The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) and the international consultancy company COWI are responsible for conducting the study which result will be a comprehensive, comparative report on the current situation regarding homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the 27 EU Member States. The study is commissioned by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.
DIHR and COWI are planning to work on the member state level as well as on a European level in order to gain a thorough sociological understanding of the national situation of homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation in a format that allows for comparative analyses.
Hence the study will largely depend on the data collected in each member state.
Research will include information from national researchers, relevant national ministries, public authorities and national equality bodies, as well as national and regional NGOs working on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues.
The study is conducted from December 2007 – September 2008 and will result in a report with recommendations which will be submitted on 15 September 2008 to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. In order to ensure a systematic collection of data the project is divided into five phases.
Phase 1: Literature Review
The study is initiated with a review of literature on issues regarding LGBT. The purpose of the review is to identify areas of concern, incorporate and asses the work already done and identify important areas to be addressed. The review will be the core document on which the templates and questionnaires will be developed for the subsequent data collection.
Time period: December 2007 – February 2008
Phase 2: Data collection
In order to have specific and reliable data on a national level, the data will be collected from different sources: Independent national researchers, Ministries and other relevant public authorities, National Equality Bodies and NGO´s.
An independent researcher/expert (preferably with expertise in the field of LGBT) in each of the Member States will be asked to prepare a report on the current situation of homophobia and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in different sectors of society e.g. labor market, current policies to promote LGBT rights and identify barriers for equal treatment and identify good practice e.g. training of police.
The relevant Ministries and National Equality Bodies in each Member State will be asked to complete electronic questionnaires. The purpose of this exercise is to collect data on the situation of homophobia and discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation from the point of view and work done by these particular stakeholders.
To follow up on the country reports and the information received through the questionnaires, our project team will visit all 27 Member States to interview LGBT NGO´s, experts, National Equality Bodies and Ministries. The primary purpose of these meetings will be to follow up on the questionnaires, identify issues of concern and identify good practice.
Time period: March 2008 – April 2008
Phase 3: Analysis I
During this phase, our project team, will start the initial analyses of the collected data and prepare a synopsis on the situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation in each Member State.
Time period: May 2008 – June 2008
Phase 4: Consultative regional roundtables with NGO’s
Based on the combined information collected in the synopsis prepared by the project, NGO’s working with LGBT issues will be consulted and given the opportunity to provide their perspective and insights to the data collected. Furthermore, the purpose of the regional meetings will be to develop recommendations on how to combat homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation. There will be held two such meetings – both in Copenhagen and all expenses will be covered by the organisers.
Time period: June 2008
Phase 5: Analysis II and report
The last phase is committed to finishing the analysis of the collected data and to writing the report to be submitted to FRA. The report will have a theme-based approach to analyzing and describing the situation regarding homophobia and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the European Union.
