Are Equality and Non-Discrimination Becoming Redundant in the EU?

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Are Equality and Non-Discrimination Becoming Redundant in the EU? » MARCH 2005 VOL 5 ISSUE 1 NEWSLETTER ISSN 1378-577X www.ilga-europe.org Are equality and non-discrimination becoming redundant in the EU? » Challenges for gay youth » Gay victims of Nazis struggle for full recognition » Europe gears for summer pride events The European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association avenue de Tervueren 94 Bank account # 310-1844088-10 1040 Brussels, Belgium ING Belgique Phone +32 2 609 54 10 ETT-CINQUANTENAIRE Fax +32 2 609 54 19 avenue de Tervueren 10 [email protected] 1040 ETTERBEEK www.ilga-europe.org IBAN BE41 3101 8440 8810 BIC (SWIFT): BBRUBEBB Message from Patricia Table of Contents A very warm welcome to the Spring edition of our Newsletter! As ever it has been a busy time at ILGA-Europe during the last couple of 3 Board news months. A lot of work has been done by the board and staff in terms of 3 ILGA's European Conference 2005 strategic planning and organisational development. Changes at IE are 4 News from ILGA that Tatjana, resigned from the board due to work commitments. Many 4 EU policy priorities thanks to Tatjana for all her work with us and best wishes for the future. 6 Europarliament Gay and Lesbian Rights Intergroup Maya was welcomed as a full board member at the February meeting. 7 Social exclusion and LGBT youth There will be another change later on this Spring. Don Bisson will be 8 EU neighbourhood policy moving on from ILGA-Europe at the end of April. We also thank Don for 9 EU EQUAL translational project all his work both as Director of ECT Programmes and as Acting Director 10 Europe remembers Holocaust of IE. We wish him the very best in the future. 12 OSCE: New training programme on hate crimes 13 News clips The recent statement by the Commission's President Barroso caused a 17 Events lot of concerns among European organisations working in the social 18 Call for essays and equality areas, including us. We fear that Europe might be chang- ing its social model to a more economic approach where such values as equality and non-discrimination are not given sufficient attention. While Commissioner pidla re-confirmed the commitments to non-dis- crimination, mainstreaming and equality, just this week, we will have to The ILGA-Europe Newsletter is Lewis, Desislava Petrova, Maya work very hard and with our colleagues in the other social and equality the quarterly newsletter of Salvado, Svyatoslav Sementsov, NGOs to ensure these commitments are translated into actions that ILGA-Europe. Volume 5, issue 1, Anette Sjödin, Kim Smouter, improve the lives of LGBT people and also the lives of the very margin- March 2005. Tomasz Szypula, Arne alised people throughout Europe who are excluded from full, meaning- Walderhaug, Nigel Warner, Elena ful and equal participation in society. Editors: Zamura. Juris Lavrikovs, Kurt Krickler Design & layout: On a positive note, the Gay and Lesbian Rights Intergroup at the Contributors: Silja Pogule European Parliament was re-launched and we hope it will provide a Maxim Anmeghichean, Stephen www.siljadesign.lv strong voice among the EU institutions for LGBT people. Barris, Don Bisson, Gilles Bon- Maury, Gordan Bosanac, Printer: Sofadi We are busy developing the seminars to be held in Krakow in April Riccardo Gottardi, Anna (and they will be repeated in Slovenia in June), the EU Co-ordina- Gruszczynska, Birgit Hardt, Next Issue: June 2005 Krissu, Christine Loudes, Jackie Deadline: 10 May 2005 tors Network meeting, and the Paris Conference. There is interesting news from around Europe about LGBT people. And we also feature items on remembering the Holocaust victims © ILGA-Europe. Reproduction permitted, and the question of multiple discrimination and social exclusion. provided that appropriate reference is made to the source. We also include a first notification on the Spring/Summer Pride events that are happening throughout Europe. Do let us know of other events, so we can add them to the list. This Newsletter is published publication does not necessarily with the support of the European reflect the position or opinion Commission – The European of the European Commission. I hope you will enjoy reading this Newsletter and as always we are Union against discrimination. It is not liable for any use that happy to hear your comments, suggestions and ideas about making The information contained in this may be made of this information. it even more relevant to you. PATRICIA PRENDIVILLE ILGA-Europe's Executive Director »P2 ILGA-EUROPE NEWSLETTER ILGA-Europe Board ILGA-Europe er of a little boy. Maya works in Thank you Tatjana, visual arts, is involved in an alternative coop kindergarten welcome to Maya! and parenting support network. She is active in women's organi- On 24 January 2005, Tatjana needed at this moment. For this sations, and 10 years ago she Greif resigned from the Executive reason she thought that it would