3. Challenging Anti-Sodomy Laws: Working for Progressive Legal Change in the Global South

Sexuality and the law have always had a complex relationship. Perhaps even more than any other social struggles, the queer movement has had to look at the law simultaneously as an instrument of oppression (anti-sodomy law) as well as a potential beginning of liberation (enactment of anti discrimination laws ). The global south is at present in the painful process of negotiating this Janus faced nature of law. The experiences in each of the ex-colonies is quite unique ranging from South Africa which has non discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation  as part of its constitution to Hong Kong which has recently decriminalized sodomy to India and Zimbabwe and the English Speaking Caribbean  which still have anti-sodomy laws. The movements in many of these countries are still very fragile, dispersed and have just begun the difficult task of challenging statutes which criminalize various forms of 'deviant' sexual behaviour.

Joel Simpson, Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Guyana
Derek Matyszak, Gays and Lesbians Zimbabwe (GALZ), Zimbabwe
Alok Gupta, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT-India)
Roddy Shaw, Civil Rights for Sexual Diversity, Hong Kong

Chair of Workshop: Arvind Narrain, Alternative Law Forum (India)

4. Violence and Hate Speech - How We Can Document Incidents and Raise the Issue in Lobbying Work at International Institutions?

This workshop will explore how documenting the incidents of hate speech and violence can be used to positive effect for lobbying at national, European and international institutions.

Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director, ILGA-Europe (Ireland)
Maxim Anmeghichean, Programmes Director, ILGA-Europe (Moldova)
Nigel Warner, Special Advisor to Council of Europe for ILGA-Europe (United Kingdom)

Chair of workshop:  Kurt Krickler, Hosi Wien and Board Member of ILGA-Europe (Austria)

1. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, HIV/AIDS and Basic Human Needs

Just as lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people around the world face violation of our civil and political rights, so too are many members of our communities denied basic human needs.  This workshop will explore how we situate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues within a broader health, education, economic and cultural agenda. 

Included will be a report back from the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, taking place in New York at the end of May, and preparations for the International AIDS Conference taking place in Toronto in mid-August.

Djoni Agus Suparta, Gay Nusantara (Indonesia)
Cary Johnson, IGLHRC (USA)
Alana Klein, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (Canada)
Keith Goddard, Director, GALZ (Zimbabwe)

Chair of workshop: Kim Vance, Co-Director, ARC International (Canada)

2. Engaging Effectively at the UN: UN Reform, Strategies and Entry-Points.

Interested in making a difference on LGBT issues internationally? Want to know what’s been happening on our rights at the UN?  Want to know what you can do about it?

This is a critical time for the United Nations.  Even as this Conference takes place, major reform of the UN human rights system is unfolding. Find out the latest developments, future directions for international human rights protection, and what it all means for the rights of LGBT people around the world!
This workshop will begin with brief presentations to update participants on current events at the UN affecting lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people.  Strategies and options for advancing our rights will be outlined, followed by a roundtable discussion engaging participants in a strategic dialogue about how we can work effectively together to advance our agenda at the UN.

Philipp Braun, Co-Secretary General, ILGA-World (Germany)
Chris Sidoti, Director, International Service for Human Rights (Geneva, Switzerland)
John Fisher, Co-Director, ARC International (Geneva, Switzerland)
Gloria Careaga, El Closet de Sor Juana (Mexico)
Melinda Ching-Simon, Assistant to the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders (Switzerland)

Chair of workshop: Philip Dayle, International Commission of Jurists (Jamaica/Switzerland)

3. Well-Founded Fears: Refugee Status and Asylum for LGBT Persons

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in countries around the world regularly seek asylum in order to escape persecution and torture in their country of origin.  This workshop will examine areas of domestic and international law relevant to those seeking refugee status based on sexual orientation or gender identity, including general trends in this area and recent legislation.

