The LGBTI+ community in Türkiye is increasingly the target of discrimination, intimidation and violence, said the European Commission in its 2023 Enlargement Package published last week. It also points out that the activities of LGBTI+ organisations continue to be unduly restricted, LGBTI+ people and human rights defenders continue to be targeted with legal sanctions for participating in Pride events, and LGBTI+ people continue to face hate speech, stigmatisation, and smear campaigns.
According to our assessment and that of LGBTI+ human rights defenders these trends will intensify in the coming months.
We urge the EU to exert pressure on Türkiye to ensure that any revision of its Constitution includes a strong commitment to upholding the right to non-discrimination, in accordance with the various international treaties to which Türkiye is a party.
Amnesty International
Civil Rights Defenders
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Human Rights Watch
ILGA-Europe – the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)