Захист прав представників ЛГБТ спільноти в практиці ЄСПЛ

Abstract

Актуальність дослідження зумовлена необхідністю всебічного аналізу судової практики ЄСПЛ у сфері захисту прав ЛГБТ та визначення ключових підходів суду до вирішення справ щодо захисту прав представників ЛГБТ спільноти. Вивчення рішень та прецедентів ЄСПЛ дозволить виявити проблемні аспекти та напрацювати рекомендації щодо вдосконалення механізмів захисту прав представників ЛГБТ спільноти для національної практики. Об'єктом дослідження є практика Європейського суду з прав людини у сфері захисту прав представників ЛГБТ спільноти. Предмет - рішення та правові позиції ЄСПЛ у справах, пов’язаних із захистом прав ЛГБТ, зокрема як право на повагу до приватного та сімейного життя, право на свободу вираження поглядів та зборів та право на захист від дискримінації у трудових відносинах. Метою кваліфікаційної роботи є комплексний аналіз практики ЄСПЛ у сфері захисту прав представників ЛГБТ спільноти та визначення основних підходів і стандартів, які застосовуються судом при вирішенні справ щодо захисту прав зазначених осіб. В результаті проведеного дослідження були вирішені поставлені перед автором завдання, а саме: 1. надано характеристику основних теоретико-правових засад захисту прав ЛГБТ в практиці ЄСПЛ; 2. проведено аналіз ключових рішень ЄСПЛ у справах, пов'язаних із захистом прав ЛГБТ; 3. визначені основні підходи та правові позиції ЄСПЛ щодо захисту таких прав ЛГБТ спільноти як право на повагу до приватного та сімейного життя, право на свободу вираження поглядів та зборів та право на захист від дискримінації у трудових відносинах; 4. надано характеристику впливу практики ЄСПЛ на сферу захисту прав представників ЛГБТ спільноти в Україні.

The relevance of the research topic is that ensuring the protection of rights for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) individuals has become an increasingly pertinent issue in international human rights law. Despite progress made in recent years, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity persists in various parts of the world, including within the Council of Europe member states. The case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) plays a pivotal role in shaping the standards for safeguarding the rights of LGBT persons across the European continent and interpreting the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in this context. The work aims to find out the key challenges and gaps in the ECtHR's jurisprudence regarding the protection of LGBT rights, and to formulate recommendations for enhancing the safeguarding of these rights at the European level. The research seeks to identify areas in protection of the rights regarding the LGBT people to respect private and family life, freedom of expression and assembly and prohibition of discrimination in the workplace where the Court's approach has been progressive and transformative, as well as instances where its decisions have fallen short or failed to adequately address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the LGBT community. The research object is the societal relationships related to the realization and protection of LGBTI rights within the context of the ECtHR's case law. It encompasses the complex interplay between the legal framework, societal attitudes, and the lived experiences of LGBTI individuals in Europe and Ukraine, as reflected in the cases brought before the Court. The subject of the study is the judgments, decisions, and rulings of the ECtHR pertaining to the protection of LGBTI rights, as well as the relevant provisions of the ECHR, particularly Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination), Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life), Article 10 (freedom of expression) and Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association). The analysis focuses on how the Court has interpreted and applied these articles in cases involving issues such as same-sex relationships, gender recognition, freedom of assembly and expression for LGBT individuals, and hate speech or hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity. The main results of the work are a comprehensive analysis of the ECtHR's landmark judgments in cases involving discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity such as Dudgeon v United Kingdom (1981), Oganezova v. Armenia (2012), Maymulakhin and Markiv v. Ukraine (2014), Schalk and Kopf v Austria (2010), Genderdoc-M v. Moldova (2005), Lustig-Prean and Beckett v.the United Kingdom, etc. , identification of the main challenges and issues in protecting LGBTI rights within the ECtHR's jurisprudence, and recommendations for improving the mechanisms for protecting LGBTI rights at the European level. The analysis highlights both progressive developments, such as the recognition of same-sex relationships, the extension of certain family rights, freedom of free speech and assembly, prohibition of discrimination in the workplace to LGBT individuals, as well as persisting gaps and inconsistencies in the Court's approach. The recommendations formulated include broadening the interpretation of Article 14 of the ECHR to explicitly include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, reinforcing the positive obligations of states in safeguarding the rights of LGBT individuals, and promoting capacity-building initiatives for legal professionals, judges, and law enforcement officials to better understand and address the specific challenges faced by the LGBT community. Also, recommendations were made regarding the situation in Ukraine based on the relevant problems in the country and the European standards: - to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that clearly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in all areas of life and establishes effective mechanisms of legal protection - to make the amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine to establish liability for hate crimes against the LGBT community. - to legalize same-sex marriage or civil partnerships for LGBT couples, granting them the same rights and guarantees as traditional marriages (property rights, inheritance, right to medical information, etc.). - to conduct educational work in the society to overcome homophobia, transphobia and stereotypes about the LGBT community. - to ensure strict compliance with Ukraine's international obligations, in particular the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, to protect the rights of LGBT persons by implementing these judgments in national legislation and practice. Furthermore, the work emphasizes the need for a more consistent and comprehensive approach to LGBT rights within the ECtHR's jurisprudence, drawing upon international human rights standards and best practices. It also highlights the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration between the Court, LGBT advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that the evolving interpretation of the ECHR remains responsive to the diverse needs and experiences of LGBT individuals across Europe.