European Parliamentary committee adopts roadmap against homophobia and transphobia
A European Parliamentary committee this morning adopted a recommendation for an EU roadmap against homophobia and transphobia.
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the recommendation for a roadmap to tackle homophobia and discrimination based on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Today’s report builds on ten previous requests by the European Parliament over three years to roll out an equality strategy for LGBT people.
Similar strategies already exist for Roma integration, gender equality and discrimination.
The report today, which is non-binding, calls on the commission to make proposals for the areas of employment, education, health and access to goods and services.
In May, eleven EU member states expressed support for such a roadmap.
Roberta Metsola MEP, Spokeswoman for the EPP group on the report and Member of the LGBT Intergroup, commented: “The problems LGBTI people face in Europe are serious: discrimination, violence and harassment are persistent phenomena, that must be addressed.
“The vote this morning sent a strong message and showed a broad consensus across the political spectrum to tackle these issues.”
Ulrike Lunacek MEP (Greens/EFA), author of the report and Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “This report should encourage the Commission to—at last!—present a coherent approach to protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people across policy areas it’s responsible for.
“I am very pleased the Committee adopted this report with such a large cross-group majority. The report adopts a balanced approach, and I will be working with all political groups to ensure any doubts are addressed before the text goes to plenary.”
The report is expected to be voted in plenary in the first months of 2014.
