Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the EU has been primarily focused on the prevention of further infections and the recovery of those who have been infected. Thus, other concerns, which had been slated to receive support, have been put on the back burner. At the beginning of April, the European Commission announced the postponement of several initiatives related to LGBTI, Roma and gender rights.

LGBTI+ and Roma minorities

  • The current approach to the integration of Roma, Europe’s largest ethnic minority with six million people living in the EU, expires in 2020. Furthermore, in order to receive the same basic rights and experience the same medical and living conditions as any other EU citizen, several amendments will have to be made by the end of 2020.
  • Approval of the Hungarian law which permits legally changing one's gender has also been postponed. Yet, in mid-April, a group of lawmakers asked to revoke these amendments.

Fundamental rights and gender

  • Use and awareness of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rights of victims of crime could be delayed until 2021. However, experts have stated that domestic bullying and violence could reach a new phase during lockdown and quarantine, and that therefore domestic violence victims must not be neglected.
  • The promotion of gender equality has been postponed until 2021. Unfortunately, the UN has warned several organizations that COVID-19 response plans have been unevenly distributed and accessed depending on gender.

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