Türkiye must end the coordinated crackdown on LGBTI+ civil society

We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the large-scale police raids and detentions targeting LGBTI activists and human rights defenders, organisations and community spaces across Türkiye.

TGEU, ILGA-Europe, IGLYO, OII Europe, EL*C, Rainbow Cities Network, the European Pride Business Network and the European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian Groups are deeply alarmed by the draft Code of Practice under the UK’s Equality Act 2010.

On 15 April 2026, Alexander Lukashenko signed the law “On Amendments to the Codes on Administrative Responsibility,” introducing liability for so-called “propaganda” of “homosexual relationships, gender transition, childlessness, and paedophilia.” The law will take effect two months after its official publication.

Trans human rights defender Defne Güzel, a founding member and Chairperson of the May 17 Association, is facing a criminal case in Türkiye for allegedly violating the law on associations.

We are appalled and alarmed by the legislative initiatives underway…

On 16 October, 56 European NGOs have written to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, sharing their grave concerns over the recent changes to Slovakia's constitution.

Update: Despite weeks of moral panic leading to this moment, and fuelled by anti-gender movements and amplified across national media, civil society remained united and unwavering to ensure inclusive provisions in the law were maintained.

We strongly condemn the constitutional amendment passed by the Slovak Parliament on Friday, 26 September, which restricts legal gender recognition to a binary framework of ‘male’ and ‘female’ only.

Our new media engagement guide is a practical tool for trans activists and community representatives navigating today’s complex media environment.

On the occasion of the banned Budapest LGBTI Pride, TGEU – Trans Europe and Central Asia stands in solidarity with all trans and gender diverse people in Hungary, whose fundamental rights are under unprecedented attack.

On 16 April, the UK Supreme Court delivered its judgment in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers.  TGEU condemns this judgment, as the Court has interpreted the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ and the word ‘woman’ in the UK’s Equality Act (the anti-discrimination law) to mean ‘biological sex’ and ‘biological woman’.

Hungary's recent constitutional amendment enshrining a binary definition of gender is a direct attack on the human rights and dignity of trans and non-binary people. President Orbán may amend the constitution, but he cannot erase the existence of trans and non-binary people who remain an integral part of Hungarian society.