17M: The European Union regrets the «worrying setback» of the rights of LGBTI people and violence against them
Since 2005, the 17M is celebrated International Day against LGTBIphobia commemorating the removal of homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses by the World Health Organization, a fact that occurred in 1990, just 32 years ago. This 2022 the chosen motto is «Our bodies, our lives, our rights«.
On the occasion of this celebration, thousands of initiatives are scheduled in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal. His goal is "draw attention to the violence and discrimination suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender and sex identities or expressions«.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, said on behalf of the EU in a statement that, although in the last ten years «we have seen signs of progress" around the world, "Discrimination and exclusion based on sexual orientation and gender identity persist, and we are witnessing a worrying setback in the rights of LGBTI people.” The European Union regrets the "worrying setback» of the rights of people LGBTI and violence against them.
Discrimination and LGBTIphobic violence persist
The levels of violence against LGBTI people «are also alarming, although largely unreported“, he added. «On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the European Union reaffirms its firm commitment to respect, protect and fulfill the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex“, is noted in the statement.
In addition, the EU recalled that more than 2.000 billion people live in countries where homosexuality is illegal and that the death penalty remains a legal sentence for consensual same-sex relationships in eleven jurisdictions. «Armed conflicts and humanitarian emergencies put LGBTI people at particular risk», and the war in Ukraine is no exception, which «has put the spotlight on LGBTI people trying to flee", has declared.
The EU reaffirmed its support for LGBTI people and pledged to continue defending their human rights, combating discrimination, violence and hate speech based on sexual orientation and gender identity. «We will continue our efforts to promote legal, political and financial measures against discrimination in close cooperation with civil society", they stated in the statement.
