to help with the above ber organisations to per- ◗ Review the powers and role consulted, considered that the problem of tasks. suade the Committee of Min- of the new Council of Europe discrimination on grounds of sexual orien- isters to take action on the “Commissioner on Human tation was already fully covered by his man- Recommendations of the Rights”, and explore scope date and sufficiently important to be an 2. The Parliamentary Assembly Parliamentary Assembly on for promoting LGBT rights integral part of the work of his office as a ◗ Work with the rapporteurs of the Asylum/Migration and through this position. whole rather than being reserved for a spe- the relevant Assembly Com- Discrimination issues cific appointment. mittees to ensure they are (assuming the latter are ◗ Review the European Social fully briefed on the position voted through in the Sep- Charter, and explore scope The European Commission against racism of LGBT people in Bosnia- tember session of the for promoting LGBT rights and intolerance (ECRI), a body of the Coun- Herzegovina; seek to have Assembly). through this document. cil of Europe, was also requested to give its 12 opinion on the specific recommendations of activity europe report ilga the Assembly concerning ECRI. It replied Applicants for membership of Fretté v. France that ECRI would welcome a wide debate the Council of Europe within the Council of Europe as to how the This case challenges the refusal of the Organisation as a whole might best address Applicants for membership of the Council French authorities to allow a gay man to be the various areas of discrimination. of Europe are required to demonstrate to considered as a prospective adopter. On 27 the satisfaction of the Parliamentary June 2001 the Court declared the case Situation of gays and lesbians and their Assembly that their observance of human admissible. The hearing is to take place on partners in respect of asylum and immigra- rights is at least consistent with the mini- 2 October 2001. Mr Fretté will be repre- tion in the member states of the Council of mum standards set by the Council of sented by Dr Robert Wintemute, of the Law Europe – Recommendation 1470 (2000) Europe, or are required to give binding School, King’s College, London. Dr Winte- undertakings that they will meet these stan- mute, and ILGA-Europe, had earlier pro- As noted in last year’s report, this Recom- dards within a short period of accession. vided support and advice to Mr Fretté. mendation was supported by the Parlia- mentary Assembly in June 2000. ILGA- Armenia gained membership of the Coun- Karner v. Austria Europe’s submission to the Committee of cil of Europe in 2001, having given under- Ministers, “The Equal Dignity and Intrinsic takings that it would repeal its ban on This case involves the eviction from his flat Equality of Human Beings”,referred to same-sex relations between men. So far this of a gay man, following the death of his above, also provided detailed evidence in has not happened. We will follow develop- partner, in whose name the lease of the flat support of this Recommendation. In March ments closely and make representations to was held. The Austrian Supreme Court had 2001 the Committee of Ministers replied to the Council of Europe if Armenia does not held that the legislation which preserved a the Assembly that it had referred various of comply with its undertakings shortly. right to tenancy to unmarried partners in the issues raised to its specialist commit- the event of the death of one of the part- tees, and had brought the Assembly’s Rec- Bosnia-Herzegovina is in the process of ners should be interpreted as only applying ommendation to the attention of the mem- gaining membership of the Council of to heterosexual couples. A decision on the ber Governments (a step which has no par- Europe. We are pleased to note that, in its admissibility of this case is expected soon. ticular significance, since it is taken in new criminal code, introduced with effect If admissible, ILGA-Europe will try to pro- respect of all Parliamentary Assembly Rec- from October 2000, its ban on same-sex vide support to this case. ommendations, whether or not supported relationships was repealed, and no distinc- by the Committee of Ministers). In theory tion is made between heterosexual and there is still the possibility that the Com- homosexual conduct. Moreover, sexual ori- Celebration of the 50th anniversary mittee of Ministers will take up the key entation discrimination is even prohibited of the Convention issues raised by the Assembly (recognition now in the Republika Srpska. for asylum purposes, and recognition of ILGA-Europe was represented at the cere- same-sex couples for immigration purpos- mony to commemorate the 50th anniver- es) in a Recommendation to the Member Cases at the European Court of sary of the European Convention on States. However, in practice, this is unlikely Human Rights Human Rights in , 4 November 2000 to happen: on contentious issues such as by Robert Wintemute (for a full report see this unanimity, or near-unanimity would Several cases of great importance for lesbian, Euro-Letter # 85, January 2001). be required for such a Recommendation. gay and bisexual rights in Europe are now But only a few of the 43 Member States yet pending before the Court. ILGA-Europe is have positive positions on these issues. providing support to the following:

C. ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)

On 23 October 2000, Kurt Krickler partici- Human Dimension meeting on “Promoting discussion addressing the issue of sexual pated in the OSCE Implementation Meet- Tolerance and Non-discrimination” in orientation discrimination. ing on Human Dimension Issues in Warsaw Vienna and intervened in the workshop and addressed the conference on agenda item “tolerance and non-discrimination”. Work programme 2000/2001 His oral statement was also published in Euro-Letter # 84 (November 2000) and is Organization for Security and ◗ Prepare submissions for and available on our web-site. participate in the OSCE Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) review conferences. ILGA-Europe also distributed a dossier on ◗ Prepare submissions for and Human Rights (ODIHR), espe- human rights violations in Austria. participate in relevant meet- cially in the implementation ◗ Establish contacts with the ings of the Office for Demo- meetings of the Human Parliamentary Assembly of On 19 June 2001 he represented ILGA- cratic Institutions and Dimension. the OSCE. Europe in the OSCE Supplementary 13 europe activity ilga report

D. PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF LGBT HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS IN CENTRAL, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN EUROPE

Most of the activities associated with this In December 2000, ILGA-Europe dissemi- We has also secured funding for the item were carried out in the context of EU nated information about the ACCESS pro- Rotterdam Annual Conference’s scholar- enlargement (see above under A.4). At this gramme of the European Commission, ship programme both from the Dutch point, we only would like to highlight again encouraging organisations in candidate funding organisation HIVOS and the Ger- our report “Equality for Lesbians and Gay countries to submit funding applications man Heinrich Böll Foundation to cover Men: A Relevant Issue in the Accession under this programme (see also Euro-Letter travel and/or other costs of participants Process”. # 85, January 2001). from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.

Work programme 2000/2001 Board members Tatjana Greif (Slovenia) and Adrian Coman (Romania) have been Programme of activities in support of networking with groups and activists, in LGBT human rights organisations in particular in the countries of former Central, Eastern and Southern Europe Yugoslavia and in Moldova and Bulgaria. Tatjana participated in a meeting of lesbian ◗ Encourage co-operation and international pressure in Annual Conference. activists from the countries of ex- mutual support between respect of particular human Yugoslavia in Rovinj, Croatia, in September. member organisations within rights violations. ◗ Encourage the member At the meeting the document “Equal Citi- Central and Eastern Europe organisations within Central zenship” was adopted, setting the strategy and between organisations ◗ Consider developing propos- and Eastern Europe to: for mutual co-operation of lesbian NGOs in this area, and in Western als for joint projects in the – stimulate gender parity in the states and regions of former Europe. LGBT field under the Phare/ and to provide equal rep- Yugoslavia, networking and lobbying for Tacis/Access programmes. resentation of lesbian political and social change. The next meet- ◗ Find means of providing sup- women within mixed ing is going to take place in July 2002 in port and technical advice to ◗ Find ways to increase num- organisations; Ljubljana, Slovenia. Some of the participat- those wishing to establish ber of member organisations – provide equal representa- ing lesbian NGOs already applied for mem- LGBT human rights organisa- in Central, Eastern and tion of lesbian women at bership in ILGA. tions in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and to all decision-making Southern Europe, in such facilitate their participation processes within mixed The Lithuanian Gay League, Lietuvos ge˙ju¸ areas as lobbying skills, in the work of ILGA-Europe, organisations; lyga, translated ILGA-Europe’s 1999 guide funding, organisational including subsidising their – ensure safe environment After Amsterdam: Sexual Orientation and development, combating dis- participation in ILGA-Europe for lesbian women within the European Union into Lithuanian and crimination and mobilising events, particularly the mixed organisations. presented this publication at a seminar in Vilnius in September 2001.

E. ACTIONS TO COUNTER HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST LGBT AND HIV+ PEOPLE IN EUROPE

In February 2001, ILGA-Europe signed up South African government which, on 5 forty of the world’s largest pharmaceutical to an international appeal in support of the March 2001, was taken to court by over companies. They wanted to fight a law that was passed by the South African Parliament Work programme 2000/2001 and allows life-saving medicines to be imported from countries where they are Actions to counter human rights abuses cheaper. The companies claimed that the against LGBT and HIV+ people in Europe law infringes intellectual property rights. The powerful international campaign ◗ Monitor human rights abuses ◗ Mobilise international sup- such as Amnesty Inter- turned out to be successful as the compa- based on sexual orientation, port for the victims by organ- national, Human Rights nies withdrew their action and agreed to a gender identity and HIV sta- ising support campaigns by Watch, and the International settlement with the SA government out of tus in Europe. ILGA-Europe’s members, and Gay and Lesbian Human court. by other international NGOs Rights Commission. 14 On Serbia, see item A.6 on page 9. activity europe report ilga

F. HIV/AIDS PREVENTION

On 8 November 2000, Kurt Krickler met requested to support the application to letters to the responsible Commission serv- with Thierry Martin in Brussels, who is continue the two projects jointly. We wrote ices to that effect in January 2001. working for the Belgian AIDS service organisation Ex Aequo which was a partner Work programme 2000/2001 in the EU-funded European GAP (Gay AIDS Prevention) Network. Several ILGA HIV/AIDS prevention Service Organisations members, such as Arci Gay, Italy, COGAM, (EUROCASO) and the Global Spain, or RFSL, Sweden, were part of this ◗ Co-operate closely with the Network, including when Network of People Living Network. After the completion of the proj- European Gay AIDS Preven- seeking funding from the EU with HIV/AIDS (GNP+). ect, the partners were seeking to continue tion (GAP) Network and sup- and other institutions. the project and to receive further funding port the establishing of its ◗ Invite ILGA-Europe members from the Commission. At the same time programme, and to encour- ◗ Co-operate with other inter- who are involved in AIDS they planned to merge with another AIDS age ILGA-Europe members national NGOs working in prevention networks to be project, CERIS, that had received funding to co-operate in AIDS pre- AIDS prevention, e. g., the visible as ILGA-Europe mem- from the European Commission and also vention projects with this European Council of AIDS bers. completed its work. ILGA-Europe was

G. TRANSGENDER ISSUES

We have started to create a workgroup that Women’s Lobby (EWL) in particular to tion paper for ILGA-Europe, which we will deal with transgender issues in the ensure that gender identity is explicitly intend to work with in the following year. coming year. As trans membership in ILGA mentioned in the draft. ILGA-Europe is to We will attempt to establish funding is not high, the first task was to liaise with commission a contract with Dr Stephen sources for 2002-2003 for the development transgender activists and groups in Europe, Wittle, an academic in law in Britain, to of trans policies and first concrete Europe- and we are pleased to note that trans mem- draft a legal overview and a political posi- wide actions. bership has increased. We hope to have the workgroup established during the coming Work programme 2000/2001 year. We also decided to “earmark” a certain proportion of the scholarship funds for our Transgender issues annual conference to transgender activists abolishment of these laws on to ensure higher representation in Rotter- ◗ Lobby towards the inclusion All laws (rights and duties) European and national lev- dam. Not all, but most of the position of gender identity in all accorded to men and women els. papers submitted by ILGA-Europe to the European anti-discrimination should be applicable to EU (see item A above) included transgen- articles and insist, wherever transgender people in their ◗ Ensure that the revised poli- der rights and pointed to the specific issues possible, that discrimination new gender identity (mar- cy statement properly involved. on grounds of gender identi- riage, adoption, parenthood, reflects the mentioned ty and gender appearance is etc.) The national states issues. The EU is currently dealing with two gen- covered by the existing pro- should provide public health der directives – a revision of the 1976 direc- visions on gender discrimi- care for transgender people ◗ Work towards increased tive on equal treatment of women and men nation. that aids them in the transi- transgender membership in in employment and a new gender directive tion process. ILGA and transgender partic- modelled on the race directive based on ◗ Work, together with its ipation in conferences Article 13 EC Treaty. The first one is already member organisations, ◗ Express the belief that the (where possible scholarships with the Council of Ministers, whereas the towards ensuring that requirement to proof irre- could be granted). second one is currently being drafted by the national states provide the versible infertility before Commission. legal possibilities for trans- being allowed to complete ◗ Consult with transgender gender people to transition, legal transitioning into a new organisations and individuals We will get involved in the lobby process including re-issuing pass- gender is against human where appropriate in carry- and work within the Platform of European ports and birth certificates. rights and work towards the ing out these tasks. Social NGOs and with the European

