LGBT*

IUSY Queer Working Group Meeting 2021

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Overview

What: Queer Working Group Meeting

When: 20-21 April 

Where: Online meeting; ZOOM platform 

Age: 18-35 years

Deadline: 18th April 12:00 CEST 

Outline

IUSY Queer working group annual meeting aims to provide young activists from member organisations with knowledge on the theme of queer issues and rights aswell as develop, skills and competences to identify and counter homophobic and transphobic attitudes in their political activismand within their organisations. 

This years’ working group meeting is recap on the work done in 2020 such as reviewing the 2ndedition of the Guideline on how to be an Ally, presenting the resolution proposal on Queer Issues and Labour Rights and have the space to discuss on queer activism and mental health. 

Theme

The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on queer people around the world it undeniable: from social isolation, domestic abuse, higher risk of infection by being part of the risk group (HIV positive, LGBTQI elderly) to online harassment. Among these many issues that queer persons and communities continue facing there is also a huge problem connected with mental health. This is one of the topics that is not widely discussed in our societies and within our organisations. This year, we want to bring our focus on the theme of queer activism and mental health. 

Objectives of the meeting

·               to acknowledge, define and share on the topic of queer activism and mental health;

·               to present the work done in 2020: Guideline on Allyship and proposal for resolution on queer issues and labour rights;

·               to continue building a network of queer activists;

·               to engage queer activists within the working group, across the different regions. 

Facilitators of the meeting 

The working group meeting will be facilitated by Laura Loew and Ivan Puh. 

Participant’s profile

This activity is aimed towards the activists of IUSY member organisations. Please note that it is required that the participants stay for the whole duration of the activity and also to contribute to the working group after the meeting. 

Participants should: 

·               Belong to IUSY member organisation 

·               Be aged 18-35

·               Has worked in a field concerning LGBTQI issues or is interested in the field 

·               Availability to contribute to IUSY queer working group activities in future 

How to apply

Participants must apply by filling the registration form here or copy/pasting the following link: https://forms.gle/hPKkRccxME2RnvaR9

Deadline to register for the working group is 18thApril, 12:00PM CEST. 

Online Meeting

The meeting will take place online, through the online platform Zoom.

It will be in English and without any participation fee. 

Participants once confirmed their participation, will receive the programme, more detailed technical information and the link and an entry code to the meeting room.

The event will take place during 2 days for about two hours a day. 

Exact time of the meeting will be confirmed as soon as possible. Initially it will start either 1PM or 2PM CEST. 

It is important to remember that our events are safe spaces and that we are mindful and respectful towards each other. 

Contact

iusy@iusy.org or gohar.ghandilyan@iusy.org

Rainbow Rose and IUSY condemn Brunei for introducing homophobic laws

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Recent developments in the South East Asian state of Brunei, with plans to introduce discriminatory laws including the death penalty for being homosexual, have caused an outcry in many countries and outrage from NGOs such as Amnesty international. After the first announcement of the introduction of sharia law in 2013, many basic human rights have been restricted, such as the rights to freedom of expression, religion and belief. It also codified discrimination against women and girls.

From 3rd April 2019, new and restrictive laws such as the death penalty for homosexuality and adultery will be introduced. Rainbow Rose, the European network of socialist LGBTI organisations, and IUSY, the international union of socialist youth, show their deepest concerns about these recent developments, and condemn the continued attacks on human rights in the South East Asian country.

“LGBTI rights are human rights. The implementation of these penalties are a direct attack on the freedom and lives of LGBTI people.“, says Camila Garfias, President of Rainbow Rose. IUSY president Johanna Ortega adds: “When human rights are threatened we are obliged to act and call out on these injustices. The international community must act now.“

Rainbow Rose and IUSY condemn these laws and stand in solidarity with the people in Brunei.

IUSY lauds the LGBT+ rights victory in India #Section377

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In a historic victory in India, as the Supreme Court on the 6th of September announced a unanimous verdict to decriminalise homosexuality.

The Supreme Court ruled to scrap the colonial-era Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises “unnatural sex”. There have been reports of the law being used to intimidate, extort and blackmail members of the LGBT+ community. Some of those who were persecuted under this law faced further harassment in prison.

This ruling turns a new leaf for the LGBT+ movement in India as the court reverses an old ruling criminalising gay sex in December 2013. The September 2018 judgment reads: “Section 377 is arbitrary. The LGBT community possesses rights like others. Majoritarian views and popular morality cannot dictate constitutional rights.”

The Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra added, “Sexual orientation of an individual is natural and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a violation of freedom of expression.”

We laud India’s LGBT+ movement, student and youth groups, lawyers, government officials and NGO leaders who challenged the archaic law and fought to keep human rights universal.

IUSY Asia Pacific Committee welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of India, which will ensure a dignified presence for the LGBTQ+ community. This verdict will open new avenues for the marginalised community and give them a platform for social and economic equality.

IUSY Feminist and LGBT Working-groups meetings

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Dear comrades,
we have the pleasure of inviting you to the forthcoming IUSY Feminist and LGBT* working group meetings “Collective Identities: Political dimension” that will take place in Mollina (Malaga) Spain from 17th-24th September 2017. 

This year’s IUSY Feminist and LGBT* working groups meetings will take place within the framework of the University of Youth and Development (UYD) which is an activity organised by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe (NSC). This year’s theme of the University is Global Identities. 

Please, find attached the invitation letters for both meetings. Note, that those are two different activities taking place in parallel. We kindly ask you to read the invitations attentively, since it provides a lot of useful information for the participants, criteria for participation as well as the links to the registration. We encourage you to disseminate the call among the activists of your organisation who are engaged with the theme of the working groups. 

The deadline for registration is 28th July 2017.

Should you have any questions regarding the activity, please don’t hesitate to contact the Project Manager in charge of the meetings (Gohar – gohar.ghandilyan@iusy.org) or the IUSY secretariat (iusy@iusy.org).

We are very much looking forward to receiving your applications!

Invitation IUSY Feminist Working group

Invitation IUSY LGBT* Working group