Joe Landau, Law Clerk to the Hon. Betty Binns Fletcher, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; former associate, Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton (New York, USA)

Maria Belen Correa, Founder, ATTTA (Argentine; USA)
Scott Long, Director, LGBT Rights Program, Human Rights Watch, USA
Roberto Jovel, Amnesty International Canada, Montréal

4. Lesbian Visibility: State of the Art and New Perspectives for Coalition Building within and among the LGBTI Movement, Human Rights Movement and the Women's Movement

The workshop aims to share strategies that various organisations and individuals have been using in order to raise and discuss issues of sexuality and lesbian visibility.

Participants from various parts of the world will debate some of the following questions.

• What strategies can overcome the reluctance to talk about sexuality among organisations working on issues of human rights, social development, and gender equality?
• What the main areas of disconnect are?
• How does one “mainstream” lesbian visibility in the LGBTI movement, the Human Rights Movement and the women’s movement?
• What are the major challenges and opportunities for coalition building within and among the LGBTI movement, Human Rights movement and the Women’s movement?

Pramada Menon, CREA (India)
Donna Smith, FEW (South Africa)
Madelene Isaacks, the Rainbow Project (Namibia)
Evelyn Flores, Puntos de Enuentro (Nicaragua)
Radenka Grubacic, Labris (Serbia)

Chair of the workshop: Ireen Dubel, Programme Manager Gender, Women & Development, Hivos (Netherlands)

Room: 511-CLanguage: English

1. Mainstreaming LGBTI Efforts within "Traditional" Human Rights Organisations: Progress to Date and Challenges Ahead

This workshop will discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in mainstreaming LGBTI work within "traditional" human rights organizations that regularly address a broad portfolio of issues. The presentations are intended to weigh the relative advantages of an intersectional approach to queer activism that is grounded within a larger human rights framework, while also exploring obstacles and potential disadvantages to mainstreaming efforts.

Mark Bromley, Director of Policy and Government Relations, Global Rights (United Kingdom)
Widney Brown, Senior Director, International Law, Policy and Campaigns, Amnesty International (United Kingdom)
Andrey Kuvshinov, Rights Society (Russia)
Howard Glenn, Executive Director, Rights Australia (Australia)
Chris Sidoti, Director, International Service for Human Rights, (Geneva, Switzerland)

2. Addressing Human Rights Violations: Domestic and International Responses

In countries around the world, members of our communities face violence, abuse, restrictions on our freedom of expression, criminal sanctions, police harassment, and death because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

How can we respond effectively to these chilling abuses?  This workshop will examine domestic and international responses, including documenting rights violations, protecting the safety of those most at risk, reporting rights violations to the UN Special Rapporteurs so that they can conduct an investigation, laying a complaint with an international treaty body, or exposing your government’s human rights records before an international committee.Find out what you can do to hold your government accountable for its human rights abuses!

Arvind Narrain, Alternative Law Forum (India)
Marcelo Ferreyra, Deputy Program Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean, IGLHRC (Argentina)
Scott Long, Director, LGBT Rights Program, Human Rights Watch, (USA)
Ian Swartz, Coordinator, AARI (Namibia)

Chair of workshop: Paula Ettelbrick, Executive Director, IGLHRC and Roberto Jovel, Amnesty International (Canada)

3. Rising through the Challenge - Best Practices within LGBT Organisations in the Global South

This workshop will feature the presentation of four papers commissioned by ARC International and other partners, highlighting best practices and organizational strength within LGBT organizations existing in very challenging environments. The panellists will present their stories and invite discussion with participants about strengthening and building the capacity of other organizations facing similar challenges.

Keith Goddard, GALZ (Zimbabwe)
Carlos Perrera, Equal Ground Pasifik (Fiji)
Violeta Barrientos Silva, GALF and International Sexuality Forum (Peru)

Chair of workshop: Kim Vance (Canada) and John Fisher (Geneva, Switzerland), Co-Directors, ARC International

