Ahead of International Human Rights Day, Thorbjørn Jagland warned that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Europeans continue to face discrimination in many parts of the continent.

"Homosexuality has been decriminalised all over Europe, but prejudice and hypocrisy still exist towards LGBT persons in Europe. Recently, discriminatory laws have been proposed or even adopted, in member states such as in Lithuania, Ukraine and in some regions of the Russian Federation. This is a violation of basic human rights and a set back to the progress we have achieved in promoting and protecting human dignity," he said.

"European governments as well as political and moral leaders know that the European Convention on Human Rights does not allow for persecution on the grounds of sexual identity. My message on this year's International Human Rights Day is to always remember this, and to bear in mind that human rights are for all or they are for none."

Press release