Malta maintains first place on the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index

Rights group ILGA-Europe released its annual Rainbow Europe Index, assessing countries on their progress in pursuing specific legal reforms to secure equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

The 2018 Rainbow Europe Map and Index reveal that fewer countries are moving up the country ranking; many are stagnating, including countries that are traditionally perceived as equality ‘frontrunners’. This lack of sustained progress on LGBTI equality issues should set off alarm bells for policymakers and advocates alike.

The Index ranks 49 countries in Europe on their LGBTI equality laws and policies. While Malta, Belgium and Norway are on 'Top 3', Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are in the bottom of the Index.

The Rainbow Map and Index presents a picture of what the policy landscape is like right now, while the Annual Review also attempts to answer the question “what’s next?”  Recommendations for national policymakers have been included in the Annual Review for the second time. 

These are intended to encourage policymakers to address the most pressing legal and policy priorities within the framework of our Rainbow Map/Index.