June 2016
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ILGA-Europe |
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Dear Rainbow Digest readers Three weeks ago, we were devastated: 49 members of our community – of all ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities – were killed in a nightclub in Orlando. Several dozens were wounded. Hatred took away innocent lives. Read my open letter to the LGBTI community published in Pink News after the attack on the Pulse gay club [3]. Two weeks ago, British MP Jo Cox was murdered in broad daylight. She stood for a United Kingdom part of the EU; for openness and inclusion; and for international solidarity. She had worked in the European Parliament and at Oxfam’s EU office. Hatred took away a life committed to peace and living together. And last week, we woke up in shock to the British referendum results. It was a slap in the face of anyone who believes in a Europe of unity, diversity and solidarity. It was a slap for all of us. Hatred of “the other” – foreigners, mostly – carried the day. Last night, we held our European Equality Gala [4], which in this context got a whole new meaning. We welcomed friends of all nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, ethnicities, genders, abilities, faiths and non-faiths, to celebrate what unites us. We welcomed supporters of equality: anyone who feels, to their stomach, that we are one human family, that we have the same rights and share the same world. Don’t let recent events erase this simple truth: we belong together. Evelyne Paradis |
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ILGA-Europe joined a strategic meeting on public campaigning in BangkokLGBTI activists from around the world met in Bangkok from 7 to 10 June for a strategic meeting on public campaigning. Participants came together to identify and strengthen campaigning skills and explore how to share good practices and develop relevant capacity-building programmes. ILGA-Europe's Campaign and Programmes Officer Laura Piazza was there to learn from other activists and share experience from Creating Opportunities.
Read more about Creating Opportunity here [5] |
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Study visit to the EU for intersex activistsOn 16 June, the European Parliament Committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs (LIBE) hold a hearing on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2015. Dan Christian Ghattas, Co-chair of OII-Europe, was invited to take the floor, as part of the NGOs panel. ILGA-Europe used the opportunity of this hearing to organise a study-visit for seven intersex activists from the Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Iceland, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Read more about the study visit here [6] |
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Training on Financial Management and Funds AdministrationOn 6-7 June, ILGA-Europe organised a training session on Financial Management and Funds Administration in Brussels. The training session gathered activists from our member organisations from different European countries.
Read more about how we organise trainings on financial management and funds administration here [7] |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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Trans Rights Europe Map 2016: Trans people remain vulnerable albeit trend towards right to self-determinationIn May, Transgender Europe launched its Trans Rights Europe Map 2016. The map strongly indicates that the protection level for trans people remains low in Europe. “Discrimination at the job market is a major factor keeping trans people from thriving. While it is positive that in 2016 26 European states – that is four more than last year – offer now explicit protection. However, public authorities have to do better. Concrete positive measures targeted at the job market plus improved gender recognition procedures are paramount to improve trans people’s position considerably.” Explains Julia Ehrt, Transgender Europe’s Executive Director.
Read more about the Trans Rights Europe Map 2016 here [8] |
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No ifs or buts – time for the EU to show where it stands on LGBTI equality On 16 June, a set of conclusions on LGBTI equality was adopted by European social affairs ministers. This is the first time that the Council of the European Union approved LGBTI-specific conclusions that refer to equality within the European Union. [10]That progress, achieved under the Dutch Presidency’s leadership, is welcomed by ILGA-Europe. It sends out a strong signal that EU member states are committed to practical progress. On the other hand, the content of the conclusions themselves raise significant concerns. |
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Reaction to UK referendum result – the ILGA-Europe perspective"...From ILGA-Europe’s perspective, the message that must be taken from the UK referendum result is the need for more solidarity, not less...
Human rights organisations must come together to articulate a clear vision for the sort of Europe we want, one that is based on our shared vision of social justice, equality, freedom and diversity..." Read our full statement here [11] |
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Council of Europe Anti-racism Commission expresses concern at the situation of Roma and LGBT people in LithuaniaOn 7 June, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) issues a report on Lithuania. The report welcomed progress made in Lithuania to address discrimination and racism, but also calls upon the authorities to take specific measures to improve the living conditions of Roma and address violence against LGBT people.
