Respect for human rights is, under Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, one of the values on which the Union is founded. Under Article 49 of the same treaty, respect for human rights is also a condition for applying for membership of the Union. The EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights prohibits all discrimination based on a person’s characteristics or background. Despite this, human rights are being blatantly trampled on in some EU member states, and people belonging to sexual and gender minorities are in a highly unequal position within the Union.
Attitudes towards sexual and gender minorities have hardened in Europe. Far-right movements have attacked the rights of sexual and gender minorities, and hate speech has increased. For example, in Hungary a legislative amendment was passed in May that removes the right of trans and non-binary people to have their legal gender recognised. In Poland, the Law and Justice party operates in many respects like the right-wing populist Fidesz party in Hungary. In Poland, attempts are being made to make already extremely strict abortion legislation even stricter, inadequate sex education is being curtailed, and dozens of regions declared themselves “free from LGBT ideology” last year. In Romania, meanwhile, discussing being transgender in sex education was banned.
“This kind of development is truly repugnant. The Union must stand behind its fundamental values and be able to defend the fundamental rights of all its citizens! Every young person must have equal opportunities to live a good life and participate in society, regardless of their background. Member states that trample on fundamental values must be denied EU funding, because soft measures are no longer enough,” comments JEF Finland President Iiris Asunmaa.
Safeguarding young people’s well-being requires actively promoting equality and non-discrimination in Europe. A Union of Equality is one of the top priorities of Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission. Earlier this year, the European Commission promised to publish, by the end of this year, the EU’s first strategy on equality for sexual and gender minorities. This promise must be kept. In addition, it is truly important to harmonise member states’ legislation so that the rights of sexual and gender minorities are guaranteed throughout the Union.
“There is also work to be done in Finland regarding attitudes and legislation. Our outdated Trans Act is shameful, as it violates the fundamental and human rights of gender minorities. Fortunately, the current government has promised to reform the Trans Act, but this comprehensive reform must not remain merely words — it must be carried out immediately,” Asunmaa adds.
For further information:
Iiris Asunmaa
President
JEF Finland
050 918 7390