Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 1, 2026

The Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data responsibly and transparently. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal information when you use the ERC digital platform.

 

1. Who we are 

The Equal Rights Coalition is an intergovernmental and civil society body dedicated to the protection and promotion of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) persons worldwide. 

The Secretariat of the ERC is the permanent body responsible for the fiscal, administrative, and institutional functions of the Coalition, with responsibility for upholding this privacy policy. The ERC digital platform is managed by ILGA World on behalf of the Coalition on the basis of instructions received from the Secretariat.   

The overall governance of the ERC and its Secretariat is overseen by its Executive Committee and the Member State and civil society co-chairs. The co-chairs serve for a two-year term. 

This privacy policy is regularly reviewed by the governance bodies of the ERC on the basis of reports from the Secretariat. 

 

2. Scope of this policy 

This privacy policy applies to the ERC digital platform, including its website. 

By using this platform, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. 

 

3. How we collect personal information 

We collect personal information only where necessary and primarily through the following touch points: 

  • Contact us forms 
  • Direct email correspondence initiated by you 

We do not collect personal data automatically but rather only when submitted by you. 

 

4. What information we collect 

Depending on how you interact with the platform, we may collect: 

  • Your name 
  • Your email address 
  • Your organisation or affiliation (if provided) 
  • The content of your message or enquiry 

We aim to collect the minimum amount of personal data necessary to respond to your request or engage with you. 

 

5. Lawful basis for processing 

We process personal data based on your informed consent. 

As a user, you will be asked to give explicit consent before submitting personal information and informed of how it will be used by any of the bodies of the ERC.  

You may withdraw your consent at any time by notifying the Secretariat (see Section 10: Your rights). 

 

 6. How we use your information 

We use personal information solely to: 

  • Respond to enquiries or requests you submit. 
  • Engage with you regarding ERC activities, where you have requested or consented to this. 
  • Manage and administer the ERC digital platform. 

We do not use personal data for commercial purposes, advertising, or automated decision-making. 

7. Data storage and retention 

Personal data submitted through the ERC digital platform is: 

  • Processed by Secretariat staff and representatives of the organisation hosting its Secretariat 
  • Stored only on secure email systems or secure digital environments used by the Secretariat and its host organisations 
  • Deleted no later than twelve months after a response has been provided, unless a longer retention period is legally required 

If responsibility for the digital platform transfers to a new Secretariat host, management of data processing also transfers. No personal data will be retained beyond what is necessary for this transition and will comply with privacy and data security requirements.   

 

8. Sharing of personal data 

The ERC will not share your personal data with third parties without your explicit consent, except where required by law. 

The ERC digital platform may include links to external websites operated by partners or third parties. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. 

 

9. Data protection and security 

The ERC takes appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. 

The entity hosting the ERC Secretariat and its digital platform, currently ILGA World, commits to complying with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where relevant. 

 

10. Your rights 

Depending on applicable data protection laws, you have the right to: 

  • Access the personal data we hold about you 
  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data 
  • Request deletion of your personal data 
  • Withdraw your consent to the ERC holding or processing your data 
  • Object to the processing of your personal data 

Requests can be made by contacting the Secretariat (see Section 11). We aim to respond within no more than 10 working days.  

 

11. Contact details 

For questions about this privacy policy or to exercise your data protection rights, please contact: Secretariat@ilga.org 

 

12. Changes to this policy 

This privacy policy will be updated to reflect changes in ERC governance, platform management, or legal requirements. The current version will always be published on the ERC digital platform.