During the six-month German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe 2020/2021, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) has placed a special focus on the rights of LGBTI persons.
Together with the Observatory for Sociopolitical Developments in Europe, the BMFSFJ hosts this digital event focusing on the Council of Europe’s 2010 Recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Despite universal human rights standards, acceptance and respect for the rights and needs of LGBTI persons vary considerably among the member states of the European Union and those of the Council of Europe. This event will shine a spotlight on the situation of LGBTI rights across Europe against the backdrop of political backsliding as well as look ahead on concrete steps and strategic policy measures towards the full implementation of the 2010 SOGI Recommendation.

The event follows the international conference "Intersectionality and LGBTI policies in Europe: Lived Realities of Lesbian* Women and the Recognition of Rainbow families" that took place in November 2020 marking the start of the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.