March 2017
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No. 259. March 2017. In this issue... ILGA-Europe
Asylum Education Equality and non-discrimination Family
Hate crime Hate speech Health Legal gender recognition
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ILGA-Europe |
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Dates for your agenda – Annual Conference 2017Make sure to have the following dates marked in your agenda – in reverse order:
Everything will be on our conference website section, and make sure to follow our Facebook event page. |
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European Equality Gala 2017 to be held on 28 JuneThe European Equality Gala will be taking place in Brussels for the third time on Wednesday, 28 June 2017! Please mark the date in your diary. We don’t want you to miss our biggest fundraising party of the year, and all the networking, dancing and fun that goes along with it. Tickets will go on sale on 22 May. Keep an eye on the dedicated Gala web page for updates on who will be joining us on the night.
Look forward and watch (or re-watch) the after movie from the European Equality Gala 2016. |
Turn on the lights: ILGA-Europe’s anti-racism video goes viralBe honest – we need a reality check on racism.
For the 21 March, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, ILGA-Europe made the following statement: Let’s face it - our LGBTI organisations, conferences, meetings, and spaces are often far too white. We have to acknowledge this honestly and do something about it. And the solution? It has to start with those of us who are working in these activist spaces. Watch the viral video here and read the full statement here. |
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‘Allies in Action’ small fund is open for proposals: last call for 2017‘Allies in Action’ is a small fund by COC Netherlands and ILGA-Europe. The fund was created to support LGBTI communities and their allies in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine. This is the last call in 2017 and it will close on Wednesday 19 April 2017. Please review the below information carefully before deciding to apply.
Read more about the call here |
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Re-granting programme ‘Organising for change: Communities rising’ILGA-Europe are launching a new re-granting programme ‘Organising for change: Communities rising’ to support LGBTI community organising work in the European region. The programme is open to LGBTI organisations from the following countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey. ILGA-Europe will support work through a combination of activities: re-granting scheme, ongoing peer learning and coaching. Deadline for applications is 24 April 2017.
Read more about the programme here |
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Asylum |
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EU report on LGBTI asylum seekersOn 24 March 2017, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) issued a report entirely dedicated to the situation of LGBTI asylum seekers. ILGA-Europe welcome this report, which clearly shows that Member States need to step up their efforts to make sure that EU standards are respected and applied correctly with regard to LGBTI asylum seekers.
Read more about the report here |
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ILGA-Europe's latest policy paper on the EU asylum reformNew and more restrictive European asylum laws are currently being negotiated in the EU institutions. ILGA-Europe are following this closely, as these laws will have a big impact on LGBTI asylum seekers. LGBTI asylum seekers are often at risk of additional danger during their journey and upon arrival in the country where they seek asylum. This can take the form of harassment, exclusion, sexual violence, or other forms of violence. In this latest briefing, ILGA-Europe want to show policymakers how to ensure full protection of the rights of LGBTI asylum seekers, and respect of their specific needs in terms of reception conditions, procedures and protection status.
Read the policy paper here |
Education |
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UN Free & Equal Lesson on LGBTI-phobic bullyingUnited Nations’ Free & Equal initiative launched a campaign on LGBTI-phobic bullying, The Lesson. The United Nations is calling on everyone – from parents and teachers to Governments – to protect these children’s fundamental right to live free from violence and discrimination.
See more on the website of UNFE |
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Equality and non-discrimination |
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European Parliament recognises specific discrimination faced by trans and intersex peopleOn 14 March, the European Parliament adopted two reports that contain significant provisions in relation to the rights of LGBTI people. The first report, from Rapporteur Kozłowska-Rajewicz, is a positive development as it recognises that Member States should adopt legislation that protects trans people against discrimination when accessing goods and services. ILGA-Europe also welcomes the adoption of the Urtasun report on equality between women and men in the European Union in 2014-2015, which uses inclusive language, especially in relation to trans and intersex people.
Read more about the two reports here |
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From 1957 to 2017: the European and LGBTI communities growing togetherOn 25 March, the European Union celebrated its 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. ILGA-Europe joined forces with over 200 civil society partners to call for a Europe that is just, sustainable, democratic and inclusive.
Read the statement here |
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FRA renews its civil society cooperation platformThe European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is inviting civil society organisations to register for the renewed Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP). As per FRA’s Founding Regulation, the FRP is the agency’s "mechanism of exchange and pooling of knowledge" created for facilitating a "structured and fruitful dialogue" with and among civil society organisations. The FRP is not an organisation and there is no membership. All interested civil society organisations are invited to register for the database of organisations. Information on how to register can be found online.
