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<p>Local staff attended each of the workshops, and made small reports about the issues discussed and what the outcomes were.</p>

<a name="eztoc96769_1" id="eztoc96769_1"></a><h2>Workshop 1: Government work on LGBT (focal points)</h2><p>
<b>Description of the workshop:</b><br />The workshop will share the outcomes of the roundtable on LGBT equality policy mainstreaming of like-minded national governments with ILGA-Europe. The following topics will be covered how to approach and commit the LGB &amp; T community, how to monitor progress in the area of LGBT Equality, does the devolution process from national to local level work, the transversal approach of the government's LGBT policy, how governments promote transgender equality specifically? </p><p><i>Presenters: Hilary Third (Scotland), Ben Baks (the Netherlands), Marian van den Bossche (Flanders, Belgium)</i></p><p><b>Main issues discussed:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>Flemish LGBT policy discussed</li>

<li>who participated in the Roundtable discussions taking place Wednesday and which governments did not turn up.</li>

<li>Discussion of social acceptance and homosexuality in Dutch society – Dutch government contribution</li>

<li>Transgender inclusion in Scotland</li>

</ul>
<p><b>Main outcomes:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>Growth from 6 to 12 like minded national governments.</li>

<li>New priorities for like minded national governments including tackling hate crime, trans issues, public health issues and awareness of rights.</li>

<li>Policy mainstreaming needs to be proctive as well as reactive.</li>

<li>Both vertical and horizontal approach (Flanders)</li>

<li>Promote this apporach in EU and international context. </li>

<li>Dutch government support of religious and faith based LGBT's to empower them to effect attidutidal change</li>

<li>Dutch government support of gay and straight alliances.</li>

<li>Support of local municipalities.</li>

<li>Wide spectrum of range of equality success in various European countries .</li>

<li>Governments need to be judged by results which reflect real and meaningful improments.</li>

<li>Need for explicit focus on gender identity across equality work.</li>

<li>Equality issues need politcal leadership.</li>

</ul>
<a name="eztoc96769_2" id="eztoc96769_2"></a><h2>Workshop 3: Update on developments in the Council of Europe</h2><p>
<b>Description of the workshop:</b><br />In February an expert committee of the Council of Europe started work on a groundbreaking development -- a Recommendation by the Committee of Ministers on combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. The workshop will look at the first draft of the recommendation, discuss its significance, and the steps needed to prevent hostile governments watering it down before it is approved. It will also look at developments in relation to the preparation of a Recommendation and Resolution on LGBT rights by the Parliamentary Assembly.</p><p><i>Presenters: Nigel Warner, ILGA-Europe Advisor on Council of Europe</i></p><p><b>Main issues discussed:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>The limitations of the recommendation by the council of ministers on combating discrimination</li>

<li>Pace report and resolution – CoE</li>

<li>Violence Against Women Resolution</li>

<li>LGBT families issues discussed in light of the revision of the “1975 European Convention on the legal status of Children Born out of Wedlock”</li>

<li>Interrights v. Croatia - European Social Charter – Sex Education</li>

</ul>
<p><b>Main outcomes:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>Lobbying CoE national representative3s + for LGBT isues to be put on CoF agenda</li>

<li>Reporting and taking legal action leading to EcoHR regarding any discrimintation on the grounds of sexual orientations and gender identity</li>

<li>Lobby to include LBT women in the Violence Against Women Resolution </li>

</ul>
<a name="eztoc96769_3" id="eztoc96769_3"></a><h2>Workshop 4: New major national surveys on LGBT living conditions, mental health and well being</h2><p>
<b>Description of the workshop:</b><br />The findings of new surveys from Denmark and Ireland will be presented and the use and applicability of the studies discussed, including recommendations for future actions. The findings of these studies give an up-to-date picture of what is is like to grow-up and live in Denmark and Ireland as an LGBT person, including the barriers and challenges to health and well-being.</p><p>Allen Odhrán's presentation can be retrieved below.</p><p>Søren Laursen's presentation can be retrieved below.</p><p><i>Presenters: Allen Odhrán, GLEN (Ireland) and Søren Laursen, LBL (Denmark)</i></p><p><b>Main issues discussed:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>In Denmark 11% of gay women live with children. </li>

<li>2/3 of survey never talk about being trans, hence one wouldn’t realise that statistic wise there are the same amount of trans as there are gay men. </li>

<li>Majority of trans persons are not discriminated against due to appearance but for other reasons. </li>

<li>Young LGBT get hurt much more – anxiety (more at risk when as regards mental health) – minority stress. </li>

<li>The number of LGBT who have attempted suicide is twice that of their heterosexual counterparts (5%), most of these coming from the bracket of 0-12 years. In Dublin it’s more or less the same situation. </li>

<li>80% of LGBT and 60% of trans are comfortable with their identity, therefore less risk to minority stress after they are out and have support from family, LGBT community, as well as positive experiences at school. </li>

<li>Most common age to know you’re LGBT is 12 years old. However 17 years is the most common age when they told someone. The period before coming out was the most stressful. </li>

</ul>
<p><b>Main outcomes:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>Questions have to be precise and statistically validated.</li>

<li>The problem is not about being LGBT but the way they are treated. 60% feel fine with their identity, but then when something happens to the minority and it feels bad they feel worse than the rest of the population. </li>

