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On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the heads of Europe’s main intergovernmental human rights institutions call for a strong response to xenophobic attacks against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and call on governments and state authorities to uphold their international obligations in this regard.

In some Member States, doctors still view homosexuality as a disease and transsexuality as a mental disorder, according to findings from a new report by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Such negative views of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in society, among professional groups and policy makers hampers efforts to counter discrimination and hate crime.

The protection of the fundamental rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people has been steadily improving in many EU Member States, according to the latest comparative legal update from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). However, in some countries progress is slower. Trans and intersex people particularly face difficulties. Such problems and the differences in legal protection across EU Member States confirm the need to address the gaps in legal protection, as also flagged in the European Commission’s list of actions to advance LGBTI equality presented on 7 December.

Boys and girls with disabilities are more likely to be victims of physical and sexual violence, and neglect, than those without disabilities. They are also more likely to be less well protected, as they can fall between the cracks of generic protection for children and for people with disabilities, finds the latest report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). There is therefore a need to target children with disabilities explicitly in national child protection systems, as well as in relevant policies and actions, so they are fully included into society, living a life free of violence.

On the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), launch a handbook on European law relating to rights of the child.