New guidelines designed to oppose human rights violations against LGBTI people globally

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation)--The European Union’s 27 foreign affairs ministers have instructed their diplomats around the world to defend the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, a move described as “ground-breaking” by campaigners.

The binding LGBTI Guidelines are centred on four priorities, the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights said:

. Eliminate discriminatory laws and policies, including the death penalty

. Promote equality and non-discrimination at work, in healthcare and in education

. Combat state or individual violence against LGBTI persons

. Support and protect human rights defenders

“The EU is gravely concerned that sexual orientation and gender identity continue to be used to justify serious human rights violations around the world,” the guidelines said, noting that around 80 states still criminalise consenting same-sex adult relations, including a number of states that may impose the death penalty.

“It is absolutely ground-breaking that the 27 foreign affairs ministers agreed to this..., “ Ulrike Lunacek, a member of the European Parliament and co-president of its LGBT Intergroup, said in a statement on Monday, when the new document was adopted.

“And I’m very happy the document pays particular attention to trans and intersex people, as well as lesbian and bisexual women at risk of gender-based violence,” she said.

The Council of the European Union, the body that represents the 27 national governments in the EU, had already adopted a non-binding toolkit to promote LGBT people’s human rights in June 2010.

European Parliament member Michael Cashman, also a co-president of the LGBT Intergroup, said that the European Parliament would monitor the implementation of the guidelines from this autumn in partnership with EU delegations around the world.

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