Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

04/07/2026

17/06/2026

🌈The Cities / Cités interculturelles Programme and orientation and Gender Identity Unit are welcoming 20 participants from 14 countries for a 3-day study visit on advancing LGBTIQ inclusion in the workplace.

👥 Participants include public authorities at national level, Municipalities in Europe and beyond, LGBTIQ civil society organisations and local businesses.

💡 What we’re focusing on:
Two interactive workshops lead by the city of Leeds, Open for Business and Znaki Równości (Federation of Equality Signs), members of the European Pride Business Network (EPBN), exploring how cities and partners can:

• Strengthening LGBTIQ inclusion in the workplace;
• Building effective public-private partnerships;
• Promoting staff training and institutional change;
• Enhancing social cohesion and local economic development through inclusion.

📌 The programme also includes additional plenary sessions and workshops throughout the week.



Anti-discrimination and Inclusion at the Council of Europe

➡️ Learn more: https://go.coe.int/7FB2g

21/05/2026

✅ The 5th meeting of the Committee of Experts on SOGIESC (ADI-SOGIESC) has concluded in Copenhagen, after the European IDAHOT+ Forum.

🏳️‍🌈 Over two days, the committee approved a draft Council of Europe Strategy for Equal Rights for LGBTI People (2027–2032), a Report on combating on grounds of SOGIESC in Europe, advanced work on a study on and a report on housing and combating social exclusion, and exchanged practices to support implementation of the Recommendation on equal rights for inters*x persons.

19/05/2026

🌍 Council of Europe member States have agreed on a roadmap 🗺️ to strengthen the protection 🛡️, dignity 🤝 and equal rights ⚖️ of inters*x persons through the recently adopted the Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5 to member States on equal rights for inters*x persons.

🏛️ The Council of Europe stands ready to support follow-up 🔄, dissemination 📢 and implementation 🛠️ across Europe 🇪🇺.

📖 Learn more on the Recommendation: https://go.coe.int/jWZuF

🌈

19/05/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Progress on LGBTI equality is not automatic and cannot rely on isolated reforms alone. It is built through political commitment 🤝, coordinated action 🎯 and sustained investment 💡 in inclusive societies.

🇪🇺 Across Europe, the strongest progress is seen where equality is embedded across public policy, from education 📚 and healthcare 🏥 to employment 💼, housing 🏘️, digital governance 💻 and protection against hate speech and violence.

🌍 Turning rights into reality requires long-term cooperation 🤝, practical action ⚙️ and resilient institutions 🏛️ capable of protecting dignity, participation and inclusion for everyone.

🌈

19/05/2026

A new toolkit to support safer, more inclusive and more democratic education systems across Europe is coming!

Today at , together with IGLYO, we presented it relevant stakeholders to identify concrete implementation pathways.

➡️ Learn more: https://go.coe.int/UtxNZ

19/05/2026

⚖️ Across Europe, progress and regression on LGBTI rights increasingly co-exist. While many member States continue to strengthen protections and advance equality 🏳️‍🌈, implementation gaps, polarisation and anti-rights mobilisation 🚫 continue to challenge progress.

📱 Disinformation, hate speech and coordinated online narratives not only affect the lives and safety of LGBTI people, but also weaken trust 🤝, participation 🗳️ and democratic resilience 🏛️ more broadly.

🇪🇺 The Council of Europe continues to work with member States to ensure that equality, dignity and human rights are effectively realised in practice.

🌈
➡️ Learn more: https://go.coe.int/MquCf

18/05/2026

🔴🟡🟠🟢🔵🟣
🏳️‍🌈Tomorrow, Copenhagen will host the 2026 European IDAHOT+ Forum under the theme: “Pushing for Progress: Addressing Challenges and Shaping the Future of LGBTI Equality in Europe”.

🤝Co-organised by the Council of Europe, Denmark and the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Forum will bring together governments, international organisations and civil society to discuss the current state of LGBTI equality in Europe and the challenges facing democratic societies today.

📍Since 2013, the annual European IDAHOT+ Forum has become a key platform for dialogue, cooperation and action to advance LGBTI equality across Europe.

🗣️Discussions will focus on the current state of LGBTI rights in Europe, the challenges facing equality and democratic resilience, and practical ways to sustain progress through stronger policy frameworks, institutional coordination and inclusive governance.

💡The programme will also explore issues shaping the everyday realities of LGBTI persons, including the digital environment, education, labour market inclusion, rural and remote areas, violence in family contexts, and the rights of inters*x persons.

📍 Copenhagen, Denmark
📅 19 May 2026
🔴🟡🟠🟢🔵🟣
➡️Learn more about the :

The 2026 European IDAHOT+ Forum, under the theme “Pushing for Progress: Addressing Challenges and Shaping the Future of LGBTI Equality in Europe,” will take place on 19 May 2026 in Copenhagen....

17/05/2026

🏳️‍🌈Across Europe, many LGBTI people still face hostility and barriers to participating fully and safely in society. Democracy cannot thrive when individuals are excluded, silenced or made unsafe. Protecting equality and human dignity therefore also means protecting democracy itself. 🏛️⚖️

🌍🤝On the International Day against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia, and Inters*xphobia the Council of Europe reaffirms that human rights belong to everyone, everywhere, without exception, and that inclusive societies are stronger, fairer and more resilient democratic societies.

📘✊From legal standards to practical action with member States, the work to advance equality and combat discrimination must continue.

🇪🇺💬The Council of Europe is co-organising the 2026 European IDAHOT+ Forum together with 🇩🇰 Denmark and the Nordic Council of Ministers, bringing together governments, international organisations and civil society to advance dialogue and cooperation on LGBTI equality across Europe.

➡️ Learn more about the here: https://go.coe.int/MquCf