Read more about the report here [12] |
Family |
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Refusal to grant a same-sex (non-EU) partner a residence permit was discrimination based on sexual orientationOn 30 June, The European Court of Human Rights stated that Italy’s refusal to grant one partner in a same-sex couple a residence permit violated their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Read more about the judgment here [13] |
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First decision of Italy’s highest court on stepchild adoption for same-sex couplesThe Court of Cassation upholds the decisions of lower courts recognising stepchild adoption for a same-sex couple. The judgment will inform future decisions of Italian courts on this matter. However, same-sex couples remain unable to adopt each other’s children automatically, as legislators failed to include stepchild adoption in the newly approved civil union bill for same-sex couples.
Read more about the judgment here [14] |
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Lithuanian parliament proceeds with banning same-sex couples from constitutional concept of Family Life On 28 June, the Lithuanian Parliament voted in favor of the constitutional amendment, which seeks to eliminate same-sex couples from the ambit of the constitutional concept of family life. 74 MPs voted in favor of the constitutional amendment, 19 MPs voted against and 20 MPs abstained. This vote implicates that no later than in ten days the Lithuanian Parliament will hold the first hearing with the view of adopting the constitutional amendment. In order for it to be adopted, the Lithuanian Parliament will have to vote in favor of the amendment twice, securing the majority of 94 votes in favor on both occasions. There has to be at least three (3) months break between the two votes. |
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Ban on adoption by a registered gay or a lesbian declared unconstitutional in Czech Republic On 28 June, the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic ruled to abolish Sec. 13(2) of the Registered Partnership Act. This provision prohibited gay men and lesbians to adopt a child as individuals once they entered into a registered partnership, even though as a single person, they would be eligible to adopt. The ruling of the Constitutional Court allows the gay men and lesbians to adopt a child as individuals even after they enter into registered partnership. This decision is the first decision in which the Constitutional Court rules in the matter of the Registered Partnership Act and same-sex domestic partnership. |
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The Swiss National Council approved the step-child adoption bill On 31 May, the National Council of Switzerland approved a step-child adoption bill with 115 to 64 votes. Right after the vote, the conservative party EDU announced that they will start a collection of signatures for a public referendum in order to abolish the new law. The party has three months time to collect 50.000 signatures. |
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Registration is open for the Road to Marriage Summer School The International Summer School on campaigning and social change will take place in Dublin on 18-19-20 July 2016. The event brings together a range of expert speakers including, international and Irish marriage equality campaigners, key political figures, campaign allies and political and social commentators. Expert led workshops will provide NGOs, campaigners and activists opportunities to develop practical skills and apply the learning to current campaigns and issues. |
Freedom of assembly |
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Istanbul Pride march cancelled, activists and politicians dispersed and arrestedOn 26 June, Pride March in Istanbul was cancelled after it was banned by Istanbul’s governor. German MEP Terry Reintke, 17 activists and 2 international supporters were briefly arrested and later released. The arrests happened after participants gathered in the streets of Istanbul. Police dispersed the crowd.
Read ILGA-Europe’s reaction here [19] |
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Ban of LGBTI events Ankara and IzmirThe fourth Pride march in Izmir, scheduled to take place on Saturday 4 June, was banned at the last minute by the Izmir Governorate. ILGA-Europe are very concerned at this latest infringement of fundamental human rights, as the ban comes only weeks after a IDAHOT event in Ankara was banned by the city governorate.
Read more about the two bans here [20] |
Freedom of expression |
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PACE speaks out on restrictions on freedom of expression and so-called “anti-gay propaganda laws”On 23 June, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe sent out a written declaration on freedom of expression and so-called “anti-gay propaganda laws” in a number of Council of Europe member and partner states. The declaration was tabled by Jonas Gunnarsson (Sweden), the General Rapporteur on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Find the written declaration here [21] [19] |
Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment |
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UN experts urge greater protection for LGBTI people in detentionTo mark the International Day for the Victims of Torture on 26 June, a group of UN human rights experts called on States to redouble efforts to prevent the ill-treatment and torture faced by LGBTI people in places of detention.
