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	Statement by the Minister of State with responsibility for<br />
	Disability, Older People, Equality &amp; Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch TD</p>
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	The Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Older People, Equality &amp; Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch TD, will sign today the 2014 IDAHO Declaration of Intent at a meeting of European equality Ministers in Malta.&nbsp; The Declaration is a non binding international commitment to fight against homophobia and transphobia world wide.</p>
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	Speaking at the meeting, Minister Lynch said &quot;Homophobic and hate crimes are truly international issues, not just because of their geographic occurrence across the globe&nbsp; but more importantly because they are direct violations of the principles of liberty, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.&nbsp;&nbsp; All people, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity are entitled to protection and the right to live their lives free from intolerance and discrimination.&quot;</p>
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	The main features of the Declaration of Intent are a commitment by the signatories to ensure that national legislative and other measures are put in place and implemented to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity as well as guaranteeing freedom of expression and assembly, particularly for lawful public events such as pride marches and the effective protection of participants.</p>
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	The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is recognised annually in over 60 countries on or around 17 May, the 1990 date when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.</p>
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	14 May 2014</p>
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	Note for Editors</p>
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	The second IDAHO Forum is being held on 13th-14th May 2014 in Valletta, Malta. The Forum, marking the 2014 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, has the theme: Responses to homophobia &amp; transphobia at the national, European &amp; international level. One of the main purposes of the IDAHO Forum is to launch a process toward coordinated action tackling homophobia and transphobia at all levels.<br />
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	Ireland has comprehensive legislative and other measures in place in this area of anti-discrimination with further initiatives planned such as amending the current section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998 (on maintaining the ethos of religious run institutions), the forthcoming Gender Recognition Bill 2014 aimed at giving legal recognition to changes of gender, a General Scheme for a&nbsp; new&nbsp; Children and Family Relationships Bill published in January last&nbsp; year proposing&nbsp; significant changes in family law to reflect&nbsp; the new diversity of families in Ireland, and a proposal to hold a referendum on same sex marriage later in the term of the Government.&nbsp; Ireland is therefore well placed to participate in the IDAHO initiative and support the Declaration.<br />
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	<a href="http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR14000118">http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR14000118</a></p>
