Azerbaijani activists re Eurovision in Baku this Saturday
22/05/2012
Submitted by
Gender and Development
The Azeri organisation, Gender and Development, which works on LGBT issues and is affiliated to ILGA, has issued this statement re Saturday’s Eurovision song contest:
1. During the Eurovision Song Contest we plan to meet with all the journalists who are interested LGBT situation and also conducting various parties.
2. Our organization will not do PRIDE and MARCH.
3. Yes of course, Eurovision Song Contest is a big opportunity to raise awareness of LGBT and of human rights more generally.
Background briefing produced by Gender and Development
The law about prosecution for homosexuality was cancelled in 2001 in Azerbaijan. Cancellation of this law allowed LGBT community in Azerbaijan to a message more active public life. So in 2006 LGBT initiative group of mutual aid was created and in 2007 and officially passed the state registration as NGO Gender and Development.
Established on March 15 2007, the Azerbaijani non-governmental organization of "Gender & Development" is the only and unique non-profit organization in Azerbaijan advancing the rights of LGBT and MSM community on national and the international level. Within 5-years of work "Gender & Development", with the help and cooperation of PRECIS project financed by the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has turned into the high-grade organization with the democratic structure of management, the professional staff and volunteers. Today this organization successfully works in the field of informing LGBT community on the events occurring in the country and beyond its limits, provides legal support as well as social and psychological and medical care to beneficiaries.
«Gender & Development» actively cooperates with other non-governmental organizations, as well as the government authorities.
Gender and Development has been successfully cooperating with Ministry of Health and State AIDS center for 4 years. Also, it’s been 5 years that we’ve been a member in a coalition of 32 NGO according to the program of Decrease in Harm (HIV / AIDS, STD and tuberculosis prevention and control). We successfully cooperate with Global Fund and the Soros Foundation in Azerbaijan; in 2012, thanks to financial support of Global Fund, our organization established the branch offices in two large cities of our country - Sumgait and Ganja to work with LGBT and MSM community. Our organization successfully cooperates with WHO and UNAIDS. We are a member ЭКОМ (Eurasian coalitions of health of the man). The chairman of Gender and Development is one of the founders and national coordinator in Azerbaijan of MSM/TG network in Southern Caucasus MCM / TG. The chairman of Gender and Development is the official representative in Azerbaijan of the International Alliance of HIV /AIDS Ukraine. As our organization actively cooperates with local and international media and has good experience in communication with the PRESS. We are members of ILGA Europe.
Our organization has a wide experience in prevention HIV /AIDS and STDs.
Our organization works in three largest cities of Azerbaijan of Baku, Sumgait and Ganja. There are 8 active outreach staff.
The main consumers of means of protection still are representatives of transgender group and sex workers. Our outreach staff distributes 60-65 thousand condoms and disposable lubricants every year.
We distribute 5-7 thousand units of printing literature on HIV AIDS and STD prevention and safe sexual behavior every year.
Annually our organization holds seminars for LGBT and MSM community of on safe sexual behavior and prevention HIV AIDS and STD at office of our organization.
In 2007, we carried out epidemiological and behavioral research in the MSM group on system a snowball among 100 people.
In 2008, our organization shot the film documented on violations of the rights of LGBT and MSM community, mockery and blackmail from police.
The film was widespread among the local and world organizations on human rights protection.
In 2010 our organization shot the film – poll on HIV AIDS at among the Baku population and a social sort movie, which was aired on public television.
In 2008 our organization carried out research on knowledge of safe sexual behavior and HIV AIDS and STD and discrimination based on sexual orientation among LGBT and MSM community, among 1000 people in three cities of our country.
In 2010 we obtained an official permission from Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan and carried out epidemiological and behavioral research in the MSM group on RDS system among 450 people. The research was carried out with financial support of COC Netherlands.
In 2011 together with Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan and AIDS Center carried out epidemiological and behavioral research in MSM group on RDS system among 300 people in three cities.