Read the statement here [22] [19] |
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Council of Europe anti-torture Committee announces visits to ten states in 2017The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) is the main European level body responsible for safeguarding prisoners and others in detention from torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. In 2017 it is to review the treatment of prisoners in 10 countries, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. They are now seeking information about the situation of prisoners in these countries. They have expressed serious concerns over the treatment of LGBTI prisoners in a number of countries in past reports. And it will be very important for any member organisations who have relevant information, or know of others who have such information, to pass it on to the CPT. Find more information here. [23]
Please send copies of any information you provide to Nigel Warner, ILGA-Europe [24] |
Health |
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2016 High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS - A half-hearted declaration does not acknowledge the leading role of communities and NGOsOn 8-10 June, United Nations delegates and civil society representatives from around the world convened in New York for the 2016 United National High-Level Meeting to End AIDS [26]. The central focus of the High-Level Meeting has been the adoption of a universal political declaration focused on ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2020. The EU HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum, which ILGA-Europe is part of, issued a statement on the declaration which was adopted in the opening of the meeting.
Read the statement here [25] |
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Flash! PrEP in Europe online survey“Flash! PrEP in Europe Online survey” is a combined NGO and University community-based research study spread over 11 European countries. The aims of the study are to document HIV-negative people’s knowledge of, interest in, intention to and actual use of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, commonly known as “PrEP”, and also access to a comprehensive prevention package including support, screening and access to condoms etc.
Find the survey here [27] |
Legal gender recognition |
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Norway becomes fourth country in Europe to introduce model of self-determinationOn 6 June, the final parliamentary vote on long-awaited updates to the legal gender recognition process took place in Norway. The new law, which will be enforced on 1 July, will ensure that trans people aged 16 and older can have their gender recognised without any compulsory requirements. Trans children and young people aged 6 – 15 can apply with their parents’ permission.
Read more about the new law here [28] |
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Members of the French Parliament should ensure respect for the human rights of trans peopleOn 21 June, a Committee composed of members of the French National Assembly and the Senate discussed a legislative proposal passed by the National Assembly on 19 May. On the basis of the current proposal, trans people will be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their gender, but in order to do so they will have to produce evidence that may include medical certificates. The proposal is expected to be voted on in the Senate after the summer.
Read the joint statement from Amnesty International, ILGA-Europe and Transgender Europe here [29] |
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Groundbreaking court decision in Poland on gender recognition abroadOn 1 June, a court in Warsaw issued a decision that allows a Polish citizen, who transitioned legally in Germany, to change her personal data (gender marker and first as well as last name) without obtaining a transsexual diagnosis and going through a civil court case in Poland.
Read more on the website of Transfuzja [30] |
Notice board |
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ILGA World Conference 2016: Important update on scholarship and session proposal applicationILGA World received an impressive number of applications for their scholarship programme for the upcoming ILGA World Conference in Bangkok, (28 November – 2 December 2016).
If you submitted an application, then have a look at the update here [31] |
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Making the UN work for you – A toolkit for trans activistsAs an individual activist, informal group, or small or national NGO, one may become overwhelmed by the thought of engaging with the UN and think that you need to be an expert on the entire system to become involved. This is not the case.
Find here the tool kit developed by Transgender Europe here [32] |
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Research fellow posts - SOGICA project at University of SussexSchool of Law, Politics and Sociology - Sussex Law School is recruiting three research fellows for the ERC funded project ‘Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Claims of Asylum: A European human rights challenge’ (SOGICA). The research fellows will be engaged with this project over its four year duration. They will carry out field work in Germany, Italy and the UK, and analyse the data from several theoretical perspectives. A range of linguistic, empirical and theoretical skills are therefore required. The closing date is 13 July and interviews will take place on week commencing 25 July.
Read more about this opportunity here [33] To the top
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