- free movement and same sex families.pdf - 82.00 Kb

In 2004, the European Union adopted a new Directive on Free Movement Rights which has relevance for same-sex families who want to exercise their right to free movement. The Directive sets out the rules applying to EU citizens and their family members who wish to move to and reside in another EU member state. While falling short of respecting the right to free movement for all families, the Directive opens the door for some recognition of same-sex families. The goal of these guidelines is twofold. First, the guidelines are meant to assist organisations in monitoring national law in order to ensure that same-sex families enjoy the fullest protection in accordance with the Directive. Second, this document discusses how the provisions of the Directive can and should be applied to further advance the free movement rights of same-sex families.

- protecting LGBT people seeking asylum.pdf - 78.59 Kb

The Directive adopted in 2004 by the European Union sets out the minimum rules governing the award conditions under which of refugee status is granted. This new EU legislation, which defines criteria for being granted refugee status as well as the rights of people recognised as refugees, breaks ground by including specific reference to sexual orientation. As a result, the Directive will be highly relevant to the processing of asylum and refugee claims made by lesbian, gay, or bisexual and transgendered people (LGBT). The purpose of these guidelines is to identify the relevant parts of the Directive for LGBT persons and to enable national organisations to assess whether national legislation meets the Directive’s standards in this area.