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ILGA-Europe

European LGBTQ rights organization

ILGA-Europe
Summary

European LGBTQ rights organization

FieldValue
nameILGA-Europe
imageILGA-Europe logo.svg
caption
formation
purposelesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) rights
headquartersBrussels, Belgium
region_served47 countries in the Council of Europe; Belarus, Kosovo and Central Asia
membership500+ member organisations
leader_titleExecutive Director
leader_nameEvelyne Paradis
main_organILGA
num_staff24
website
frameless]]<br/>[[Ailbhe Smyth]] at the 2018 ILGA conference

ILGA-Europe is the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World). It is an advocacy group promoting the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, at the European level. Its membership comprises more than 500 organisations from throughout Europe and Central Asia. The association enjoys consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participatory status at the Council of Europe.

History

ILGA-Europe was founded in 1996, when its parent organisation, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, established separate regions. It took over responsibility for supporting the development of the LGBT movement in Europe including Transgender Europe, Inter-LGBT, and for relationships with the European Union, Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Initially ILGA-Europe worked entirely on the basis of volunteer resources. However, in 2001, its potential contribution to the European Union's anti-discrimination policies (established under Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam) was recognised through the provision of core funding, currently through the PROGRESS Programme. This enabled ILGA-Europe to set up an office in Brussels, to recruit permanent staff, and to conduct an extensive programme of work in relation to sexual orientation discrimination within the EU Member States and the accession countries. Financial support from the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Open Society Institute, Freedom House, the US State Department and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands allows ILGA-Europe to extend its work in areas not covered by EU funding, including Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and on transgender issues.

ILGA-Europe has hosted its annual conference at the end of October, since 2000, where member organisations elect the executive board and decide on the next year's working priorities.

Current work

Rainbow Europe Map, 2014
Rainbow Europe, 2016–2017
Rainbow Europe for May 2025

ILGA-Europe works to promote equality and non-discrimination for LGBTI people in asylum, education, employment, family law, freedom of assembly, hate crime, hate speech and health; and works worldwide to protect human rights defenders, trans people and intersex people. The Association provides funding and training for its 500 member organisations, "to maximise efficiency and the use of resources by LGBTI organisations in working towards achievement of their goals; to maximise the impact of advocacy work at the European level; to ensure sustainability of the LGBTI movement in Europe."

ILGA-Europe works with EU Institutions, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to promote equality by lobbying and advocacy, including supporting the adoption of the proposed EU Anti-Discrimination Directive, that would ban discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation in all areas of EU competence. It also uses strategic litigation at the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice to end discrimination, by identifying gaps in protections, encouraging organisations and individuals to develop court cases, and support such cases with legal resources and amicus curiae briefs.

For the 2014 European Parliament election, ILGA-Europe promoted its Come Out 2014 European Election Pledge to candidate MEPs, which focused on priority LGBTI issues for the 2014–2019 Parliament: an EU roadmap on LGBTI equality; EU human rights enforcement; completing the EU Anti-Discrimination directive; combating homophobic and transphobic violence; an inclusive definition of 'family'; trans rights and depatholigisation; action against school bullying; health discrimination and inequalities; LGBTI asylum seekers; and making the EU champion LGBTI rights worldwide. 187 elected MEPs (25 percent) signed the pledge, including 83 members of the PES, 14 ALDE members and 14 from the EPP.

Today ILGA-Europe has more than 20 staff who work in four areas: Advocacy, Communications, Finance and Administration, and Programmes. All are based at the organisation's office in the European Quarter in Brussels.

Rainbow Europe

Each May, ILGA-Europe releases its Rainbow Europe review, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. It reviews the human rights situation and assesses what life is like for LGBTI+ people in every European country, covering discrimination, family recognition, hate speech/crimes, gender recognition, freedom of assembly, association and express, and asylum laws. Since 2016 Malta has topped the rankings; in 2021 it was rated to have 94% progress toward respect of human rights and full equality, and in 2025 sits 4 percentage points ahead of Belgium in second place. In 2025 Azerbaijan and Russia were ranked as the worst for LGBTI+ equality, scoring just 2.25% and 2% respectively, closely followed by Turkey, Armenia and Belarus. The biggest increase since the 2013 review, was that of Malta - increasing by 54 percentage points, followed by Greece with a 41-point gain. A summary of all Rainbow Europe scores since 2013 (when scores were standardised as a %) are given in the table below, as well as a comparison with the scores as released in 2013 and 2025. The most significant deterioration in LGBTI+ rights in Europe is that of the UK, that has decreased 40 percentage points from a peak of 86% in 2015. This equates to a 21 place-drop in ranking, from 1st (2013 to 2015) to 22nd.

