Swedish EU Presidency: High level Conference on LGBTIQ equality in the EU

12 April 2023

Stockholm, Sweden

Source: https://swedish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/events/high-level-conference-on-lgbtiq-equality-in-the-eu-124/

In the EU, equal treatment is a fundamental right. Still reports on violence, harassment and discrimination against LGBTIQ people persists throughout the Union.

The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, together with Member States, all share a responsibility to protect fundamental rights and to ensure equal treatment and equality for all. In November 2020, the European Commission adopted the first-ever LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (2020-2025). The strategy shows the Commissions commitment to build a Union of Equality and bringing together Member States and other actors at all levels in a common endeavour to address discrimination against LGBTIQ people.

The main aim of this conference is to take stock of progress as we are now halfway through the implementation of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. At the same time the Conference also aims to create an opportunity to share experiences and good practices in order to strengthen, and to identify room for improvement in the work toward securing LGBTIQ equality and non-discrimination more effectively by 2025. The conference is organized by the Swedish Presidency in co-operation with the European Commission.

12 April

Opening session

• Introduction by Isabelle Kumar, Moderator of the conference
• Welcome by Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life, Sweden
• Keynote by Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality
• Setting the scene by Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

Session I: Taking stock of progress
In this session the European Commission will present a progress report on the implementation of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025. This will be followed by a discussion on developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. Session I will end with reflections from the ground by ILGA Europe.

• Presentation by Susanne Knöfel, Acting Head of the Unit and Nadege Defrère, Acting Deputy Head of the Unit of Non-discrimination: LGBTIQ, Age, Horizontal Matters, Directorate-General Justice and Consumers, European Commission
• Reflections from the ground by Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director, ILGA Europe.

Comfort break

Continue of taking stock of progress
Panel discussion with:

• Martin Andreasson, State Secretary to Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment, Sweden
• Susanne Knöfel, Acting head of the Unit of Non-discrimination: LGBTIQ, Age, Horizontal Matters, Directorate-General Justice and Consumers, European Commission
• Malin Björk, Member of the European Parliament & Vice-president of the LGBTI-Intergroup of the European Parliament
• Dan Ghattas, Executive Director, Organisation Intersex International Europe (OII)
• Bella FitzPatrick, Executive Director, International LGBTQI Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO)

Lunch break

Thematic break-out sessions: Exchange of good practices and lessons learnt

1. Harmful practices affecting LGBTIQ people
2. LGBTIQ equality in working life
3. National action plans and strategies for LGBTIQ equality
4. Knowledge based policymaking – focus on LGBTIQ youth and education

Moderator: Cecilia Ruthström-Ruin, Swedish ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden

Comfort break

Session II: Reflections from break-out sessions and conclusions of the day
This session will provide key points from the break-out sessions into plenary by the moderators:

• Cecilia Ruthström-Ruin, Swedish ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden
• Nader Ahmadi, Director General for the Swedish Agency for Work Environment Expertise
• Evgenia Giakoumopoulou, Head of Council of Europe SOGI unit
• Miltos Pavlou, Project manager, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

Followed by a panel discussion on how to secure LGBTIQ equality and non-discrimination more effectively by 2025. Panel discussion with:

• Sven Lehmann, Queer Commissioner, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Germany
• Susanne Knöfel, Acting head of the Unit of Non-discrimination: LGBTIQ, Age, Horizontal Matters, Directorate-General Justice and Consumers, European Commission
• Kim van Sparrentak, Member of the European Parliament & Co-chair of the LGBTI Intergroup of the European Parliament
• Dragana Todorovic, Executive Director, Eurocentralasian Lesbian Community (EL*C)
• Richard Köhler, Advocacy Director, Transgender Europe (TGEU)
• Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director, ILGA Europe

Closing Session

• Concluding remarks by Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life
• Remarks from next presidency by Irene Montero, Minister of Equality of Spain
• Closing remarks by Isabelle Kumar, Moderator