Interesting New Article: The Fight Against Discrimination on the Grounds of Sex, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the External Relations of the European Union

Evola, M. (2023). The Fight Against Discrimination on the Grounds of Sex, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the External Relations of the European Union. In: Krstić, I., Evola, M., Ribes Moreno, M.I. (eds) Legal Issues of International Law from a Gender Perspective . Gender Perspectives in Law, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13459-3_1

• Marco Evola 

• Chapter
• First Online: 17 February 2023

• 35 Accesses

Part of the Gender Perspectives in Law book series (GPL,volume 3)

Abstract

The paper assesses how non-discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity is conceived within European Union (EU) external relations and the legal issues it encompasses. An analysis of the multifarious instruments the EU avails itself in shaping its external action makes it clear that the EU approach towards equality is neither holistic nor homogeneous.

The EU promotes gender equality in all fields of its external relations, but action to outlaw discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity is limited to accession to the EU and the European Neighbourhood Policy. EU external action to advance equality of women and LGBTIQ persons is suspended in a limbo between the protection of human rights and the economic rationale, which has rooted internal action in non-discrimination. The paper argues that the tension between the two approaches and the inconsistencies in promoting human rights in its external relations have prevented EU external action from eradicating the prejudices and stereotypes regarding discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.