September 2016
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ILGA-Europe |
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Annual Conference 2016: so much to look forward toThe ILGA-Europe team cannot wait to greet over 400 participants at the Annual Conference 2016 - kicking off on 19 October in Nicosia, Cyprus. We are in full speed with the preparations. The programme of the event is now finalised and includes 45 workshops, eight 1-to-1 consultation sessions, a wide social programme and even more self-organised spaces open for all participants this year.
Read more about the Annual Conference and the Annual General Meeting in the 3rd Conference mailing here [3] |
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Bi Visibility Day 2016ILGA-Europe used the 23 September, the Bi Visibility Day 2016, to put the spotlight on the B in our shared acronym. We want to challenge some of the myths around bisexual people, and we want to give visibility to bisexual people in our communities and the specific issues they might face.
Watch the two videos we produced for the day here [4] |
Bodily integrity |
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United Nations committee reprimands Italy for intersex genital mutilationsDuring its 16th session the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) examined intersex genital mutilation practices in Italy as a breach of Art. 17 CRPD “Protecting the integrity of the person”. Italy openly admitted to “operations” on intersex children most often “conducted [...] under the age of 10”, though firmly denied “unnecessary mutilations” and “loss of procreation capacity”.
Read more on the website of StopIGM.org [5] More about Italy on www.rainbow-europe.org [6] |
Employment |
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Hungarian Equal Treatment Authority: rejection of trans job applicant was unlawfulThe Equal Treatment Authority in Hungary found discrimination based on gender identity for the first time in a case concerning an employer’s rejection of a trans job applicant.
Read more about the case on the website of Háttér Society [7] More about Hungary on www.rainbow-europe.org [8] |
Equality and non-discrimination |
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Six steps to improve the state of the Union - not just another joint statementILGA-Europe, together with 176 other civil society organisations, are asking European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to pause for a moment in advance of the 2016 State of the Union and start to refocus the EU agenda on what matters for people: that their fundamental rights are protected; that their children grow up in an open and tolerant society; that the most vulnerable are treated with dignity and respect.
Read the whole statement here [9] |
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Germany celebrates 10 years of anti-discrimination legislation ...and keeps ignoring the rest of the European Union? On 27 September, an event took place in Berlin to highlight the success of the German legislation in protecting people and discuss what more can be done to step up the fight against discrimination. On this celebratory occasion, ILGA-Europe and LSVD would like to remind the German government that, while they are celebrating a decade of progress in their own country, they have now been blocking an EU-wide protection against discrimination for almost the same amount of time. |
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Black Protests - Women’s rights in Poland under a huge threatOn 24 May, the General Affairs Council of the European Union discussed integration of migrants in a rule of law dialogue and our organisations want to recall the spirit of Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This must be the basis of any discussion within the European Union regarding “fundamental values, integration and the rule of law”.
Read the joint NGO statement from ENAR, the European Women's Lobby, CEJI and ILGA-Europe here [12] |
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Commissioner for Human Rights: Protect women’s sexual and reproductive health and rightsA recent comment from Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern about the at the development in recent years of regressive trends and attempts to exert control over women’s bodies and sexuality. This can further hamper women’s access to these rights and endanger progress achieved so far in the field of gender equality.
Read the comment here [13] |
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A new Europe for people, planet and prosperity for allOn 12 September, ILGA-Europe joined a common statement signed by 177 European and national Civil Society Organisations and Trade Unions, ahead of the EU27 Summit in Bratislava on 16 September 2016.
Read the statement here [14] |
Family |
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Lithuanian Government pushes different-sex partnership billIn August, the Lithuanian government gave approval to the changes proposed by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania to the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania which would legalise civil partnership of different-sex couples and further exclude same-sex couples from legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
Read more on the website of LGL [15] More about Lithuania on www.rainbow-europe.org [16] |
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Romanian Constitutional Court delays ruling on same-sex marriage recognition petitionThe Constitutional Court of Romania delayed for 27 October the ruling on the objection regarding provisions in Romania's Civil Code that do not recognise marriages between same-sex couples, filed in a process by Relu Adrian Coman, Robert Clabourn Hamilton and the ACCEPT Association.
