On 23 September The Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission will host a high-level conference on Advancing LGBTI equality in the EU: from 2020 and Beyond, with speakers from Member States, the European Parliament, the European Commission and international NGOs. The debates and discussions of the conference will inform future policies aiming at advancing LGBTI equality in the EU.

The conference takes place at a time when the erosion of the human rights of LGBTI people along with the rise of anti-LGBT hate rhetoric in some EU countries is putting European democracy at risk and eroding core founding principles of the EU such as equality, freedom and human dignity. Over the last year, the Polish LGBTI community has been pulled into the middle of political confrontations that are stoking hatred, inciting violence and negatively impacting lives. In the run-up to the European elections and now Parliamentary elections in October, political actors from Poland’s leading Law and Justice (PiS) party - including government ministers - are carrying out a demonisation campaign against the LGBTI community whilst closely siding with conservative religious leaders.

The developments in Poland do not stand alone. In Europe and around the world, there has been a sharp rise in hate and divisiveness, often targeting marginalised groups such as LGBTI people, while in some countries regressive legislation is being introduced. Read more via ILGA-Europe

High level Conference on Advancing LGBTI equality in the EU: from 2020 and beyond

Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics has no place in our society, but for many people in Europe, it is a daily reality. To combat the discrimination against LGBTI people the Commission presented the "List of Actions to advance LGBTI equality" in December 2015. The Council adopted the first ever conclusions on LGBTI equality in June 2016 endorsing the list of actions.

This year the list of actions is coming to its end and it is time to take stock of the achievements and discuss how to advance LGBTI equality in the years to come. To this end the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission will host on 23 September a high-level conference on:

Advancing LGBTI equality in the EU: from 2020 and beyond

with speakers from Member States, the European Parliament, the European Commission and international NGOs.

The debates and discussions of the conference will inform future policies aiming at advancing LGBTI equality in the EU.

See more via European Commission