<li>Since there is bullying in school, some might take bullying in the workplace for granted and when they are discriminated again at work, they take it as normal so not mark it in surveys. </li>

<li>Importance of elderly gay.</li>

<li>Lobbying is needed so that funding is given towards reports for mental health. </li>

</ul>
<a name="eztoc96769_4" id="eztoc96769_4"></a><h2>Workshop 5: Challenging hate crimes, an emergency all over Europe</h2><p>
<b>Description of the workshop:</b><br />When it comes to hate crimes, all European countries face a great challenge. After decades of prejudices against LGBT people, even equality in law is not enough to protect from bias violence. How can comprehensive policies be implemented to tackle hate crimes? What legislations should the States and the European institutions adopt? What is the role of the civil society?</p><p><i>Presenters: Joel le Deroff, Policy &amp; Programmes Officer of ILGA-Europe, national LGBT focal points Ben Baks(the Netherlands) and Hilary Third (Scotland), Adviser on civil society relations of ODIHR Matilde Fruncillo.</i></p><p><b>Main issues discussed:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>Under – reporting of hate crime</li>

<li>Dutch government contribution to combating hate crime</li>

<li>New Scottish hate crime legislation</li>

<li>How to counter deposition to hate crime legislation</li>

<li>Discussion of OSCE mandate and its decision to increase focus of hate crime</li>

<li>How can trans – phobia be tackled?</li>

</ul>
<p><b>Main outcomes:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>Better reporting policies needed </li>

<li>Profiling of typical hate crime perpetrator useful</li>

<li>Hate crime offences attract a premium in sentancing policy</li>

<li>Need to engage with civil society</li>

<li>Consequences of hate crime are not limited to the act itself but has much wider consequences to the individual and society</li>

<li>Inform that hate crime can affect anyone and different groups and have similar origins and motivations</li>

<li>Activists can lobby their respective government representatives</li>

<li>A comprehensive approach is needed to tackle the reasons and motivations behind hate crimes </li>

<li>Better training needed for enforcement officers</li>

</ul>
<a name="eztoc96769_5" id="eztoc96769_5"></a><h2>Workshop 6: How to make LGB organisations fully LGBTI</h2><p>
<b>Description of the workshop:</b><br />Last November ILGA changed its name to The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans &amp; Intersex Association. ILGA-Europe automatically followed suit. Likewise, following an internal discussion between LGB activists and T activists Holebifederatie (the Flemish LGB organisation) change its name to Çavaria and fully embraced gender identity and gender expression in its mission. This workshop will discuss what’s behind the name changes, and focus on the process many organisations are currently undertaking to fully embrace all LGBTI people in their diversity.</p><p><i>Presenters: Yves Aerts and Veronique Claus, Çavaria (Belgium) </i></p><p><b>Main issues discussed:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>Description of Cavaria as umbrella organisation with over 100 groups, including more recently transgender.</li>

<li>Communality between Trans group especially and LGB led to the merge (including misconceptions about gender id, expression and stereotypes).</li>

<li>LGB + T is still a process and its still being evaluated.</li>

<li>Where does LGB + T meet? Definitions – PROJECT called Gender Bender (website, toolkit, conference, target group, educators, health, youth) led to a new MODEL </li>

<li>Discussion on whether terminology should be universal or at least recognised at European Level or should be up to the individual countries.</li>

</ul>
<p><b>Main outcomes:</b></p>
<ul>

<li>Every country/culture will vary in its ideas on correct terminology </li>

<li>Various models are needed for informed debate and decision making</li>

<li>Awareness – raising on trans communities needs and variables between countries including choice of organisation name.</li>

<li>Concern over orgs viability to tackle areas such as Trans due to lack of resources but conclusion is tha every battle leads to equality for all in the end.</li>

</ul>
<a name="eztoc96769_6" id="eztoc96769_6"></a><h2>Workshop 8: Sexual health and Rights</h2><p>
<b>Description of the workshop:</b><br />What are sexual health and rights? What is the international agenda in this field? What are the intersections between sexual health and rights discourse and the equality and non-discrimination discourse in advocacy? Should ILGA-Europe have an internal policy on these issues, and what could such a policy include? These are some of the questions the workshop will seek to answer in an interactive form with the conference participants.</p><p><i>Facilitators: Maxim Anmeghichean, ILGA-Europe Programmes Director, Lilit Poghosyan, ILGA-Europe Programmes and Policy Officer. </i></p><p><b>Main issues discussed: </b></p>
<ul>

<li>Understanding of sexual health and rights from different perspectives (legal, human rights, reproductive etc.).</li>

<li>Discussing definitions of Sexual health and rights. </li>

<li>Sexual rights as a framework/discourse which could be used to approach the work of our organizations. </li>

<li>Discussion regarding the adoption of Sexual health and rights framework; as well as arguments against.</li>

</ul>
<p>
<b>Main outcomes:</b><br />General agreement that:</p>
<ul>

<li>further discussions needed.</li>

<li>Sexual health and rights framework compliments the LGBT human rights framework and that elements of both discourses can be implemented/combined into our work. </li>

<li>Policy on Sexual Health and Rights could be developed with the relevant actors and supported by existing work/documents. </li>

</ul>

<p>At the Workshop 4: New major national surveys on LGBT living conditions, mental health and well-being</p>

<p>At the Workshop 4: New major national surveys on LGBT living conditions, mental health and well-being</p>

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