Twelve years into annually reporting on the human rights situation of LGBTQIA+ people, Europe’s leading LGBTQIA+ equality organisation finds that pervasive hate speech across the region has led to life or death consequences.
Tag: Estonia
The Tall Ships Races to return to Antwerp in 2026 and 2030
Last weekend, The Tall Ships Races once again came to Antwerp. Combined with the Bollekesfeest beer festival, it attracted huge crowds. The sailing event will return to Antwerp in 2026 and 2030.
Passenger Locator Form to mostly disappear, except if you enter Belgium from outside the European Union, including stopovers
On Friday 4 March 2022, the Consultative Committee of Governments in Belgium has announced a major relaxation of coronavirus countermeasures in the Kingdom under Code Yellow. You will only need to wear a face mask on public transport (train, tram, bus, metro) and in hospitals or other collective care facility. This ‘almost back to normal’…
Political and governmental homophobia and transphobia in Europe not necessarily backed by public opinion
A report from ILGA-Europe, the leading LGBTQI organisation in Europe and Central Asia finds that amid a rise in official anti-LGBTI rhetoric fuelling a wave of hate crime in every country in Europe, there is a growing institutional resolve to tackle hatred and exclusion.
COVID-19 | Flanders goes green for travel in Europe
On the new colour map by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Flanders is now a green zone. Brussels and Wallonia remain for now orange. That is good news as other countries will be more welcoming for residents of Flanders. That is the case for the Netherlands for instance, which remain mostly orange…
European Union declared ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’ but reality is quite different
On 11 March 2021, the European Parliament passed a resolution declaring the European Union a ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone‘. This resolution was a reaction to self-declared LGBT-free and ‘LGBT-ideology’ free zones in Poland and Hungary. But ILGA-Europe made a state of the European Union regarding the real-life situation of queer people in the EU.
So we can travel, but where to?
From today, we can travel to and from Belgium. That travel can be non-essential. But while we can leave Belgium for another member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area, it is important to research which country is welcoming tourists.
Belgium allows non-essential leisure travel from and to EU Member States
The Consultative Committee of Governments has as expected decided to allow non-essential leisure travel from and to member states of the European Union. Starting 19 April. But it’s not a free pass.
Belgium to allow leisure travel within European Union and Schengen Area from 19 April
COVID-19 | The updated Ministerial Decree of Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) confirms leisure travel outside Belgium and within the European Union and the Schengen Area will be allowed from 19 April. That is after the Easter School Holiday.
CORONAVIRUS | Belgians allowed to travel within Schengen Zone from 15 June
The National Security Council of Belgium announced some major relaxation of coronavirus countermeasures from 8 June.