Armenia - at the bottom of Europe re human rights protection of its LGBT citizens

Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), leading European gay rights group ILGA-Europe launched its Rainbow Europe package reviewing the human rights situation and assessing what life is like for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people in Europe in 2013.

According to the Rainbow map and accompanied score sheet, countries have been assigned scores based on the level of legal human rights protection for LGBT people.

The Rainbow Map covers the legal and policy situation with regards to 6 thematic categories (Equality and non-discrimination; Family; Bias motivated speech / violence; Legal gender recognition; Freedom of assembly, association, and expression; and Asylum). The main rule is that sexual orientation and gender identity (or equivalent) need to be clearly referred to in the respective law or policy; or that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people are treated equally in law or by the state. For the purposes of this map, a law or policy is taken to exist once it is adopted by the respective parliament. 

Published also a comprehensive qualitative annual review report containing separate chapters on each country that gives more detailed background about the situation.

Only 3 countries among 49 European countries have a one-digit score: Russia (the lowest 49th place with 7%), Armenia (48th place with 8%) and Azerbaijan (47th place with 8%). 

Shameful.

And with such credentials, Armenia assumed today chairmanship of the Council of Europe for six months.

[below is Armenia Score Sheet in English and Armenian]