15 europe activity ilga report

H. DEVELOPMENT OF ILGA-EUROPE

ILGA-Europe’s current contract period the Commission will cover only the five- all member states. Information on these with the European Commission lasts from month period 1 December 2001 to 30 April and many other issues has been provided to 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2001. 2002. We have prepared and submitted this many people, media and organisations. The Commission intends to start all core application to the Commission in May funding contracts, under the Community 2001. In May 2001 we published a leaflet intro- action programme to combat discrimina- ducing ILGA-Europe in five languages: tion, with the various European organisa- ILGA-Europe has up-dated its country-by- English, French, German, Italian, and tions active in fighting discrimination on country inventory of discriminatory laws Spanish. Electronic versions on the web- the various grounds listed in Article 13 EC and practices as established in its 1998 site exist also in Dutch and Romanian. on 1 May 2002 simultaneously. For this rea- report Equality for Lesbians and Gay Men – Translations in other languages are being son, ILGA-Europe’s follow-up application A Relevant Issue in the Civil and Social Dia- prepared. to the current core funding contract with logue by monitoring the developments in The work on the make over and develop- Work programme 2000/2001 ment of the ILGA-Europe web-site was ini- tiated. All existing files and documents have been revisited, sorted over and regrouped Development of ILGA-Europe ◗ Develop ILGA-Europe into new sub-sections. The development of newsletter to publicise ILGA- a new design has been commissioned. The 1. Core funding practices; monitor develop- Europe activities and pro- work is expected to be finished by Novem- ◗ Develop proposal for core ments and keep up-to-date; vide means of networking ber, before the end of the current contract funding under the EU anti- provide information as and sharing information period with the Commission. discrimination Action Pro- appropriate. between members. gramme 2001-2006, includ- The year has seen the first two issues of the ing co-finance for the ele- ◗ Develop database of e-mail ILGA-Europe Newsletter, in May and August 3. Visibility and ment of funding requirement addresses for all members. 2001. It is a 20-page newsletter with a cir- communications not covered by the EU. culation of 2,500 copies. It is sent to around ◗ Produce a leaflet introduc- 1,000 addresses by mail and distributed on 4. Future development ing ILGA-Europe, and includ- occasions such as meetings and confer- 2. Documentation and ing details of how to join. ◗ Produce a report for discus- ences. research sion in the lead up to and at ◗ Develop and maintain a ◗ Re-develop ILGA-Europe next year’s Conference on In the context of setting up the database for country-by-country invento- web-site to make more the future development of the recipients and subscribers of the ry of discriminatory laws and accessible and user friendly. ILGA-Europe. newsletter, the address data of all members were also processed and up-dated.