4. LGBT Capacity Building: Exchange of Best Practices of Cooperation and Linking between LGBT Organisations Worldwide

The workshop will start with a brief presentation on the work of Behind the Mask in southern Africa, using a 12 minute video by Beverly Ditsie. BtM is a remarkable case of how networks are built, how ICT can serve progressive objectives and how communities of LGBT activists and human rights defenders can be bridged. The panel will debate with the audience on questions like: Can the LGBT movements in Africa or Eastern Europe gain from the historic experience of the “old” movements in Western Europe or the USA? How to avoid paternalistic tendencies and focus also on south-south or intra-regional exchange and mutual support? What type of capacity building is needed so as to enable LGBTI groups in the North and South alike, to formulate a joint progressive answer against the rise of conservative fundamentalisms that threaten the free choice and human rights of women, LGBTI and all kinds of excluded minorities that do not comply with the norms of the moral majority? How can we improve the spread of successful practices of LGBT education to combat homophobia in the society?

Thuli Madi, director Behind the Mask (South Africa)
Bart Luirink, NiZA (Netherlands)
Peter Dankmeijer, LES (Netherlands)

Ian Swartz, TRP (Namibia)
Kocho Andonovski, MASSO (Macedonia)

Chair of the workshop :Mariike Haanraadts, Head External Relations, Hivos (Netherlands)

1. Working Together in Coalition

Increasing numbers of human rights groups are embracing sexual orientation and gender identity issues, and the world got a bit smaller and more inclusive as our struggle was taken on board by major international NGOs. How do we work together?  How does the role of a membership-based organisation such as ILGA differ from those of other human rights groups? How can we work together on common goals and strategies, and complement each other while avoiding duplication?  This workshop will explore strategies for working together in coalition as constructively and effectively as possible."

Paula Ettelbrick, Director, IGLHRC (United States)
Kim Vance, Co-Director, ARC International (Canada)
Chris Sidoti, Director, International Service for Human Rights (Geneva, Switzerland)
Roberto Jovel, Amnesty International Canada (Québec, Canada)

Chair of workshop: Philipp Braun, Co-Secretary General, ILGA (Germany)

2.The Religious Right around the World: How it Affects National and International Policies on LGBT Rights

The religious right manifests itself around the world in different ways. We know that the US-based mostly Christian right has exported its anti-LGBT agenda through links with conservative politicians in other countries and in international fora. What are the similarities and differences among the religious right in the US and religious conservatives in other parts of the world? Why do so many countries not have a politically active religious right? What are the links to opposition to women’s rights, reproductive rights, and children’s rights? How can the religious right’s political power most effectively be challenged around the world?

Sean Cahill, Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute (New York, USA)
Faisal Alam, Al Fatiha LGBTQ Muslims (Canada)
Robert Biedron, Campaign Against Homophobia (Poland)
Cary Alan Johnson, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (Africa specialist) (USA)
Scott Long, Human Rights Watch (New York, USA)
Alejandra Sarda, IGLHRC (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

3. Strategies for Legal Change: Lessons Learned from the Struggles for Constitutional and Legal Changes

Post-apartheid South Africa has been the first country ever to include an explicit mention of sexual diversity when prohibiting discrimination. This example has inspired LGBT and HR movements in other parts of the world. What lessons can be drawn from these experiences?  What kinds of coalitions or socio-political circumstances have helped the LGBT movement in the South to be successful in changing the constitution for their benefit? What are differences and similarities when comparing the cases of South Africa, Ecuador and India? How important has been the LGBT contribution to democratisation in the wider society? How big is the role of the law for social transformation? When strategising our campaigns for the recognition of the right to be different, should we focus on the constitution, or do other legal arrangements offer better scope for effective change? But also a critical question needs to be addressed: has all this legal change really brought about a fundamental improvement in the situation of the quality of life and the fulfilment of human rights for LGBT people? Can they now live freely out of the closet, do they have equal access to labour and income opportunities. And are, for example, gays and trans in countries with legal recognition of LGBT, better positioned in terms of the fight against Aids?