In August 2011, our organization launched the project connected with Eurovision song contest, which will take place in Baku in May, 2012. The idea of this project was connected with the negative propaganda about Azerbaijan in the Internet and in the European press. Many negative articles were shared; and the situation regarding LGBT situation was compared with LGBT situation of Iran. The press misinformed representatives of the European LGBT community. It was reported that in Azerbaijan police pursue gays, scoff at them and tortures them. It was reported that the representatives of LGBT communities get verbally and physically assaulted on the streets. We, as LGBT organization, certainly have the facts of violence over representatives of LGBT community, but they aren't connected with the above-mentioned.
So, on September 30 2011 our organization held a press conference in "Azerbaijan Media Center". The press release was spread to more 30 newspapers and websites. 15 representatives of media attended the press conference. We informed representatives of media on negative articles, especially about the situation of LGBT community. We announced a contest of the best article about LGBT in Azerbaijan. Within this competition we provide to your attention of video of interview to public figures and human rights activists which express the opinion concerning position of community of LGBT in Azerbaijan. As a result of this competition, here are some interviews of public figures and human rights activists which express the opinion concerning position of community of LGBT in Azerbaijan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlV2yLO7snc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn3GseeZYEE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38TfU1C1vwI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yTgU_4JSps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRWa7viut3U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiBzUfvSK5w
Also the chairman of our organization was interviewed by German office of EURONEWS, and to the Norwegian state channel, during their visit connected with presentation of the key of EUROVISION. The assistant to the coordinator of the project Baghirov Elkhan helped with writing the articles about situation of LGBT in Azerbaijan in the Eurovision context of German newspaper "SüddeutscheZeitung" by Tull Krauza, Leah Topper Spanish journalist from El Mundo newspaper, Hakon Hoydal Norwegian journalist from the VG newspaper, also met with the deputy of the European parliament of Ulrica Lunachek.
Our organization provided the documented cases of violence because of sexual orientation for 2011 for the annual report "Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in the OSCE region". Among 19 countries which sent information (Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey) our country goes the second in the list by the smallest quantity of violence because of sexual orientation for 2011. Turkey is the last in the list with the greatest number of violence because of sexual orientation for 2011.
1. During the Eurovision Song Contest we plan to meet with all the journalists who are interested LGBT situation and also conducting various parties.
2. Our organization will not do PRIDE and MARCH.
3. Yes of course, Eurovision Song Contest is a big opportunity to raise awareness of LGBT and of human rights more generally.
Background briefing produced by Gender and Development
The law about prosecution for homosexuality was cancelled in 2001 in Azerbaijan. Cancellation of this law allowed LGBT community in Azerbaijan to a message more active public life. So in 2006 LGBT initiative group of mutual aid was created and in 2007 and officially passed the state registration as NGO Gender and Development.
Established on March 15 2007, the Azerbaijani non-governmental organization of "Gender & Development" is the only and unique non-profit organization in Azerbaijan advancing the rights of LGBT and MSM community on national and the international level. Within 5-years of work "Gender & Development", with the help and cooperation of PRECIS project financed by the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has turned into the high-grade organization with the democratic structure of management, the professional staff and volunteers. Today this organization successfully works in the field of informing LGBT community on the events occurring in the country and beyond its limits, provides legal support as well as social and psychological and medical care to beneficiaries.
«Gender & Development» actively cooperates with other non-governmental organizations, as well as the government authorities.
Gender and Development has been successfully cooperating with Ministry of Health and State AIDS center for 4 years. Also, it’s been 5 years that we’ve been a member in a coalition of 32 NGO according to the program of Decrease in Harm (HIV / AIDS, STD and tuberculosis prevention and control). We successfully cooperate with Global Fund and the Soros Foundation in Azerbaijan; in 2012, thanks to financial support of Global Fund, our organization established the branch offices in two large cities of our country - Sumgait and Ganja to work with LGBT and MSM community. Our organization successfully cooperates with WHO and UNAIDS. We are a member ЭКОМ (Eurasian coalitions of health of the man). The chairman of Gender and Development is one of the founders and national coordinator in Azerbaijan of MSM/TG network in Southern Caucasus MCM / TG. The chairman of Gender and Development is the official representative in Azerbaijan of the International Alliance of HIV /AIDS Ukraine. As our organization actively cooperates with local and international media and has good experience in communication with the PRESS. We are members of ILGA Europe.
