Int'l meeting against homophobia under way
21/05/2007
By
Turkish Daily News
Int'l meeting against homophobia under way
May 18, 2007
Turkish Daily News
A two-day international meeting against homophobia kicked off yesterday in
the Turkish capital, with most speakers focusing on the legal vacuum in
safeguarding the rights of homosexuals in Turkey and abroad.
Zehra Kabasakal, expert on political science and women studies, discussed
the issue in the context of international human rights, complaining that
the United Nations is lacking a universal charter on the rights of
homosexuals and that none of the U.N. documents make a direct reference to
homosexuality.
“We must recognize the diversity in order to achieve equality for human
dignity and we must ensure genuine equality,” she told the conference
audience. Kabasakal, referring to the two separate milestones at the
international level on the rights of homosexuals, said one was the removal
by the World Health Organization of homosexuality from the list of the
mental illnesses in May 1990, and the other was the adoption of the
Yogyakarta Principles in November 2006 which address a broad range of
international human rights standards and their application to issues of
sexual orientation and gender identity.
Another guest speaker Börje Vestlund, Social Democrat Party member of the
Swedish Parliament, said seven homosexuals, including himself, sit in the
349-member Swedish Parliament and expressed hope to see homosexuals
members in the future Turkish Parliament.
Anette Trettebergstuen, Labor Party member of the Norwegian Parliament,
said the Norwegian parliament has three LGBT (an acronym for the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender). She said the gender mutual marriage act would
come into force in Norway in 2009.
The last speaker of the conference, Kürşad Kahramanoğlu, member of Kaos
Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Organization (Kaos GL),
called on the states to adopt the Yogyakarta Principles. He also
emphasized that homosexuals in Turkey give full support for Turkey's
ambitions to become a member of the European Union, since it would also
improve the rights of homosexuals in Turkey.
A 20-minute documentary was on display in the beginning of the conference,
which depicted interviews with homosexuals, who said they lack legal
protections and face social stigma in Turkey and fall victim to
discrimination and violence in society.
Original Link: http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=73527
May 18, 2007
Turkish Daily News
A two-day international meeting against homophobia kicked off yesterday in
the Turkish capital, with most speakers focusing on the legal vacuum in
safeguarding the rights of homosexuals in Turkey and abroad.
Zehra Kabasakal, expert on political science and women studies, discussed
the issue in the context of international human rights, complaining that
the United Nations is lacking a universal charter on the rights of
homosexuals and that none of the U.N. documents make a direct reference to
homosexuality.
“We must recognize the diversity in order to achieve equality for human
dignity and we must ensure genuine equality,” she told the conference
audience. Kabasakal, referring to the two separate milestones at the
international level on the rights of homosexuals, said one was the removal
by the World Health Organization of homosexuality from the list of the
mental illnesses in May 1990, and the other was the adoption of the
Yogyakarta Principles in November 2006 which address a broad range of
international human rights standards and their application to issues of
sexual orientation and gender identity.
Another guest speaker Börje Vestlund, Social Democrat Party member of the
Swedish Parliament, said seven homosexuals, including himself, sit in the
349-member Swedish Parliament and expressed hope to see homosexuals
members in the future Turkish Parliament.
Anette Trettebergstuen, Labor Party member of the Norwegian Parliament,
said the Norwegian parliament has three LGBT (an acronym for the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender). She said the gender mutual marriage act would
come into force in Norway in 2009.
The last speaker of the conference, Kürşad Kahramanoğlu, member of Kaos
Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Organization (Kaos GL),
called on the states to adopt the Yogyakarta Principles. He also
emphasized that homosexuals in Turkey give full support for Turkey's
ambitions to become a member of the European Union, since it would also
improve the rights of homosexuals in Turkey.
A 20-minute documentary was on display in the beginning of the conference,
which depicted interviews with homosexuals, who said they lack legal
protections and face social stigma in Turkey and fall victim to
discrimination and violence in society.
Original Link: http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=73527