I. OTHER ACTIVITIES

Pink Triangle Coalition Another settlement of relevance for the PTC moting education and awareness raising, is the Holocaust Victim Assets Litigation including public monuments, advancing ILGA-Europe is a member of the Pink Tri- providing for compensation for the Swiss efforts to prevent anti-homosexual persecu- angle Coalition, an “international coalition banks’ unjust enrichment from the assets tion throughout the world today. for co-ordinating affairs relating to the Nazi the Nazis looted from the victims or derived persecution of homosexuals”.One mandate from slave labour. The settlement is being In June 2001, the PTC learned that its of the PTC is to ensure representation of administered by a US court in New York. application needed to be amended with the homosexual victims of the Nazis vis-à- additional documentation. Morris Ratner, a vis the various new international funds that As reported in last year’s board report, the specialised attorney consulted by the PTC, have been created in recent years. One of PTC had submitted a proposal for a so- also believed that the “special master”, them is the International Nazi Persecutee called cy pres allocation, drafted by Nigel appointed by the court in New York to Relief Fund fed with monies from the left- Warner, in February 2000. Since only very make recommendations about dispersing over of the gold the Nazis had looted from few gay and lesbian survivors are still alive, the money, would look more favourably the countries they occupied. the PTC was asking, on behalf of this vic- upon a proposal where the funds would go tim group, for one per cent of the sum and to an existing organisation. The PTC, there- In May 2001, the PTC received its so far proposed to set up a foundation which fore, decided to find an existing foundation largest allocation: US $ 528,000 from the then would distribute the money to sup- that would co-operate in this matter and to US share of this fund. This amount is being port specific activities, such as providing redraft its proposal accordingly, and to ask distributed to one international and two material assistance to gay and lesbian sur- the special master for a meeting. The New 16 projects in Germany (cf. Euro-Letter # 89). vivors, supporting scholarly research, pro- York-based Astraea Lesbian Action Founda- activity europe report ilga

tion agreed to “host” the fund if the PTC betz in his office in New York to present the ILGA-Europe’s new representative in the was successful with its proposal. new proposal and substantiate the reasons PTC. Peter has until recently been director for it in a personal conversation. of the European Human Rights Founda- On 9 August 2001 seven PTC representa- tion. With the new developments it is an tives, including Kurt Krickler for ILGA- Due to the workload of Nigel and Kurt, the additional advantage to have a top expert Europe, met with special master Judah Gri- board decided to appoint Peter Ashman as on foundations in this coalition.

