Combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity
LGBT ISSUES AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Youth
The Youth sector of the Council of Europe: The European
Youth Foundation (EYF) supports youth projects tackling LGBT questions
One of the priorities of the youth sector and the EYF is the support and development of youth work practices and policy measures to address discrimination, social exclusion and segregation affecting young people, focusing on vulnerable groups such as migrants, Roma, LGBT etc.
This is why every year the foundation supports several NGO youth projects tackling LGBT questions, in form of workshops, conferences, seminars, publications etc.
Examples of supported projects in 2011/2012:
International Union of Socialist Youth
- Workshop : “Response to intolerance and discrimination – strengthening the
agenda of international solidarity and forming an international youth alliance
in promotion and defence of rights of LGBT persons”.
The main themes of this workshop are equality, social inclusion and the
possibility to execute the right to freedom of choice and expression of one’s
sexual identity. It will take place in Werftpfuhl, Germany, in September 2012
and will gather participants from 30 countries.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth & Student Organisation
- Conference “Keep The Faith: promoting inter-religious and inter cultural
dialogue in the LGBTQ youth sector”.
The purpose of the conference is to promote inter-religious and inter-cultural
dialogue between LGBTQ youth and religious, ethnic minorities organizations
across Europe. It will give young LGBTQ activists of different religious,
national, ethnic and cultural backgrounds space to talk about combating
religious homophobia and promote interfaith and inter-religious dialogue at the
pan-European level. In addition, the conference is also designed to encourage
LGBTQ young people who belong to an organised religion to challenge prejudice
and work for LGBTQ equality within their local communities. This conference will
take place in Brussels, Belgium and will gather participants from 25 countries.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth & Student Organisation
- IGLYO's bulletin publication: Thematic on LGBTQ youth activities, and the many aspects of being young and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer in Europe today.
Collectif citoyen des homosexuel-les musulman-es de France-HM2F - Homosexual Muslims of France :
- Conference ”CALEM”: Development of a non-formal,
interactive participation of LGBT youth, especially lesbians from a Muslim
background, developing new representations between citizenship, Islam, double
discrimination.
Based on the fact that young citizens that belong de facto to a sexual minority,
with a Muslim background, are the most at risk (depression, suicide, social
exclusion), since they suffer from several kinds of stigma and discriminations,
HM2F is organising for the third year a CALEM Conference ( Confederation of
associations LGBTQI European and Muslim- http://www.calem.eu/home.html). The
conference will take place in Paris in November 2012 and will gather
participants from 6 countries.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth & Student Organization
- Conference “Enlightenment 2: Exploring Formal Education Experiences for
LGBT Young People”
This conference intended to provide LGBTQ youth with the experience, knowledge,
skills and support they need to empower themselves and subsequently their peers.
It took place in Bucharest, Romania, in May 2011 and gathered young people from
23 countries.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth & Student Organization
- Conference “Building Capacity - Achieving Outcomes for LGBTQ youth in
Europe”
The conference focused on the capacity building for LGBTQ youth organisations in
order to improve the outcomes for LGBTQ young people across Europe, and took
place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in October 2011.
International Falcon Movement- Socialist Education International (IFA-SEI)
- Seminar : “Challenging Heteronormativity and homophobia: Queer Easter 2011”
(http://www.queereaster.net/)
The seminar focused on education and sexual diversity and analysed how education
can be used to change society, overcome heteronormativity and homophobia and
become open for sexual diversity. The event took place in Werftpfuhl, Germany,
in April 2011.
Publications:
CALENDAR
17/12/2012: Tirana (Albania)
The launching of the "Action Plan of Measures for non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity" took place in Tirana, organized by the Albanian government, as part of the LGBT Project.
14 - 15/12/2012: Budva (Montenegro)
The Seminar on Police Training relating to LGBT issues, organized by the LGBT Project, took place in Budva and brought together the six partner countries of the Council of Europe LGBT Project: Council of Europe country coordinators, a representative from each Ministry of Interior, Heads of Police Training and relevant NGOs.
13/12/2012: Belgrade (Serbia)
The start-up conference of the Council of Europe LGBT Project in Serbia took place in Belgrade and gathered national stakeholders working in the field of LGBT issues.
