ILGA-Europe
Encyclopedia
ILGA-Europe is the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
.
ILGA-Europe is a non-governmental umbrella organisation which represents its members, principally organisations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, at the European level.
Its membership comprises around 300 organisations from throughout Europe. Every year, member organisations elects the Executive Board of ILGA-Europe at the Annual Conference.
ILGA-Europe enjoys consultative status at Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and participative status at the Council of Europe
and receives financial support from the European Commission
. It is a member of the Platform of European Social NGOs, Social Platform.
, established separate regions. It took over responsibility for supporting the development of the LGBT movement in Europe and for relationships with the European Union
, Council of Europe
and the Organisation 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. 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. Further financial support from the Sigrid Rausing Trust allowed ILGA-Europe to extend its work in areas not covered by EU funding, particularly Eastern Europe, and on transgender issues.
for the sexual orientation part of pan-European anti-discrimination program. This funding finances half of ILGA-Europe's activities. Other important donors include the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Tides Foundation, the Dutch Government and the Open Society Institute
.
2000 - Bucharest, Romania, theme Accepting Diversity
2001 - Rotterdam, The Netherlands, theme Creating Partnership
2002 - Lisbon, Portugal, theme Recognising Diversity, Promoting Equality
2003 - Glasgow, Scotland, theme Policy into Practice – making LGBT equality happen
2004 - Budapest, Hungary, theme Coming out to the EU
2005 - Paris, France
2006 - Sofia, Bulgaria, theme We are Family” – Our families in Europe and the European family
2007 - Vilnius, Lithuania, theme LGBT Rights are Human Rights – Respect, Recognition and Responsibilities
2008 - Vienna, Austria, theme Think globally, act locally
2009 - Malta, theme Overcoming Religious & Cultural Barriers to LGBT Equality
2010 - The Hague, The Netherlands, theme Expressing our differences, challenging our prejudices, developing our alliances
2011 - Turin, Italy, theme "Human Rights and "Traditional Values": clash or dialogue?"
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association is an international organization bringing together more than 750 LGBTI groups from around the world. It continues to be active in campaigning for LGBT rights on the international human rights and civil rights scene and...
.
ILGA-Europe is a non-governmental umbrella organisation which represents its members, principally organisations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, at the European level.
Its membership comprises around 300 organisations from throughout Europe. Every year, member organisations elects the Executive Board of ILGA-Europe at the Annual Conference.
ILGA-Europe enjoys consultative status at Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and participative status at the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and receives financial support from the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. It is a member of the Platform of European Social NGOs, Social Platform.
The history of ILGA-Europe
ILGA-Europe was founded in 1996, when its parent organisation, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex AssociationInternational Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association is an international organization bringing together more than 750 LGBTI groups from around the world. It continues to be active in campaigning for LGBT rights on the international human rights and civil rights scene and...
, established separate regions. It took over responsibility for supporting the development of the LGBT movement in Europe and for relationships with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and the Organisation 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. 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. Further financial support from the Sigrid Rausing Trust allowed ILGA-Europe to extend its work in areas not covered by EU funding, particularly Eastern Europe, and on transgender issues.
Funding
Since 2000, ILGA-Europe receives funding from the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
for the sexual orientation part of pan-European anti-discrimination program. This funding finances half of ILGA-Europe's activities. Other important donors include the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Tides Foundation, the Dutch Government and the Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
.
ILGA-Europe's Annual Conference History
Since 2000, every year in the end of October ILGA-Europe hosts its annual conference.2000 - Bucharest, Romania, theme Accepting Diversity
2001 - Rotterdam, The Netherlands, theme Creating Partnership
2002 - Lisbon, Portugal, theme Recognising Diversity, Promoting Equality
2003 - Glasgow, Scotland, theme Policy into Practice – making LGBT equality happen
2004 - Budapest, Hungary, theme Coming out to the EU
2005 - Paris, France
2006 - Sofia, Bulgaria, theme We are Family” – Our families in Europe and the European family
2007 - Vilnius, Lithuania, theme LGBT Rights are Human Rights – Respect, Recognition and Responsibilities
2008 - Vienna, Austria, theme Think globally, act locally
2009 - Malta, theme Overcoming Religious & Cultural Barriers to LGBT Equality
2010 - The Hague, The Netherlands, theme Expressing our differences, challenging our prejudices, developing our alliances
2011 - Turin, Italy, theme "Human Rights and "Traditional Values": clash or dialogue?"