Arvind Narrain, ALF (India)
Jonathan Berger, ALP (South Africa)
Keith Goddard, GALZ (Zimbabwe)
Orlando Montoya, EQUIDAD (Ecuador)
Neptali Arias, FAMIVIDA (Ecuador)

Chair of the workshop: Teyo Vander Schoot, Programme Manager Human Rights, Hivos (Netherlands)

4. The Role of the EU in relation to LGBT Refugees and Treatment of LGBT People in Third World Countries

This workshop will outline the role the EU can play in relation to refugees and the treatment of LGBT in third world countries, and how this role can have a positive impact on the lived experience of LGBT. The workshop will also explore how the EU and its mechanisms can be used to positive effect on the lives of LGBT in those countries applying for accession to the EU.  ILGA-Europe’s experience in both of these areas will be discussed.

Philipp Braun, Co-Secretary General, ILGA- World (Germany)
Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director, ILGA-Europe (Ireland)

Chair of workshop:  Miha Lobnik, Board Member ILGA-Europe (Slovenia)

Institutional Strengthening: Fundraising

How many of the amazing initiatives identified at this Conference will never be realized because of lack of resources?  Fundraising: no-one enjoys it; everyone needs it!  This panel will feature representatives of key funding agencies and community organizations, who will provide practical information, skills and know-how on how to access the financial support needed to advance LGBT issues, domestically and internationally.

Andrew Park, International LGBT Funders Group (USA)
Joo-Hyun Kang, Astraea Foundation (USA)
HIVOS (Netherlands) OSI (USA)

Chair of workshop: Kim Vance (Canada) and John Fisher (Geneva, Switzerland), Co-Directors, ARC International

2.Speaking in our Name at the UN: LGBT NGOs and UN Consultative (ECOSOC) Status

In 2005 and 2006 altogether eleven LGBT NGOs have applied for UN NGO Consultative (ECOSOC) status: ILGA and members from Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America. At the NGO Committee in 2006 there has been controversy about the treatment of these NGOs – a subject which will also be an issue at the full ECOSOC. This workshop will both report on the larger issue of LGBT NGOs being recognized by the UN and give feedback from NGOs that have applied on how the process works.

Keith Goddard, Director, GALZ (Zimbabwe)
Toni Reis, Secretary General, ABGLT (Brazil)
Yvan Lapointe, Director, CGLQ (Canada)

Chair of workshop: Philipp Braun, Co-Secretary General, ILGA (Germany)

Room:
516-D
Language: English French

3. Los Crimenes del Silencio: Homo/transfobia, Violence and Impunity in Latin America

Recent investigations about the LGBT communities reveal Latin America as one of the regions with major levels of hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation or sexual identity of the victims. Most of these cases remain unpunished and are kept silent, both because of the indifference from the authorities and because of the pain or fear for stigma on the side of the victims and their families. Due to lack of juridical typology, the cases are treated as passion crimes and bereaved of their societal, discriminatory aspects. Presenting three case-studies from Mexico, Colombia and Peru, the panel will analyse the difficulties involved with bringing these hate-crimes out into the open; search for the political implications of the lack of any institutional protection; and try to find ways to break the silence and impunity in order to bring justice and reparation to the victims of homophobia. The three presentations will be supported by a short video-compilation, after which the panel will enter into debate with the audience.

Alejandro Brito, Director of Letra S (México)
Marcela Sánchez Buitrago, Director of Colombia Diversa (Colombia)
Jorge Bracamonte, Former President of MHOL (Movimiento Homosexual de Lima) (Peru)

Chair of the workshop: Frans Mom, Advisor for LGBT and Aids, Hivos

4. A National and International Day against Homophobia

The National Day against Homophobia began in 2003 on the initiative of the organisation, Fondation Émergence, in order to counter the effects of homophobia.  Since that time, the National Day against Homophobia has spread across Canada, initiating several concrete actions towards the fight against homophobia.  More than 350 groups, from sea to sea, have participated by organising different activities such as poster campaigns, marches and conferences.

Pierre Blain, Project Manager, Fondation Émergence (Québec, Canada)

The first International Day against Homophobia (IDAHO) was celebrated in 40 countries in 2005. In this workshop, the history of this exciting political adventure will be told, with testimonies and photos from throughout the world, and future projects will also be divulged and discussed. 

Louis-Georges Tin, Founder and Leader of IDAHO (France)