Criticism of the ILGA Rainbow Europe report generally focuses on issues of political bias, pinkwashing and the use of subjective criteria. A major criticism is that the report focuses heavily on legal frameworks (e.g., trans rights and non-binary recognition) while not giving enough attention to the social acceptance or lived experiences of LGBTQ individuals in those countries. For instance, a country may score highly in terms of legal protections but still have prevailing societal stigma against LGBTQ individuals, as is the case with Malta and France. Critics argue that this can lead to an incomplete or misleading picture of the situation in certain countries. The ranking implies a singular, linear path of "progress" towards a Western European model of LGBTQ rights, which may not account for diverse local cultural contexts or forms of activism. By establishing a linear scale toward a "full equality" benchmark primarily achieved by Western European countries, the Index is seen as contributing to homonationalist discourses. This rhetoric presents "progressive" Western nations as superior, and "backward" Eastern nations as the homophobic "other", allowing some Western states such as France, Belgium and Denmark to instrumentalize LGBT rights to bolster their own image as modern and liberal. As ILGA-Europe frequently adds new criteria (e.g., non-binary recognition and asexual rights), a country's score might drop not because of regression, but because it hasn't kept pace with the new, higher bar for "full equality". This can lead to misleading media headlines about "falling" standards.

CountryOverall by Year (Rounded)Change from 2013 to current score (2025)Change from previous peak year(s) to current score (2025)Rankings2013201420152016201720182019202020212022date=2023-05-11title=Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2023 ILGA-Europeurl=https://www.ilga-europe.org/report/rainbow-europe-2023/access-date=2023-05-15language=en-GB}}20242025Peak Year(s)Change from PeakCurrentHighestLowest
Albania Albania38%38%42%34%33%33%31%31%33%32%35%36%35%–3%2015–6%261628
Andorra Andorra21%21%31%32%35%35%28%35%35%32%37%44%43%22%2024–1%232234
Armenia Armenia8%9%9%7%7%7%7%8%8%8%8%9%9%1%2014–15, 2024–250%464648
Austria Austria43%52%52%64%56%56%50%50%50%48%49%50%54%11%2016–10%161220
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan8%7%5%5%5%5%3%2%2%2%2%2%2%–6%2013–6%484749
Belarus Belarus14%14%14%13%13%13%13%13%12%12%12%11%10%–4%2013-15–4%453945
Belgium Belgium67%78%83%82%72%79%73%73%74%72%76%78%85%18%20250%224
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina20%20%29%39%31%31%31%37%40%38%40%40%40%20%2021, 2023–250%242135
Bulgaria Bulgaria18%30%27%24%23%24%13%20%20%18%20%23%21%3%2014–9%382541
Croatia Croatia48%56%71%67%62%51%47%46%46%45%49%50%49%1%2015–22%20520
Cyprus Cyprus20%20%18%32%29%29%23%31%31%31%31%35%34%14%2024–1%292637
Czech Republic Czech Republic35%35%35%32%29%29%26%26%26%26%26%30%33%–2%2013-15–2%301833
Denmark Denmark57%60%68%71%68%68%68%68%64%74%76%76%80%23%20250%4210
Estonia Estonia29%35%34%36%33%39%35%38%38%36%36%46%46%17%2024–250%211925
Finland Finland47%45%62%75%68%73%69%66%65%60%70%71%70%23%2016–5%6417
France France64%64%65%67%71%73%63%56%57%64%63%62%61%–3%2018–12%15415
Georgia Georgia21%26%36%30%26%26%30%30%27%25%25%25%12%–9%2015–24%442244
Germany Germany54%56%56%55%54%59%47%51%52%53%55%66%69%15%20250%8816
Greece Greece28%31%39%58%47%52%49%48%47%52%57%71%69%41%2024–2%7724
Hungary Hungary55%54%50%51%45%47%41%33%33%30%30%33%23%–32%2013–32%371137
Iceland Iceland56%64%63%59%47%47%47%54%54%63%71%83%84%28%20250%3218
Ireland Ireland36%34%40%55%52%52%47%52%53%53%54%57%63%27%20250%141422
Italy Italy19%25%22%29%27%27%22%23%22%25%25%25%24%5%2016–5%353236
Kosovo Kosovo14%17%18%32%30%33%28%35%35%35%35%36%35%21%2024–1%282439
Latvia Latvia20%20%18%18%17%16%17%17%17%22%22%24%26%6%20250%343341
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein16%18%19%18%18%18%14%18%19%20%20%28%29%13%20250%323240
Lithuania Lithuania21%22%19%18%17%21%23%23%23%24%24%28%24%3%2024–4%363039
Luxembourg Luxembourg28%28%43%50%46%47%70%73%72%68%68%70%68%40%2020–5%10228
Malta Malta35%57%77%88%88%91%90%89%94%92%89%88%89%54%2021–5%1118
Moldova Moldova10%17%16%11%13%13%14%19%20%21%39%39%38%28%2023–24–1%252345
Monaco Monaco10%10%11%11%10%10%11%11%11%13%13%14%14%4%2024–250%434346
Montenegro Montenegro27%47%46%45%39%38%36%62%63%63%61%48%49%22%2021–22–14%19826
Netherlands Netherlands60%70%69%66%64%60%50%62%61%56%56%59%64%4%2014–6%13414
North Macedonia North Macedonia13%13%13%18%16%14%11%25%27%27%29%31%29%16%2024–2%313144
Norway Norway66%68%69%76%78%78%68%68%67%68%67%70%69%3%2017–18–9%929
Poland Poland22%28%26%18%18%18%18%16%13%13%15%18%21%–1%2014–7%392842
Portugal Portugal65%67%67%76%69%69%66%66%68%62%62%67%67%2%2016–9%11411
Romania Romania31%28%28%23%21%21%21%19%19%18%18%19%19%–12%2013–12%412141
Russia Russia7%6%8%7%6%11%10%10%10%8%8%2%2%–5%2018–9%494549
San Marino San Marino14%14%14%14%12%12%13%13%13%14%14%15%15%1%2024–250%423944
Serbia Serbia25%30%29%32%30%30%28%33%33%37%35%36%35%10%2022–2%272328
Slovakia Slovakia27%31%29%29%28%29%30%30%30%34%30%31%27%0%2022–7%332333
Slovenia Slovenia35%35%32%43%44%48%40%42%42%42%46%50%50%15%2024–250%171725
Spain Spain65%73%69%70%67%67%61%67%65%62%74%76%78%13%20250%5311
Sweden Sweden65%65%72%65%60%60%62%63%65%68%68%64%66%1%2015–6%12412
Switzerland Switzerland29%29%28%33%31%38%31%36%39%42%47%50%50%21%2024–250%181730
Turkey Turkey14%14%12%9%9%9%5%4%4%4%4%5%5%–9%2013–14–9%473948
Ukraine Ukraine12%12%10%13%19%21%22%22%18%19%20%19%19%7%2019–20–3%403446
United Kingdom United Kingdom77%82%86%81%76%73%66%66%64%53%53%52%46%–31%2015–40%22122

