Round Table on engagement between the police and LGBT communities, 12-13 December 2009
The purpose of the round table was to organise exchanges on the situation faced by LGBT rights defenders and sharing best practices.
Download the presentations from the Round Table, and you can also download ILGA-Europe's reports on each of the 4 parts.
The round table addressed the following aims:
- better define the needs of organisations coming from various European countries and backgrounds when it comes to working with police forces;
- identify elements of an open protocol on relations between LGBT associations and the police, including elements both on how to approach the police to push forward collaboration proposals, and on how to shape partnership policies;
- establish partnerships, in the frame of ILGA-Europe’s activities, with LGBT organisations working in the field of policing, prevention, monitoring and follow-up of violence targeting LGBT people.
***
1st part: Tackling LGBT hate crime – creating favourable conditions in Europe
Read the report from ILGA-Europe on this part
- Societal context of hate crime: Presentation of research outcomes of Judith Schuyf, MOVISIE, Netherlands;
- Good practice of Scotland, by Scott Cuthbertson, Equality Network, Scotland.
- Can hate crime legislation alone do the job? What can be done without hate crime legislation?
- Presentations on local contexts by: Tamas Dombos, Hatter Support Society, Hungary, Salvatore Marra, CGIL Roma e Lazio – partner of GayHelpLine, Italy, and Sanja Juras, Lesbian Group Kontra, Croatia.
***
2nd part: From contacts to partnership between LGBT communities and police authorities/forces – how to make it possible?
Read the report from ILGA-Europe on this part
WORKSHOP A: Analysing successful engagement strategies in different contexts
- Formalised partnership for LGBT friendly policing in London, Deborah Gold, Galop, United Kingdom;
- Cooperation for safe organisation of pride events, Kristina Nikolova, Gemini, Bulgaria;
- Dialogue and cooperation in Sweden, Anneli Svensson, RFSL, Sweden.
WORKSHOP B: a special role for LGBT police associations?
- LGBT police officers in Europe face a variety of situations: from recognised partnership with police authorities to struggle for visibility and non-discrimination in management. How can LGBT police associations help to better tackle hate crime?
- LGBT police officers in the German police forces, and Recognition and consultation of LGBT police organisations in Europe, by Thomas Ulmer, Velspol, Germany, and member of the board of EGPA, the European Gay Police Association;
- Organisations of LGBT police officers without official recognition: Petrik Thomann, Pink Cop, Switzerland.
***
3rd part: Building capacities of NGOs and police forces in tackling hate crime
Read the report from ILGA-Europe on this part
WORKSHOP A: Monitoring hate crime, organising prevention
Monitoring hate crime is a condition for successfully raising awareness among policy makers and public authorities.
- Analysing data and monitoring the trends in violence: Jacques Lizé, SOS-Homophobie, France;
- Prevention and monitoring in Brussels/Belgium: Jochen van der Worp, Rainbow House Brussels, Belgium;
- Engaging with the authorities in Portugal: Miguel Correia Pinto, ILGA-Portugal.
WORKSHOP B: Supporting victims of hate crimes
From underreporting to failed investigation and prosecution, LGBT victims of hate crimes face worrying situations everywhere in Europe.
- Working with the police to ensure support to victims: Lene Løvdal, LLH, Norway;
- Initiatives and needs in Serbia and Georgia: Paata Sabelashvili, Inclusive Foundation, Georgia and Mirjana Bogdanovic, Gay Straight Alliance, Serbia;
- Introducing the support to LGBT victims in the police’s agenda: Carolien van de Laagemat, TNN - Transgender Network Netherlands.
***
4th part: Towards a formalized network of partners working on LGBT-friendly policing
Read the report from ILGA-Europe on this part
The participants of the round table had the opportunity to discuss the expected outcomes of ILGA-Europe’s “Working with the police and challenging hate crime in Europe 2008-2011” project.
The issue of communication between stakeholders, and partnership with other organisations, including police organisations, was also addressed.
