Portugal drops five places in the index on the rights of LGBTI people, but remains in the top places
According to data released by ILGA Europe, which annually analyzes and classifies the legal, social and political of Lesbian, Gay and Intersex (LGBTI) people in 49 countries, Portugal fell from 4th place to 9th place. place in 2021.
The initiative serves to mark the International and National Day for the Fight against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which is celebrated on May 17, and demonstrates that important steps have been taken in the rights of LGBTI people in several countries.
“On the contrary, some countries that once led LGBTI+ rights are descending the ladder, as is the case with Portugal, while others are at risk of following the precedent of countries where LGBTI+ rights are being instrumentalized for the political”, he says. ILGA Portugal, in reaction to the data now known.
Portugal achieves 62% (out of 10%) in the global, reaching the maximum of functioning – about which it is mentioned that LGBTI activists WITHOUT ANY LIMITS AT RISK, there is no freedom of expression or that associations can on the part of the State – and the most low (33%) in terms of asylum.
In this specific issue, ILGA Europe refers that Portugal needs public policies and other measures in terms of content that also “contain express reference to all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression and sexual characteristics”.
ILGA Europe still sends other people to Portugal so that they find themselves in a situation of LGBTI and, namely, the end of the therapeutic calls in terms of sexual orientation and better gender identity, or the clarification of the intersex legal protection of genital mutilation.
In relation to this last issue, ILGA Europe suggests “an implementation of policies that establish clear rules for the informed and guarantee the intended protective effect as intersex people from interventions without their consent”.
For ILGA Portugal, the drop of five places directly in the ‘ranking’ is related to the fact that the government’s Action Plan to Combat Discrimination on the grounds of Sexual Orientation, Identity and Gender Expression (2018-2021) and the following has not yet been published.
“Current figures in which violence and the current homophobic and transphobic contexts advance in all quadrants, including in this urgent legislature investment in specific public responses and policies such as LGBTI+ people”, defends the president of ILGA Portugal in a statement.
In Ana Aresta’s opinion, the country “cannot remain dormant in terms of the protection of human rights, much less go down in the rankings due to the lack of government plans or strategies for direct action in the still fragile response of the State and public services”.
For ILGA Portugal, the ILGA Europe Map and annual index “identify steps forward in LGBTI+ rights in several countries – namely Denmark, Iceland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia – as the democracy in Europe is under increasing pressure”.
A Portuguese example highlights that “the two organizations give this organization across Europe with contrast and an LGBTI organization like this across Europe coming from Europe, which “jumped seven places to reach the second place in the 202 ranking”, thanks to combating anti-discrimination in legislation, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sexual characteristics as aggravating factors in hate crimes.
The Rainbow Map is presented every May 2009 to mark the day against homo/trans/biphobia and the ranking from 0% to 100%, human rights violations and respect for human rights and total equality.
SV // JMR