Our organization has a wide experience in prevention HIV /AIDS and STDs.
Our organization works in three largest cities of Azerbaijan of Baku, Sumgait and Ganja. There are 8 active outreach staff.
The main consumers of means of protection still are representatives of transgender group and sex workers. Our outreach staff distributes 60-65 thousand condoms and disposable lubricants every year.
We distribute 5-7 thousand units of printing literature on HIV AIDS and STD prevention and safe sexual behavior every year.
Annually our organization holds seminars for LGBT and MSM community of on safe sexual behavior and prevention HIV AIDS and STD at office of our organization.
In 2007, we carried out epidemiological and behavioral research in the MSM group on system a snowball among 100 people.
In 2008, our organization shot the film documented on violations of the rights of LGBT and MSM community, mockery and blackmail from police.
The film was widespread among the local and world organizations on human rights protection.
In 2010 our organization shot the film – poll on HIV AIDS at among the Baku population and a social sort movie, which was aired on public television.
In 2008 our organization carried out research on knowledge of safe sexual behavior and HIV AIDS and STD and discrimination based on sexual orientation among LGBT and MSM community, among 1000 people in three cities of our country.
In 2010 we obtained an official permission from Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan and carried out epidemiological and behavioral research in the MSM group on RDS system among 450 people. The research was carried out with financial support of COC Netherlands.
In 2011 together with Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan and AIDS Center carried out epidemiological and behavioral research in MSM group on RDS system among 300 people in three cities.
In August 2011, our organization launched the project connected with Eurovision song contest, which will take place in Baku in May, 2012. The idea of this project was connected with the negative propaganda about Azerbaijan in the Internet and in the European press. Many negative articles were shared; and the situation regarding LGBT situation was compared with LGBT situation of Iran. The press misinformed representatives of the European LGBT community. It was reported that in Azerbaijan police pursue gays, scoff at them and tortures them. It was reported that the representatives of LGBT communities get verbally and physically assaulted on the streets. We, as LGBT organization, certainly have the facts of violence over representatives of LGBT community, but they aren't connected with the above-mentioned.
So, on September 30 2011 our organization held a press conference in "Azerbaijan Media Center". The press release was spread to more 30 newspapers and websites. 15 representatives of media attended the press conference. We informed representatives of media on negative articles, especially about the situation of LGBT community. We announced a contest of the best article about LGBT in Azerbaijan. Within this competition we provide to your attention of video of interview to public figures and human rights activists which express the opinion concerning position of community of LGBT in Azerbaijan. As a result of this competition, here are some interviews of public figures and human rights activists which express the opinion concerning position of community of LGBT in Azerbaijan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlV2yLO7snc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn3GseeZYEE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38TfU1C1vwI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yTgU_4JSps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRWa7viut3U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiBzUfvSK5w
Also the chairman of our organization was interviewed by German office of EURONEWS, and to the Norwegian state channel, during their visit connected with presentation of the key of EUROVISION. The assistant to the coordinator of the project Baghirov Elkhan helped with writing the articles about situation of LGBT in Azerbaijan in the Eurovision context of German newspaper "SüddeutscheZeitung" by Tull Krauza, Leah Topper Spanish journalist from El Mundo newspaper, Hakon Hoydal Norwegian journalist from the VG newspaper, also met with the deputy of the European parliament of Ulrica Lunachek.
Our organization provided the documented cases of violence because of sexual orientation for 2011 for the annual report "Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in the OSCE region". Among 19 countries which sent information (Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey) our country goes the second in the list by the smallest quantity of violence because of sexual orientation for 2011. Turkey is the last in the list with the greatest number of violence because of sexual orientation for 2011.
