September thoughts from Evelyne
In a couple of weeks, the ILGA-Europe team and members will be heading to Dublin. There, we’ll be talking about “how to advance LGBTI equality in challenging economic times”, our theme for this year’s gathering. To be honest, when we decided on the thematic focus of the conference a few months ago, there was a certain assumption on our part that it is harder to get rights recognised in times of economic hardship. Were we right or not in making this assumption?
Well, the news from the European Union this past month actually supports the argument that economic hardship is not an obstacle to progressing equality. On 12 September, the European Parliament adopted a new directive on the rights of victims of crimes motivated by different forms of prejudices, including homophobia and transphobia. This piece of legislation is something of a landmark for two reasons: it’s the first time that specific needs of victims of homophobic and transphobic crimes are recognised at EU level, and even more remarkable, it’s the first international piece of legislation referring to gender expression.
So, perhaps our debates in Dublin will show that our initial assumption is not entirely correct. Perhaps it is, in part, about how we all manage to generate political will and leadership…I’m looking forward to hearing your views at the conference or through our short survey on the economic crisis and LGBTI communities
With warmth and solidarity,
Evelyne
Executive Director
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ILGA-Europe
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In prior of the Annual Confence 2012 taking place in Dublin from 18-21 October, ILGA-Europe have received a following message of support from Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland.
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Do you experience consequences of the economic crisis? Please let ILGA-Europe know!
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On the occasion of the current discussions in the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament, the European Disability Forum (EDF), the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), The European Network Against Racism (ENAR), ILGA-Europe and AGE Platform Europe highlighted their comments on the proposal for a Rights and Citizenship Programme under the future EU budget for 2014-2020.
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On 14-16 September 2012, ILGA-Europe organised a strategic advocacy planning training for its members from different parts of Europe in Budapest.
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In prior of the Annual Conference in Dublin, ILGA-Europe publishes its Annual Report 2011-2012. The report includes work, challenges and achievements of the organisation during the last year.
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ILGA-Europe published our latest "Destination>>EQUALITY" magazine with a focus on the laws banning 'homosexual propaganda' in various European countries.
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Since 1999, 23 September is a “Celebrate Bisexuality Day”. This occasion is an opportunity to address the particular issues bisexual people face and also to raise the awareness about bisexuality and to celebrate the diversity of and differences within the LGBTI communities.
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Asylum
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Following protests from asylum activists, researchers and human rights organisations including ILGA-Europe, the refugee board of Denmark suspended the deportation of a trans woman from Guatemala. The refugee board has moreover decided to re-open her case.
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Bias motivated speech
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In the framework of the project "Young people combating hate speech online", the Youth Department of the Council of Europe launchesa survey on young people's attitudes and experience of online hate speech.
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Bias motivated violence
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The European Parliament adopted a directive which establishes a set of measures to strengthen victims’ rights in the European Union. It is the first time that specific needs of victims of homophobic and transphobic crimes are recognised at EU level, and it is the first international piece of legislation referring to gender expression.
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ILGA-Europe expresses its serious concerns regarding a number of of transphobic and homophobic incidents which took place Europe during September.
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Data collection
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Youth Chances is a research project to explore the impact of sexuality and gender on the life chances of 16-25 years olds across England. The survey will include questions on a range of topics including gender identity, sexual orientation, local community and youth services, crime, housing, education, employment, physical health, mental health and sexual health.
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Education
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54 NGOs demand a resignation of Ilze Viņķele, Latvian Welfare Minister and one of the speakers at ILGA-Europe's Annual Conference, for publishing a book on gender stereotypes for kindergarten and accusing her of "continuing efforts to popularize homosexual trends."
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Equality and non-discrimination
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On 27 September 2012 the Human Rights Council of the United Nations adopted a resolution on 'traditional values and human rights' initiated by Russia. This resolution was criticised and opposed by a number of human rights organisations. Link to the resolution within the main body of this news item.
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Russia refused to sign the declaration issued at the 9th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for youth, which was concluded on 26 September in St. Petersburg, Russia, since the proposed declaration contained an item referring to the requirement to combat discrimination and violation of rights of LGBT youth. For the first time since 1985 a declaration was not adopted.
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Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, spoke about sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination and the needs to tackle it, during his opening speech of the UN Human Rights Council: "the Secretary-General commended the groundbreaking first-ever intergovernmental discussion on discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This should not be a one-time event and Mr. Ban urged the Council to deepen its engagement on this issue so that protection and dignity truly reached all members of the human family."
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Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, published a report on the human rights situation of Finland, based on a country visit in June. The human rights organisation and member of ILGA-Europe, Seta - LGBTI Rights in Finland, welcomes Muiznieks´ views.
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Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party vetoed a proposal that aimed to bring in constitutional protection regarding sexual orientation.
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Family
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A copy of the draft law on marriage equality in France has been leaked to the press. It reveals a plan to change all instances of “mother” and “father” in civil code to just “parents”.
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ILGA-Europe is a partner in a new project about mutual recognition of same-sex parents and their children.
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Freedom of assembly
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United Serbia Party leader and MP Dragan "Palma" Marković has said that the Belgrade Pride Parade, planned for 6 October, would not be held this year either. It will be canceled, Marković told Belgrade-based Prva TV, "for security reasons."
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The Russian Supreme Court will not classify pride parades and other LGBTI public events as propaganda, and such acts will therefore not be restricted by recent legal limitations.
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Human rights defenders
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The House of Equality is the first establishment of its kind in Mumansk and will provide visitors with psychological aid, social events and eventually also legal aid. The centre is a project made possible due to a newly established cooperation between the LGBT organisation Maximum in Murmansk and Civil Rights Defenders.
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Notice board
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The conference in Minsk will explore queer-theory and researches in the space of contemporary academic knowledge; constructing of normative sexuality; homo/transphobia: discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity; queer-families, life strategies of non-heterosexual genders; LGBT-movement, activists projects and initiatives, peculiarities of situation with LGBTcommunity in post-soviet space.
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The United Nations human rights office today releases a new 60-page booklet on sexual orientation and gender identity in international human rights law. The publication, "Born Free and Equal", sets out the source and scope of State obligations under international human rights law to protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
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The guide seeks to reduce the number of obviously inadmissible cases by enabling legal practitioners to properly advise their clients on their chances of bringing an admissible application. This second edition covers case-law up to the end of March 2011. In addition to this guide the Court has launched a short video as well as an interactive admissibility checklist. These tools are aimed at providing lay applicants with more succinct information on the admissibility criteria.
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