LGBTIQ+
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United in Diversity
Equality and non-discrimination are part of European Union’s core values, as emphasized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Treaties, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
LGBTIQ+ persons still face multiple challenges worldwide and action is needed to combat it. Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is a matter of human rights, but also of peace and security, social justice and economic progress.
The EU is stepping up its actions to prevent, denounce and combat all forms of discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ+ persons, including hate speech and hate crimes online as well as offline. The EU actively condemns and combats discriminatory laws, policies and practices, including the criminalisation of consenting same-sex relations.
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EEAS Agenda for Diversity and Inclusion
In addition to existing policies such as the EU Action on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2027, which includes stepping up actions for LGBTI persons, we launched the Diversity and Inclusion Agenda in February 2023.
The Agenda’s central aim is to ensure a greater mainstreaming of equality, diversity and inclusion throughout EU external actions and it reiterates our commitment to combat discrimination on any ground by being proactive, persistent and vocal, including on rights of LGBTIQ+ persons.
LGBTIQ Equality Strategy
The intersectional perspective has formed our policy framework on promoting the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by LGBTIQ+ persons in external relations. The second LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2025-2029 puts forward concrete actions to mainstream LGBTIQ+ equality into all policy areas.
In external relations, particular attention is given to the situation of human rights in candidate and potential candidate countries, support for LGBTIQ+ human rights defenders and civil society organisations, and to the decriminalisation of consenting same-sex relations and conduct.
Particular attention is paid to multiple and intersecting forms of violence. The EU always aims to lead by example, and the aim of the strategy is to build a Union of Equality, where LGBTIQ+ persons can be who they are and love their partners without the risk of discrimination, exclusion, hatred or violence.
Leading by example requires that we also work internally within our EU institutions to combat discrimination, to ensure coherence between our internal and external action.
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EU’s action abroad
Externally, the European Union is committed to respect, promotion and fulfilment of the universality of human rights around the world by using all tools – diplomatic, financial and other – and through mobilising partnerships at bilateral and multilateral levels.
The protection of LGBTIQ+ persons has been raised during our Human Rights Dialogues and other dialogues in the past with numerous countries. In addition, in our annual Human Rights reports, we also present our analysis of national and global contexts.
Mainstreaming LGBTIQ equality in humanitarian action
The Commission mainstreams LGBTIQ equality into its humanitarian action. It makes sure that the EU humanitarian aid is adapted to the needs of different groups, including LGBTIQ persons and individuals, and in line with humanitarian principles, including that of impartiality (non-discrimination).
Multilateral fora
At the multilateral level, the EU supports and collaborates with the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI). Our EU Delegation in New York is part of the UN LGBTI Core Group.
Looking ahead, the UN Secretariat plays a key role in advancing rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, notably through the implementation of the first UN Secretariat LGBTIQ+ Strategy.
Collaboration with Civil Society Organisations (CSO)
The EU also works closely with civil society organisations worldwide, as their role is paramount in helping the EU get a better grasp of situations on the ground.
The EU is among the top donors worldwide to support LGBTIQ+ civil society organisations and Human Rights Defenders in emergency situations. Since the launch of the EU Human Rights Defenders mechanism, more than 8,980 different LGBTIQ+ rights defenders and grassroots LGBTIQ+ rights communities have received direct, comprehensive support through emergency grants and funding to local initiatives.
The EU supports civil society organisations and human rights defenders in their efforts to protect and advance the human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons through funding under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and the Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).
In particular, EUR 15 million have been earmarked for the promotion of equality, inclusion and diversity under the Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy 2021-2027 of the NDICI instrument.
Combating Foreign Information Manipulation Interference (FIMI)
In 2023 we published a well-informed analysis to uphold the human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons regarding when they are targeted by LGBTIQ FIMI. The report is the first such document focused on the topic of FIMI targeting solely LGBTIQ+ persons, and it includes specific FIMI cases.
In 2024, we published a guide focused on detecting and analysing Identity-Based Disinformation (IBD)/FIMI, which provides practical tools to conduct Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) investigations.
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