organised "women by train to Board. Tatjana had served on the be more responsible to allow the Beijing" for the 4th World board for six years, contributing first reserve to take up her role Conference on Women. For with great dedication to the work as a member of the board. the past 10 years she was of the organisation, in particular Dear Tatjana, while kissing you active with the APGL on issues relating to lesbian good bye, we thank you for the (Association of Gay and rights and East Europe. Over the years you have dedicated to Lesbian Parents and Future Maya Salvado Ferrer years we have worked together, ILGA-Europe and we wish you Parents), and now is its inter- getting to know each other bit by all the best for your life, your Maya Salvado Ferrer is national representative. Maya bit, and we will all miss the work and your activism; we will Spaniard who was born in is involved with "Paris 2005 strength of her commitment to miss you but we know that we Ireland and is living in France. ILGA-Europe" hosting the 27th the LGBT cause. will continue to work together Maya studied visual arts and ILGA European conference in and that it will not be long women studies in France, UK, Paris and the pre-conference Due to the growing demands on before we get together again. China and the USA. She has a on LGBT families organised by her from her work and her life as DSAP from the École APGL. well as her activism in KUC-LL, So, while we are sad to be loos- Supérieure des Beaux-Arts of Tatjana felt that she could not ing Tatjana, we are also happy to Paris and a Masters of Visual JACKIE LEWIS and devote to ILGA-Europe all the welcome Maya Salvado as a full Arts from Rutgers University, RICCARDO GOTTARDI time that would have been member of the Executive Board. New Jersey, USA. She is moth- Executive Board Co-Chairs "United in Diversity" Conference ILGA-Europen The Paris team is proud to 2005 ILGA-Europe conference Homosexualités et Socialisme, On 25-26 October 2005, a pre- invite ILGA-Europe members in Paris (ILGA-Europe Paris Commission Gaie et Lesbienne conference on LGBT parenting to one of the most lesbian 2005)". Its members all have des Verts, Association des par- will take place in Paris (for more and gay friendly capitals in strong connections to or responsi- ents et futurs parents gais et details, see 'Events' section). the world, to a country bridg- bilities in other LGBT associations. lesbiens (APGL), CQFD/Fierté ing northern and southern Lesbienne, Juristes Gais, Practical information Europe and whose people A co-operative effort Syndicat national des entre- The conference will take place cherish liberty and diversity. The project has received the prises gaies (SNEG), etc. from 26-30 October 2005. The full support of Inter-LGBT Several of these associations registration form and the confer- A dedicated team (French umbrella organisation have already shown their ability ence programme will be avail- In April 2003, an association for LGBT associations, based in to organise public events able on ILGA-Europe's website was specifically created to pre- Paris) which has appointed a (LGBT Pride March, confer- www.ilga-europe.org. The pare, bid for, and organise the member to the board of "ILGA- ences, fairs, press confer- main venue of the conference is 2005 conference, should ILGA- Europe Paris 2005". Other ences), to work with non-LGBT FIAP Jean Monnet, 30 rue Europe decide to hold the con- associations have shown their organisations (trade unions, Cabanis, 75014 Paris: ference in Paris, which it did at interest and will participate in human rights organisations), to www.fiap.asso.fr. the annual conference in the project: Centre Gai et run public services, fund-raise, Glasgow in October 2003. The Lesbien de Paris, SOS obtain public grants, get sup- ILGA-EUROPE PARIS 2005 TEAM name of this specific group is Homophobie, CARITIG, David port from high-level politicians, "Association for hosting the et Jonathan, L'Autre Cercle, lobby, reach the media, etc. www.ilgaeuropeparis2005.org ILGA-EUROPE NEWSLETTER »P3 to fully recognise and protect News from ILGA sexual orientation and gender identity as human rights… "Campaigning", a new bul- "Campaigning" will be available Paris in October will be ILGA's The International Day letin for ILGA both in print and electronically. second appointment in 2005 Against Homophobia "People interested in our issues which will lead us to ILGA's world (IDAHO) get their share of LGBT news Next ILGA conferences: conference in spring 2006. As On 17 May 1990, the General when they turn on their TVs, Cebu City, Paris and Geneva decided by its members in Manila Assembly of the World Health read their daily paper or their As political turmoil in Nepal at the last world conference, the Organization (WHO) removed favourite website or magazine…" became more threatening by 23rd world conference will take homosexuality from its list of says Stephen Barris, communi- the day, regional representa- place in Geneva, home of the mental disorders.
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