ILGAEuropes work at European level

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• ILGA-Europes work at European level
• LGBT Consortium, London
• Silvan Agius
• ILGA-Europe
• 28th March 2008

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What is ILGA-Europe?

• ILGA-Europe is the European Region of the
  International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA).
• Works for human rights and equality for lesbian,
  gay, bisexual and transgender people at European
  level.
• Is an umbrella organisation representing some
  220 organisations from across Europe.
• Was established as a separate region of ILGA in
  1996. ILGA itself was founded in 1978.

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Where is ILGA-Europe active?

• ILGA-Europe
• enjoys consultative status at Economic and
  Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC)
• enjoys participative status at the Council of
  Europe
• receives financial support from the European
  Union
• is a member of the Platform of European Social
  NGOs.

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Strategic Objectives 2008-11

• Increased recognition of fundamental human
  rights
• Work to facilitate greater integration in the
  labour market
• Working towards full social inclusion,
  particularly with regard to access to goods and
  services
• Increased recognition of the diversity of family
  relationships
• Strengthened capacity of member organisations
• Strengthened capacity of ILGA-Europe to achieve
  its mission

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• Proposal for a
• Equal Treatment Directive

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Background

• The current 2000/78/EC Employment Framework
  Directive covers only the areas of employment and
  vocational training
• The grounds of race and gender enjoy stronger
  protection, and thus it is often claimed that
  there is a hierarchy or rights in the European
  Union
• The European Commission had promised a new
  anti-discrimination initiative covering all
  grounds in all spheres of life.
• Any proposed new legislation should therefore
  provide the same level of legal protection to the
  grounds of sexual orientation, religion,
  disability and age

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ILGA-Europes proposal (1)

• A proposal for a single comprehensive directive
  that
• Provides equal treatment of all grounds human
  rights approach.
• Addresses multiple discrimination.
• Protects against discrimination in relation to
• social protection, including social security
  and healthcare
• social advantages
• education
• access to and supply of goods and services,
• including housing.

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ILGA-Europes proposal (2)

• Equality bodies covering all grounds of
  non-discrimination.
• Ensure possibility for associations and equality
  bodies to take a case on behalf of an individual.
• Exception around marital status should not be
  automatically added to the directive.

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Why a legislative measure?

• Legislation is an important and indispensable
  pre-condition.
• Non-legislative measures are rarely effective
  unless they are underpinned with binding and
  enforceable rights.

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Evidence of discrimination

• Education harassment and bullying
• Access to health care refusal of access to
  care and treatment (direct discrimination),
  harassment, and lack of recognition of partners
  (indirect discrimination)
• Social protection (pensions, social benefits)
• Access to survivor pensions, equal treatment
  for tax purposes, inheritance tax, and financial
  assistance for carers
• Goods and services (incl. housing)
• Denied entry/forced to leave premises to
  restaurants, bars, hotels, etc.
• Unequal treatment in access to insurance
  policies, bank loans, etc.
• Refusal to rent apartments or house

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Will it have an impact on the UK?

• While the UK already has good goods services
  legislation, it is likely that the Directive will
  require the UK to increase protection in a number
  of areas.
• The Directive will set minimum standards that
  will have to be met by all EU-27 and EFTA
  countries.
• EU citizens will know the minimum applicable
  standards of non-discrimination wherever they
  are.

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() and (-) forces

• Commissioner Barroso had made a commitment
  before the European Parliament in 2004.
• The process undertaken by the Commission is
  showing the need for new legislation (e.g.
  mapping study, public consultation, impact
  assessment).
• Pressure from business and some political
  parties on the Commission not to propose new
  legislation.
• Mandate of the Commission is up for renewal in
  2009 time and political pressure.

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What are the next steps?

• We need to gather ALL the possible support and
  have it heard at national and European levels.
• Currently Germany and business organisations are
  strongly opposing, and therefore good counter
  arguments are needed.
• Any proposed Directive will have to be adopted
  unanimously by Member States in order to become
  law.

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• Thank you
• www.ilga-europe.org