J. BOARD MEMBERSHIP, MEETINGS AND BOARD OFFICERS

The Executive Board elected by the 2000 Bucharest conference was composed of Nico J. Beger (Lesbenbereich Bündnis 90/Die Grü- nen, Germany), Adrian Relu Coman (ACCEPT, Romania), Isabelle Cruette (David et Jonathan, France), Alessio de Giorgi (Arcigay Pride!, Italy), Tatjana Greif (SˇKUC-LL, Slovenia), Kurt Krickler (Homo- sexuelle Initiative (HOSI) Wien, Austria), Jackie Lewis (National Lesbian and Gay Committee of UNISON, the public sector trade union in the United Kingdom) and Part of the board: Tatjana Greif (SLO), Nico Beger (D), Jackie Lewis (GB), Kurt Krickler (A), Isabelle Cru- Nigel Warner (Stonewall Immigration Group, ette (F), Pierre Noël (B); “missing” members: Adrian Coman (RO), Alessio de Giorgi (I), Nigel Warner (GB) United Kingdom). Kurt,Jackie, Pierre (part of 26) and Nigel. Conference). Kürs¸ad Kahramanog˘lu and As reserve members were elected: Alina Nis- Apologies: Nico, Alessio; Anna-Leah Sarabia ran unopposed and tor (ACCEPT, Romania), Anke Hintjens were elected as Secretaries-General. Follow- (Federatie werkgroepen homoseksualiteit, ◗ on 16 July 2001 in Brussels. Board mem- ing the regional elections, three new mem- FWH, Belgium) and Juris Lavrikovs (HIC, bers present: Nico, Adrian, Kurt, Pierre, bers came into the Board: Rosanna Flamer Latvia). Jackie and Nigel (half the meeting). Apolo- Caldera (Sri Lanka) in replacement of gies: Isabelle, Alessio and Tatjana; Anna-Leah Sarabia as Asian representative, The Board held six meetings during its peri- Tom Mubiru (Uganda) for the vacant posi- od of office: ◗ on 22 and 23 September in Brussels. Board tion of male African representative and Tess members present: Nico, Adrian, Kurt, Jack- Lomax (New Zealand) in replacement of ◗ on 8 October 2000, immediately following ie, Pierre and Nigel. Apologies: Isabelle, Jennifer Wilson (who did not run). Tess the end of the Bucharest conference. Board Alessio and Tatjana. Lomax is the first transgender person members present: Nico Beger, Adrian known as such on the World Board. Coman, Tatjana Greif, Kurt Krickler and The Board will also meet on 23 October Nigel Warner. Reserve members Alina Nis- 2001 immediately before the start of the 23rd The next World Conference of ILGA will be tor and Juris Lavrikovs and ex-officio ILGA European Conference in Rotterdam. held in Manila in 2003 under the auspices member Pierre Noël also attended. Were of CLIC. In Oakland, an amendment to the excused: Isabelle Cruette, Alessio de Gior- Constitution, aiming at having a World gi,Jackie Lewis and 2nd reserve member Relations with ILGA-World Conference only every two years, was pre- Anke Hintjens. sented by ACCEPT and UNISON; it was Jackie Lewis, European representative on defeated despite strong support from Euro- ◗ on 9 and 10 December 2000 in Brussels. the Executive Board of ILGA, attended the pean and African groups. Board members present: Nico, Adrian, World Conference of ILGA in Oakland, Isabelle, Alessio, Tatjana, Kurt, Jackie and USA, during the last week of August. The Around 130 delegates attended the Confer- Nigel. Apologies were received from Pierre. second European representative, Pierre ence. The Conference was part of a Global Jackie and Kurt were elected co-chairs, Noël, apologised for not being able to par- Gay Summit, some parts of which were well Nigel was elected treasurer; ticipate. ILGA-Europe was also represented attended (as the elders conference, for at the Conference by Adrian Coman. example). It should be noted that a greater ◗ on 24 and 25 February 2001 in Brussels. number than ever of transgender people Board members present: Nico, Adrian, At the Oakland Conference regular elections and groups took part in the event. Isabelle, Kurt, Jackie and Nigel. Apologies: were held for the positions of Secretaries- Alessio, Tatjana and Pierre. General, and some regions elected their One main result of the World Conference representatives on the Executive Board (as a in terms of strategy planning for ILGA was ◗ on 25 and 26 May 2001 in Brussels. Board reminder: ILGA-Europe elects its represen- the endorsement of a plan presented by the members present: Adrian, Isabelle, Tatjana, tatives on the World Board at its Annual Executive Board. 17 europe activity ilga report

K. FINANCIAL REPORT 2000

In the fiscal year 2000 ILGA-Europe was Accounts for the Eastern Europe project involved in three partly externally funded projects: Income: OSI 11.177,61 ◗ “Stepping Stones and Roadblocks” in col- ILGA-Europe 540,16 Contribution from ILGA-Europe laboration with UNITED Against Racism In kind donations 3.776,46 Authors etc. have donated part of their work and Mobility International – EU funded TOTAL 15.494,23 ◗ “Eastern Europe-project” – funded by the Expenses: Open Society Institute (OSI), publication Co-ordination 1.124,85 Partly in kind of the report Equality for Lesbians and Accounting 224,97 In kind Gay Men – A Relevant Issue in the EU Authors 4.146,35 Partly in kind Accession Process Legal consultant 1.080,32 Partly in kind ◗ Core funding from the EU Commission Printing 3.781,13 (beginning 1 December 2000). Mailing 3.240,97 Administration 1.574,79 Overhead to ILGA-Europe UNITED Against Racism dealt with the TOTAL 15.173,38 finances of the project “Stepping Stones Result € 320,85 Reserved for the conclusion of the project 2001 and Road Blocks”,and as the project was not concluded in 2000, there had not been any economical consequences for ILGA- ◗ ILGA-Europe’s contribution: expenditure ILGA-Europe, and only a small amount of Europe. The project closed in 2001 and of € 540,16 it (€ 1.335,29) was spent in 2000, mostly for ILGA-Europe’s income and expenditure are participation in the December board meet- ◗ ILGA-Europe’s overhead: income of included in the 2001 accounts. ing. € 1.574,79 The Eastern Europe project was not fin- ◗ The result of € 320,85 as a liability of Expenditures related to the EU core fund- ished at the end of 2000, but in 2001. The ILGA-Europe to be used for finalising the ing must be accounted separately. account of this project (see box on the project in 2001. right) is part of ILGA-Europe’s accounts for The rest of the EU money (€ 63.550,99) 2000 (below) where the following three rel- The core funding from the EU Commission can be found in the ILGA-Europe accounts evant figures appear: only started on 1 December 2000. 30 % of as a liability, as it will be used in 2001 for the grant (€ 64.886,28) was paid out to the EU project.

