Iceland falling behind other countries in LGBTI rights
Photo: AFP
Iceland is slipping down the ranking of European countries as regards the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, according to a newly published report.
ILGA-Europe has just published it Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe covering 2015.
Iceland is a popular destination for same-sex unions. Photo: Miss Ann (Iceland Wedding Planner)
The report’s ‘Rainbow Index’ assesses the performance of 49 European countries under six wide-ranging categories regarding LGBTI rights.
Iceland comes in fourteenth – as compared to twelfth on 2014 and ninth in 2013.
Photo: ILGA
Iceland’s relatively low placing may come as a surprise to those who traditionally see Iceland as a byword for LGBTI rights and tolerance.
The detail of the ‘Rainbow Index’, however, shows that Iceland is not been credited with various criteria achieved by various other countries in Europe . For instance, there are several ‘tick’ absences for Iceland under the ‘Equality and non-discrimination’ and ‘Asylum’ categories.
Love at Reykjavik Gay Pride. Photo: Ómar Óskarsson
Topping the ranking are Malta (1 st ), Belgium (2 nd ) and the United Kingdom (3 rd ), while at the very bottom are Armenia (47 th ), Russia (48 th ) and Azerbaijan (49 th ).
The full text of the Iceland chapter of the report can be found here .
ILGA-Europe is an international non-governmental umbrella organisation working and advocating for equality and human rights for LGBTI people at European level.