Read more about the delay here [18] Read the interview with Adrian and Clai by ILGA World here [17] |
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International Family Equality Day 2016: The Annual Report 2016 In May 2016, a wide range of LGBTIQ* family organisations and groups celebrated the 5th International Family Equality Day (IFED) under the motto FAMILIES WITHOUT BORDERS. Six new countries joined the celebration: Ecuador, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and Venezuela. |
Freedom of assembly |
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QueerFest in St. Petersburg 2016 – a needed successFrom 15-25 September, over 1500 visitors enjoyed the many activities during this year’s QueerFest in St. Petersburg. The festival experienced complete freedom from attacks and harassments. There were no bomb threats, no venue closures, and no attacks by thugs. Visitors did not have to worry about running into aggressive young men, being harassed or checked out by the police. And the program flourished.
Read more about the QueerFest 2016 here [20] More about Russia on www.rainbow-europe.org [21] |
Health |
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Help TGEU improve access to healthcare for trans people in EuropeTransgender Europe is conducting a survey on healthcare for trans people who are age 16 and older in Georgia, Poland, Serbia, Spain, or Sweden. The survey looks into general health and well-being, and the experiences trans people have with general healthcare, and if applicable, with trans-specific healthcare.
Read more about the survey here [22] |
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Survey on access to health care in the European UnionThe European Patients’ Forum, a non-governmental organisation that works with patients’ groups in public health and health advocacy across Europe, has launched a survey focusing on access to health care in the European Union. The survey is aimed at individual patients living in the 28 European Union member state, and have chronic or long-term conditions and their family members or informal carers.
Read more about the survey here [23] |
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Joint call to EU Commission on viral hepatitis, HIV and tuberculosisOn 22 September, ILGA-Europe and 16 other civil society organisations sent an open letter to the European Commission Vice-President Timmermans for an updated EU policy and action framework to address the viral hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis epidemics in Europe.
Read the letter here [24] |
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Lifetime ban on men who have sex with men donating blood lifted in Northern IrelandIn start September, Northern Ireland joined the rest of the United Kingdom, and lifted the lifetime ban on donating blood for men who have sex with men. A ban on donating blood was brought in across the UK during the 1980s AIDS crisis, but was lifted in England, Scotland and Wales in November 2011.
Read more about the decision here [25] |
Legal gender recognition |
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Ecoutez-les: Four French trans people on law proposal for legal gender recognitionOn 27 September, the French senate missed the chance to make an important step towards the dream trans people express of being recognised by society for who they are without judgement, medicalisation and forced treatments such as sterilisation. Voting on the reform of the Law on Justice in the XXI century, sadly French senators decided to include medicalisation. But is it not over: The proposal is now sent back to the National Assembly, where it will be discussed and voted on within October.
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Notice board |
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Job opportunity as Policy Officer with Transgender EuropeTransgender Europe is looking for a part time (80%, 32h per week) Policy Officer, for an initial period of 18 months. The Policy Officer will be working in the Advocacy and Capacity Building Team. They will be responsible to implement and refine TGEU’s policy and advocacy work, as defined in the Strategic Plan 2014 – 2020, predominantly with European institutions (EU, CoE, OSCE) in the areas of gender equality, safety & violence, further marginalised groups, healthcare, education, and trans families. The place of work is located in Berlin, Germany, but will require frequent travel. Deadline for applications: 25 October, noon CET.
Read more about the opportunity here [27] |
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Job opportunity with European Forum of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Christian Groups as Project ManagerThe European Forum is looking for an experienced and professional project manager on a flexible basis (9 hours per week). It is a home based position in the period from November 2016-December 2017. Deadline for applications: 9 October 2016.
Read more about the job opportunity here [28] To the top
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