LGBTI equality and human rights in Europe and Central Asia

Remembering Past, Looking into Future

27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day. Although some countries have marked this day in their calendars for many years, this is the first time Europe and the world marks this day of remembrance on an international scale.

Last year the General Assembly of the United Nations and the European Parliament adopted resolutions recognising 27 January as Holocaust Memorial Day.

We sincerely welcome these important initiatives. At the same time we express our sadness that there are still some groups and individuals who continue to deny and question the existence of the mass persecutions of various groups of people during World War II and who resist the recognition of homosexual victims as one such group.

We encourage lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups in Europe to take an active part in local, national and international events commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day.

Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe, said:

“Today Europe and the world remember the horrors of Nazism during World War II. We are grateful to the United Nations and the European Parliament for their initiatives highlighting these horrific history lessons. We particularly welcome the European Parliament’s acknowledgement and recognition of Nazi victims who suffered and died because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

These lessons show us how devastating and tragic the consequences of hatred can be. Today we have a duty to remember these lessons so as to avoid similar tragedies in the future.”

For more information please contact

Juris Lavrikovs at + 32 2 609 54 16 / + 32 496 708 375

Notes for editors:

(1) ILGA-Europe is the European region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and works towards equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Europe.

(2) More about the UN General Assembly’s decision to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/ga10413.doc.htm

(3) European Parliament’s resolution on Holocaust Memorial Day:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade3?SAME_LEVEL=1&LEVEL=3&NAV=X&DETAIL=&PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+TA?TA-2005-0018+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN