CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg presented the first report on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in Europe, reflecting the problems faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons.

Accoridng to results of national surveys, 9 out of 47 CoE member states have no legislation on non-dsicrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. Here belong Armenia, Monako, Russia, San-Marino, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldavia and Azerbaijan.

Restrictions on the freedom of association, as well as registration of LGBT organisations and statutes have been observed in five member states during the period 2004-2010: Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine.

According to the report, 25 CoE members do not recognize same-sex marriages; 35 states do not allow adoption to same-sex couples.