Credit: European Commission

Tuesday 17 May marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) 2022, placed this year under the slogan "Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights".

Celebrated since 2005, this day aims at promoting awareness and prevention actions to fight against violence and discrimination targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

In this context, Luxembourg, represented by the Ministry for Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, virtually participated in the IDAHOT+ Forum 2022 which took place in Limassol, Cyprus on Thursday 12 May 2022.

During the forum, several European and international reports were presented, including:

  • The second edition of the "LGBTIQ Inclusive Education Report and Index" published by IGLYO, the largest network of LGBTIQ youth and students in the world. This is the most comprehensive research to date on the inclusion of LGBTIQ young people in school education. Luxembourg scored 75% and was among the six countries in Europe that implement most of the measures recommended by IGLYO (alongside Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden);
  • The latest version of the "Trans Rights Map" launched by TGEU, an umbrella organisation of 183 member organisations promoting the rights of trans people. This map illustrates the legal situation in 49 European countries and five Central Asian countries with regard to trans-specific legislation. It analyses the situation regarding legal recognition of gender as well as the existing protections for trans people in the areas of asylum, hate crime and hate speech, non-discrimination, health and family. Luxembourg met 24 of the 30 criteria;
  • The thirteenth edition of the "Rainbow Map" published by ILGA Europe, an umbrella organisation of more than 600 organisations defending the rights of LGBTI people in Europe and Central Asia. This tool assesses the laws and policies on LGBTI equality in 49 European countries. Countries are ranked on a scale from 0% (gross human rights violations, discrimination) to 100% (respect for human rights, full equality). Luxembourg scored 68.30% and ranked fifth this year.

In 2018, Luxembourg adopted its first national action plan for the promotion of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, which is in line with the country's tradition of longstanding non-discrimination and diversity policies. This year, an interim review will be carried out by the University of Luxembourg in order to measure the implementation of the actions foreseen in the national action plan, as well as the need to adapt the objectives and priorities in view of the societal evolution and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

As coordinator of policies promoting the rights of LGBTI persons, Luxembourg's Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, emphasised that continuous efforts are needed at all levels to further advance the rights of LGBTI persons. Referring to the IDAHOBIT 2022 theme "Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights", Minister Cahen pointed out that the rights of LGBTI persons are universal rights.

Moreover, on the occasion of IDAHOBIT 2022, the Head of Representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg, Anne Calteux, Luxembourg's Goodwill Ambassador for Human Rights, Anne Goedert, and the Ambassadors of the Member States of the European Union (EU), together with the British, US and Japanese Ambassadors to Luxembourg, reaffirmed their firm commitment to respecting, protecting and promoting the full and equal enjoyment of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

The EU has made gradual progress towards equality for LGBTIQ people in recent years, but discrimination against LGBTIQ people persists, with 43% feeling discriminated against. The vision of the EU is that every LGBTIQ person should be safe, have equal opportunities and participate fully in society.

According to the Head of Representation, the Goodwill Ambassador for Human Rights and the various ambassadors, IDAHOBIT takes on special meaning this year with Russia's invasion of Ukraine putting LGBTIQ people at increased risk of discrimination and violence.