September 2015
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No. 241. September 2015. In this issue... ILGA-Europe
Education Employment Equality and non-discrimination
Freedom of assembly Health Human rights defenders Legal gender recognition Notice board |
ILGA-Europe |
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Annual Conference 2015 - see you in Athens!In exactly one month the ILGA-Europe Annual Conference will be taking place in Athens, Greece. Preparations are well under way: we will have over 40 workshops this year and our Greek partners are working on a fantastic social programme. Speakers include Jessica Stern of newly-named OutRight Action International, Geeta Misra from CREA, Murat Kölyü from Kaos GL, Mike Jackson from LGSM, special LGBTI envoy Randy Berry, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, and Thomas Hammarberg is our guest of honour. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone soon in Athens!
Read more on our website [2] |
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Silver Rainbow – Let older LGBTI people shineLeading up to the International Day of Older People on 1 October, ILGA-Europe is focusing on the experiences of older LGBTI people. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the specific needs of older LGBTI persons and to share the best resources on the topic. We will be sharing videos, an animation, an infographic and lots of resources (from members and partners) on our website, through Facebook and via Twitter.
Learn more about our Silver Rainbow campaign here [3] |
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ILGA-Europe meets U.S. Special Envoy on the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, Randy BerryOn 10 September, ILGA-Europe was invited a roundtable discussion with U.S. Special Envoy on the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, Randy Berry.
See pictures on the Twitter account of U.S. Mission to the EU [4], and watch Randy Berry do Q&A via Twitter [5] |
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#WeApologise - open letter to people fleeing war, persecution and povertyAs a member of the Social Platform, #WeApologise for the EU leaders’ lack of humanitarian aid, coordinated policies and dignified treatment of people fleeing conflicts. ILGA-Europe calls on EU leaders to respect EU values, welcome people seeking refuge in the EU and treat them with dignity. Some heads of states have finally started to make the rights steps responding to the current humanitarian crisis. What is needed however is a humane asylum and migration policy across the EU, also fully taking into account the situation of LGBTI asylum seekers and their rights to protection.
Read the open letter on the website of Social Platform [6] |
Education |
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European Parliament demands Commission and Member States to tackle LGBT-phobia in schoolsOn 9 September, the European Parliament agreed that the European Commission and Member States should work together to tackle homophobia and transphobia in education. The report, authored by Portuguese Member Liliana Rodrigues, calls on the Commission to “combat discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in educational settings.”
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Employment |
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ILGA-Europe joins Global Benchmark PartnerThe Workplace Pride Global Benchmark is a measurement tool for LGBT workplace inclusion. Employers taking part in the annual Global Benchmark Survey receive individual reports of their performance allowing them to make progress on being more inclusive.
Read more about [8]Global Benchmark here [8] |
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Launch of Ukrainian Corporate Equality IndexOn 17 September, a number of Ukrainian organisations are jointly presenting the first Ukrainian Corporate Equality Index. The Index is a national survey of corporate policies, rules and practices of the Ukrainian business to ensure non-discrimination in the workplace and support equality and diversity.
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Equality and non-discrimination |
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European Parliament supports cohesive EU approach on human rightsOn 8 September, the European Parliament voted in support of a report on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU (2013-2014) [Ferrara report]. ILGA-Europe welcomes the votes and the fact that the Members of the European Parliament rejected a number of proposed amendments aiming to curtail its scope or water down its substance.
Read more about the vote here [10] |
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The human rights of intersex people in EuropeOn 8-9 September 2015, five European intersex activists took part in a study visit in Strasbourg, organised by ILGA-Europe. They met with members of the European Parliament, the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner and officials from the Council of Europe. In particular, on 8 September, they took part in an event on the human rights of intersex people that was organised by the European Parliament's LGBTI Intergroup.
Read more about study visit here [11] |
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United Kingdom parliamentary committee discussing trans equality in open sessionsThe newly-formed Women and Equalities Select Committee of the UK parliament has been moving into reviewing provisions for trans people in the UK across a number of areas. In September the committee discussed in open sessions health/hate crime [13] and young trans people/criminal justice [14]. The sessions will continue in October, and you can follow them here. [12]
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European Parliament adopts resolution on the human rights situation in AzerbaijanOn 10 September, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, reiterating that “the negotiations for a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Azerbaijan should be immediately put on hold as long the government fails to take concrete steps in advancing respect for universal human rights”. The European Parliament, inter alia, highlighted that it is “extremely concerned over the situation of LGBTI people” and “condemns political hate speech against LGBTI people”.
Read more about the resolution here [15] |
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Twelve UN agencies issue unprecedented joint statement on rights of LGBTI peopleOn 29 September 2015, 12 UN entities (ILO, OHCHR, UNAIDS Secretariat, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNODC, UN Women, WFP and WHO) released an unprecedented joint statement calling for an end to violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. The statement is a powerful call to action to Governments to do more to tackle homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination and abuses against intersex people, and an expression of the commitment on the part of UN entities to support Member States to do so.
Read more about the statement here [16] |
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Call for good practices in advocacy and campaigningThere is undoubtedly a wealth of excellent of knowledge and experience on campaigning and advocacy activities in the LGBTI movement around Europe. ILGA-Europe in the last few months started to map and analyse some of these valuable experiences with a view to disseminate positive cases studies and encourage peer to peer learning. We encourage our members to flag good practices in advocacy and campaigning. Should you have inputs to share with us, please do not hesitate to contact Laura Piazza, Campaign & Programmes Officer. [17]
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Freedom of assembly |
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Pride event banned in MontenegroThe Pride march due to take place in the city of Nikšić was banned for the 3rd time this year earlier in September. ILGA-Europe have written to Prime Minister Dukanović, reminding him that fundamental freedoms, such as the right to assemble peacefully, are not one-off privileges, granted to LGBTI advocates and allies as a ‘favour’. This protection should be commonplace. |
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Successful Pride celebrations in BelgradeOn 20 September, around 300 people marched through Belgrade from the government building to the Serbian parliament after riot police closed off the city centre to ensure the safety of the Pride parade, which has been attacked by right-wingers in previous years. Prior the Pride week, ILGA-Europe sent our congratulations and support to everyone who has organised public events during the celebrations taking place.
Read more about the Pride in Belgrade here [19] |
Health |
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Joint letter to President Juncker on HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosisOn 14 September 2015, the European AIDS Treatment Group and seven partner civil society organisations and networks submitted a joint letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The civil society groups expressed the urgent need to keep HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis on the EU's agenda and asked for the Commission's leadership and support on this issue.
Read the joint letter here [20] |
Human rights defenders |
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Two prominent Turkish LGBTI activists lost their lives in car accidentLGBTI activists Boysan Yakar and Zeliş Deniz lost their lives in a tragic traffic accident in Çanakkale, in western Turkey.
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Legal gender recognition |
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Gender recognition law awaits Polish President's signatureIn 2015, several European countries have taken important steps to improve their gender recognition procedures. ILGA-Europe calls on the Polish President Duda to follow the path of Ireland and Malta and to sign the Gender Accordance Act into law. The new Act will enable Polish trans citizens to enjoy their basic rights and freedoms.
Read more the gender recognition law in Poland here [22] |
Notice board |
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Job opportunities with OutRights Action InternationalOutRights Action International (formerly known as International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission) in New York is looking for a Director of Programs and a United Nations Program Coordinator.
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