ATHENS — "The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is an occasion to reaffirm our commitment that the protection and respect of human dignity and differentness are the moral obligation of every democratic state," President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said on Monday during a meeting with the president of the Committee on a National Strategy for LGBTQI+ Equality Linos Alexandros Sisilianos, a professor of public-sector international law at the Athens University Law School, and committee members Prof. Katerina Fountedaki and Stella Belia.

Sakellaropoulou underlined that an unwavering dedication to a society of no exclusions, which encourages and support the universal human right to freedom to choose and love, is more than a duty but a conquest for all.

After being briefed on the Committee's actions, she expressed satisfaction with its determination to eradicate all the forms of discrimination to which LGBTQI+ citizens are subjected, while noting that there had been a sharp improvement against such prejudices and in the stigmatising and marginalisation of LGBTQI individuals in recent years in Greece.

Sakellaropoulou said the Greek State must now remove remaining discrimination that undermines equality before the law and restricts rights based on gender and sexual orientation, urging the need for action to deal with discrimination in schools and to protect children and their families from stigma.