ILGA-Europe’s accounts for 2000 (in €)

Income: Assets: Adm. EE-project 1.574,79 15 % See box above Bank 77.572,72 Donations 8.206,62 81 % SUM 77.572,72 Fees 315,06 3 % Voluntary membership fee Liabilities: Interest 53,28 1 % EU-project 63.550,99 See above TOTAL 10.149,76 100 % EE-project 320,85 See above 63.871,84 Expenditure: Mailing 1.412,19 17 % Capital: 13.700,89 i.e. ILGA-Europe’s Bank fees & own capital rate diff 357,73 4 % EE-project 540,16 6 % See box above SUM € 77.572,72 Travel 4.310,61 51 % Meetings 1.212,11 14 % See expenditure in Outside these projects ILGA-Europe has had an income of € 10.150 EU project above Misc. 337,31 4 % of which 81 % were donations mainly from individuals. Telephone 335,84 4 % € TOTAL 8.505,95 100 % 8.506 have been spent, 65 % of this for travels and meetings.

Result € 1.643,80 18 activity europe report ilga

L. CALENDAR OF MEETINGS & TRAVELS 2000/2001

October 2000 January 2001 May August 8: ILGA-Europe Board meet- 29: SOLIDAR project steering 4: Platform working group “EU 6: Round-table on civil society ing, Bucharest group meeting, Brussels enlargement” meeting, Brussels and LGBT NGOs at the Pepsi 23: OSCE Implementation Sziget Festival, Budapest 7: SOLIDAR project seminar, Meeting on Human Dimen- 9-10: Meeting of the Pink Tri- February Bolzano sion Issues, Warsaw angle Coalition, New York 7: Meeting of the Platform 24: Reception of the Platform of 15: Meeting of the Platform 28-31: ILGA World Conference, working group “social poli- European Social NGOs in working group “EU Enlarge- Oakland cy/anti-discrimination”, the European Parliament, ment”, Brussels Brussels Strasbourg 21: European Commission Sta- 10: Anti-discrimination meeting September 30: ECAS Forum Giving legal giaire Conference Towards an of the European Network assistance to citizens across EU Asylum Policy?, Brussels 1: ILGA World Conference, Against Racism (ENAR), borders, Paris 22-23: Conference Social and Oakland Brussels Labour Market Policies: 3-9:Working meeting of lesbian 26-27: ILGA-Europe Board Investing in Quality, Brussels activists from the countries November meeting, Brussels 24-25: ILGA-Europe Board of former Yugoslavia, Rovinj 4: Commemorative Ceremony meeting, Brussels 12: SOLIDAR project seminar, for the 50th anniversary of 27: Biannual meeting between June Bonn the European Convention on the European Commission 8: Meeting with representatives 14: European Women’s Lobby Human Rights, Rome and the Platform of Euro- of the Belgian EU Presiden- seminar on Strengthening 7: Biannual meeting between pean Social NGOs, Brussels cy, Brussels Women’s Rights in the Acces- the European Commission sion Process, Brussels and the Platform of Euro- 19: OSCE Supplementary 17: Meeting of the Platform pean Social NGOs, Brussels March Human Dimension meeting “Promoting Tolerance and working group “social poli- 7: Evaluation meeting for the 9: Biannual Meeting between Non-discrimination”, Vienna cy/anti-discrimination”, Stepping Stones and Road- the European Trade Union Brussels blocks projects, Brussels Confederation (ETUC) and 24: Europride Colloquium Les- bians and Gay Men and the 22-23: ILGA-Europe Board 8: Meeting with MEP Michael the Platform of European European Union, Vienna meeting, Brussels Cashman (PSE/UK), Brussels Social NGOs, Brussels 25: EU NGO Human Rights 9-10: Conference of the Centre 25: SOLIDAR seminar, Vienna 9: Presentation of the project Contact Group