International Intersex Forum

Third [[International Intersex Forum]], Malta, December 2013

Main article: International Intersex Forum

To include intersex people in its remit, ILGA-Europe and ILGA have jointly sponsored the only international gathering of intersex activists and organisations. The International Intersex Forum has taken place in Europe annually since 2011.

The third forum was held in Malta in 2013 with 34 people representing 30 organisations from all continents. The closing statement affirmed the existence of intersex people, reaffirmed "the principles of the First and Second International Intersex Fora and extend the demands aiming to end discrimination against intersex people and to ensure the right of bodily integrity, physical autonomy and self-determination". For the first time, participants made a statement on birth registrations, in addition to other human rights issues.

References

References

  1. "What is ILGA-Europe?". ILGA-Europe.
  2. "NGO Branch, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs". United Nations.
  3. {{usurped
  4. "ILGA-Europe's funding". ILGA-Europe.
  5. "Annual Conference". ILGA-Europe.
  6. (2014). "Issues we work on". ILGA-Europe.
  7. (2014). "Developing the LGBTI movement". ILGA-Europe.
  8. (2014). "Working with the European Institutions". ILGA-Europe.
  9. (2014). "Strategic litigation in the European Courts". ILGA-Europe.
  10. (2014). "Come Out 2014 European Election Pledge". ILGA-Europe.
  11. (2014). "A quarter of elected European Parliament committed to LGBTI equality". ILGA-Europe.
  12. "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2024".
  13. "Report {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  14. (2023-05-11). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2023 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  15. (2015-05-10). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2015 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  16. "The Unexpected Politics of ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Maps: (De)constructing Queer Utopias/Dystopias".
  17. (2014-05-18). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2014 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  18. (2024-02-20). "Rainbow Map".
  19. (2013-05-16). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2013 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  20. (2015-05-10). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2015 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  21. (2016-05-10). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2016 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  22. (2010-05-17). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2017 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  23. (2018-05-14). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2018 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  24. (2019-05-13). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2019 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  25. (2020-05-14). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2020 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  26. (2021-05-17). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2021 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  27. (2022-05-12). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2022 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  28. (2023-05-11). "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2023 {{!}} ILGA-Europe".
  29. "Rainbow Europe Map and Index 2024".
  30. [http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/news/latest/intersex_forum First ever international intersex forum] {{webarchive. link. (2013-12-26 , ILGA-Europe (Creative Commons statement), 6 September 2011)
  31. [http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/n9NPXKR1a1 First ever international intersex forum] {{webarchive. link. (2014-05-17 , ILGA, 7 September 2011)
  32. [http://oii.org.au/24241/public-statement-by-the-third-international-intersex-forum/ Public statement by the third international intersex forum], [[Organisation Intersex International Australia]], 2 December 2013
  33. [http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/global-intersex-community-affirms-shared-goals/113806 Global intersex community affirms shared goals], [[Star Observer]], December 4, 2013
  34. [http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/news/latest/intersex_forum_2013 3rd International Intersex Forum concluded] {{webarchive. link. (2013-12-04 , ILGA-Europe (Creative Commons statement), 2 December 2013)
  35. [http://nnid.nl/2013/12/03/derde-internationale-intersekse-forum/ {{in lang. nl Derde Internationale Intersekse Forum] {{Webarchive. link. (2013-12-20 , Nederlandse Netwerk Intersekse/DSD (NNID), 3 December 2013)
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