Fundamental rights conference: "Things are improving" | WPN World People News

Tirana in Albania is hosting a conference on fundamental rights, non-discrimination and the protection of vulnerable groups, including LGBTI on 21 November, organised by the Parliament, the European Commission and the Italian Presidency. EP vice-president Ulrike Lunacek, who wrote a report on homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, will be one of the speakers. We talked to the Austrian member of the Greens/EFA group about the conference's importance.

What do you expect from this conference?

Human rights are at the heart of the European project and at this conference we will discuss what is needed to guarantee these rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. Key parliamentarians and government officials from the EU, member states and accession countries, as well as NGOs from the region, come together to discuss how to achieve a situation in which LGBTI people can be themselves, without having to face discrimination, hate speech or even violence.

Legaly protected gay rights are gaining ground in the member states. Do you believe that mentalities in European society are also improving?

I think it is worth making a comparison here with the countries that joined the European Union in 2004. For example Poland, although still strongly conservative, has elected a gay and a transgender parliamentarian. In Latvia the foreign affairs minister recently found the courage to come out for his homosexuality. These people are challenging the traditional norms but also reflect changing mentalities throughout Europe.

What is the situation in the pre-accession countries?

Until a couple of years ago, it would have been unthinkable to organise such a conference, with high ranking officials from nearly all countries on the Western Balkans. This already shows that progress has been made.

Things are improving, particularly concerning legal protection. Except for Turkey and FYR Macedonia, all countries have outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, in line with European legislation. Many countries in the region have also adopted specific provisions concerning hate crime against LGBT people.

Nevertheless, all countries in the region still suffer from widespread homo- and transphobia, in society and sometimes also among politicians and government officials. This is why conferences like these are important: they help us identify a common problem and actions that have been effective in similar contexts.

Source: European Parliament