Lithuanian Parliament Rejects Civil Partnership Bill

On October 14th, 2015 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania rejected a bill on registered partnership that had been drafted by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania and proposed to introduce the institution of registered partnership for different-sex couples. 27 members of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania voted in

LGBTI activist voices – is anyone in Europe listening?

Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe Check your calendars. Infringements of fundamental rights, like freedom of expression, association, and assembly inside the European Union’s borders in 2015 – surely there is some mistake? No, unfortunately, that is not a misprint. LGBTI activists and human rights NGOs are being increasingly impeded in their daily work and

MEPs condemn homophobic hate speech Lithuanian MP

Last Sunday, Member of the Lithuanian Parliament Algirdas Vaclovas Patackas warned that the head of the Lithuanian Gay League’s (LGL) engaged in “provocation” that might result in “dead bodies”, similar to recent attacks in Paris. The MP made the remarks after LGL’s head, Vladimir Simonko, suggested that the organisation should consider buying the now obsolete

On December 2, 2014 the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that authorities, when verifying the sexual orientation of an asylum seeker, should always comply with the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights. The case ended on the Court’s plate after Dutch authorities refused to grant asylum to three third-country nationals, who sought

European Parliament organizes conference against discrimination

The conference “Fundamental rights, non-discrimination and the protection of vulnerable groups, including LGBTI’’ is being organised by Members of the Pre-Accession Countries’ Parliaments and the European Parliament in cooperation with the Italian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission and will be held in Albanian capital Tirana on 20-21 November. The

Today, the European Parliament by majority gave its consent to the Juncker I Commission. Over the last weeks, the Parliament has conducted hearings with the candidate Commissioners, in which their stance on LGBTI rights was a recurring topic. Future Commission Vice-President in charge of the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Frans Timmermans (the Netherlands)