Brussels: Ahead of Monday's International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the European Union's (EU) foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell highlighted the growing injustice against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people amid pandemic.
"The Covid-19 pandemic has led to even higher levels of violence and discrimination against LGBTI persons, including domestic violence, hate speech online and offline, and hate crimes," Borrell said on Sunday
Stressing on the rights of equality and human freedom, Borrell reaffirmed the EU's strong commitment to defend and promote human rights, including for LGBTI people, reports DPA news agency.
"The EU will continue to address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, highlighting the vulnerable situation of LGBTI persons in the Covid-19 recovery and calling for a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable society," Borrell said in the statement.
He also added that he was concerned that 69 countries criminalised loving relationships between people of the same sex and 11 countries even threatened the death penalty for the same.