Human Rights Platform and Queer Cyprus Welcome the EU’s New LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy and Call for Concrete Action and Participation
The Human Rights Platform and Queer Cyprus welcome the European Commission’s announcement of the new LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy for 2026–2030, which promises stronger protection, empowerment, and social inclusion for LGBTIQ+ people across Europe.
While applauding this significant step forward, both organisations call on policymakers to transfer the strategy into tangible actions that reach every corner of Europe, including Cyprus. The strategy’s focus on protecting LGBTIQ+ people from hate-motivated violence, discrimination, and harmful practices such as so-called “conversion therapies” is particularly crucial, given that one in three LGBTIQ+ persons in Europe still experience discrimination each year. We particularly welcome the commitment to establish an EU Knowledge Hub on countering online hate speech and to explore the EU-wide ban on “conversion therapies.” However, the success of any strategy ultimately depends on its implementation and monitoring mechanisms.
It is crucial that the preparations for the LGBTI+ National Action Plan are completed and implemented as soon as possible which announced during the Republic of Cyprus's 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process which Erman Dolmacı also participated as LGBTI+ Rights Programme Coordinator on behalf of the Human Rights Platform and Queer Cyprus. It is essential that the preperations and implementation of this plan are completed without delay, as highlighted in the new EU strategy. Furthermore, the establishment of an LGBTIQ+ Policy Forum as a direct dialogue platform between civil society and the European Commission is a highly positive development. It provides an important opportunity for civil society organisations in Cyprus to make their voices heard at the European level.
The Human Rights Platform and Queer Cyprus reaffirm their readiness to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that this new strategy brings about real and lasting change for LGBTIQ+ communities across Europe.To Read the Strategy: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/b4952371-4308-47ad-b995-02c539b75dda_en?filename=JUST_template_comingsoon_standard.pdf