meeting, for Research and Comparative 26: EU NGO Human Rights Combating Violence against Brussels Lesbians in the European Legal Studies on Sexual Ori- Contact Group meeting, 28: Anti-discrimination meeting Parliament, Brussels entation and Gender Identity Brussels of the European Network (CERSGOSIG), Turin 27: Press conference in the Euro- 24-26: European conference Against Racism (ENAR), 13: Anti-discrimination meeting pean Parliament, Brussels Intercultural Exchange – Pio- Brussels neering Actions against Vari- of the European Network 27: Official opening of the 28: Platform Steering Group ous Forms of Discrimination, Against Racism (ENAR), ILGA-Europe office, Brussels Brussels meeting, Brussels Bad Honnef 28: European Parliament Hear- 29-30: European conference 21: European Parliament hearing ing EU Enlargement – A Gay Development of quality stan- The situation of Fundamental Perspective, Brussels December Rights in the European Union dards in the recording, han- and the establishment of the 29: Meeting of the Platform dling and mediation of dis- 1: Platform Steering Group informal working group on crimination within networks, meeting, Brussels European area of freedom, security and justice, Brussels equal opportunities, Brussels Duisburg 6-7:Meeting of Civil Society for a Europe of Democracy and Sol- 21: Founding General Assembly idarity, Nice of the Platform of European July October Social NGOs, Stockholm 9-10: ILGA-Europe Board 5: Meeting of the Platform 10: International symposium meeting, Brussels 22: Platform/NGO conference working group “EU Enlarge- Forward Europe, Stockholm Labour Market and Discrimi- 11-12: Interviews with candi- ment”, Brussels nation, Vienna 22: Meeting with a representa- dates for staff positions, 6: Platform Steering Group 11: SOLIDAR project steering Brussels tive of the Swedish EU Presi- meeting, Brussels dency, Stockholm group meeting, Paris 13: 2nd European Union Human 14-15: 1st ILGA-Europe EU 26: European Commission 12: SOLIDAR project seminar, Rights Forum, Paris national co-ordination net- Paris information meeting on the work meeting, Brussels 14: Meeting with representatives implementation of the anti- 18-19: European Commission of the French EU Presidency, discrimination action pro- 16: ILGA-Europe Board meet- conference on the Commu- Paris gramme, Brussels ing, Brussels nity action programme to 19: Meeting of the Platform 16: Meeting with a representa- combat discrimination, working group “social poli- tive of Commissioner Brussels cy/anti-discrimination”, April António Vitorino, Brussels 23: ILGA-Europe Board meet- Brussels 27: Platform Steering Group 21-28 Université d’été euro- ing, Rotterdam meeting, Brussels méditerranéenne des homo- sexualités, Marseilles 19 Publications

In the year 2001 ILGA-Europe produced a series of publications:

◗ A 100-page report on the situation of LGBT people in the 13 EU candidate countries: Equality for Les- bians and Gay Men: A Relevant Issue in the EU Accession Process

◗ the first two issues of its new quarterly newsletter

◗ a leaflet presenting ILGA-Europe in five languages: English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

All these publications are available in electronic format at our web-site: www.ilga-europe.org or in printed format from our office: ILGA-Europe Avenue de Tervueren/Tervurenlaan 94/1 B-1040 Brussels phone +32 2 732 54 88 fax +32 2 732 51 64 [email protected]