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ILGA-Europe adopt intersex policyIn March, the ILGA-Europe board adopted a position on our work on intersex issues, “Equality and full enjoyment of human rights for intersex people”. ILGA-Europe aim to achieve equality for intersex people and ensure they are protected against human rights violations, discrimination and violence based on sex characteristics.
Read the full policy here |
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Family |
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Marriage equality in Finland is a realityOn 1 March, same-sex couples in Finland can tie the knot as gender neutral marriage comes into effect. At the same time, joint adoption is also being made available to rainbow families, as the existing adoption law refers to marriage. And finally, with the new gender neutral marriage act, compulsory divorce is no longer a requirement for legal gender recognition.
Finland moves up the Rainbow Europe ranking to 6th place |
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Hate crime |
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Violence against women and girls: will Europe rise up in 2017?This year’s celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March comes as a new opportunity for the European Union to take action against violence against women: The European Commission has declared 2017 the European Year of focused action to combat violence against women and girls. ILGA-Europe joined a unique Coalition of more than 25 European-wide networks and NGOs dedicated to social justice and equality, the European Coalition to end violence against women and girls calls on the EU decision-makers to mark International Women’s Day with concrete actions.
Read the joint statement here |
Hate speech |
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Madrid officials impound bus with anti-trans messageIn start March, Madrid authorities said they have impounded a bus used to campaign against teaching schoolchildren about trans people. The eye-catching bus has several anti-trans phrases written on its sides. The bus belongs to the Hazte Oir (Make Yourself Heard) organisation, which previously has opposed abortion rights.
Read more about the bus here |
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"Media Tools against Hate Speech" WorkshopThe Media Diversity Institute is inviting applications for a workshop it is organising for civil society organisations involved in countering hate speech. The event will be held in London between 22 – 26 May 2017. Activists from EU countries interested in participating at the workshop should contact the organisers directly for further information on how to apply. All costs of participation will be covered by the organisers. The workshop is organised within the Media against Hate Speech project.
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Health |
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Health pilot project presented at international symposiumThe EU-funded Pilot Project “Health4LGBTI: Reducing Health Inequalities Experienced by LGBTI people” was presented at the international symposium “Health of LGBTIQ+ People”. On 9-10 March 2017, at the French Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Paris, an audience of around 200 people including practitioners, public health officials and representatives from LGBTI NGOs commented on the importance of the pilot project within the European context and showed interest in the project’s outcomes. Participants came mainly from France but also from across Europe.
Read more about Health4LGBTI project here |
Legal gender recognition |
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Sweden announces to pay compensation to trans peopleOn 24 March, the Swedish Minister for Public Health, Healthcare and Sports, Gabriel Wikström, announced that the Swedish government has agreed to financially compensate forcibly sterilised trans people with the amount of 225 000 SEK, approximately €23 600, per person. The compensation will be available for anyone who was forcibly sterilised by the Swedish state from 1972-2013 in order to comply with the previous requirements in the Swedish legal gender recognition act.
Read the statement from Transgender Europe here |
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Lithuanian ministries under obligation to prepare draft bill on gender reassignmentOn 23 March, the Lithuanian government placed two ministries under obligation to prepare legal acts that would enable gender reassignment procedure in Lithuania. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice were required to submit the draft proposals on “providing treatment for persons with gender identity disorder” by September, 2017. The Cabinet of Ministers has reached this decision after reviewing the 2016 Activity Report by the Representative of the Government to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
Read more on the website of LGL |
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Job opportunity with TENI as Chief ExecutiveTransgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) is seeking a Chief Executive to advance the rights and equality of transgender people in Ireland. TENI seeks a skilled, motivated and committed individual with an outstanding track record in leadership, advocacy, management and fundraising. The applicant will possess in-depth knowledge of trans issues and a proven track record in achieving social change. Deadline of applications: Friday 14 April 2017.
Read more about the job opportunity here |
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Call for Expert Consultant : Trans and DisabilityTransgender Europe (TGEU) is looking for an expert consultant regarding trans and disability expertise. TGEU is committed to an intersectional and inclusive approach to activism. In 2017, TGEU is therefore organising several activities to build our own and our membership’s awareness, knowledge and capacity to address and advocate for the needs and rights of trans people with disabilities. TGEU would equally like to learn from the disability rights´ movement and locate the possible intersections of trans and disability activism. Submission of proposals is open until 3 April 2017.
Read more about the consultancy here To the top
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