Human Rights:Under Construction
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» DECEMBER 2004 VOL 4 ISSUE 4 NEWSLETTER ISSN 1378-577X www.ilga-europe.org ILGA European conference 2004: success and lots of fun in Budapest EU Anti-Discrimination Policy: renewed commitment needed Across Europe: more partnership rights but increased violence The European Region Message of the International Lesbian and Gay Association from avenue de Tervueren 94 Bank account # 310-1844088-10 1040 Brussels, Belgium ING Belgique Patricia Phone +32 2 609 54 10 ETT-CINQUANTENAIRE A very warm welcome to the winter edition of our Newsletter! I am very pleased to Fax +32 2 609 54 19 avenue de Tervueren 10 greet you at such an exciting time for ILGA-Europe. During the last couple of months [email protected] 1040 ETTERBEEK www.ilga-europe.org IBAN BE41 3101 8440 8810 our team was expanded and completed and we now have seven people working at BIC (SWIFT): BBRUBEBB the office plus we have a regular volunteer providing us with great assistance. Given the changes in the make-up of the team, Juris Lavrikovs, our new Information & Communications Officer, is taking over the responsibility for the pro- Table of Contents duction of the newsletter and I wish him every success. At the same time I would like to thank Birgit Hardt, our Policy Officer (Networks), for all her energy and com- 2 Message from Patricia mitment for producing the previous editions of the newsletter - a big thanks! 3 Personnel news 4 ILGA European conference 2004 In October we had ,a very, successful annual conference in Budapest hosted by the fantastic team of Hatter. The conference attracted a record number of participants in 7 ILGA-Europe current projects the history of the ILGA European conferences and we even had delegates from such 8 Equality in a future Europe - Renewed commitment countries as Lebanon and Israel! One of the most important discussions resulted in to the fight against discrimination in Europe? the adoption of a strategic plan for ILGA-Europe's work and this means we are mov- 9 ILGA-Europe's priorities for the Luxembourg Presidency ing to another level in our organisation and professionalism. It was also very nice for 9 Buttiglione affair: a new European Union is born me as a 'newcomer' to meet so many members from around Europe in person. 10 Fundamental Rights: making them more than words? 10 New EU gender directive Many important events affecting the lives and rights of LGBT people are taking 11 IGLYO - twenty years of activism for young LGBT people place around Europe at this time. Some of these are positive and encouraging, 12 OSCE's human rights mandate - sexual orientation and but some of them remind us that hate and discrimination are still very much gender identity discrimination to be included? part of the lived realities of LGBT people. (See the news items inside). 13 Stonewall to launch the first Corporate Equality On a positive note, the creation of the new European Commission process 14 Austria: court dismisses freedom of movement case demonstrated the continuing commitment by, the EU to the protection of 15 Balkans: 5th regional SEE Q meeting human rights and now the Commissioner Spindla has promised us even 15 Ireland: Lesbian couple marries in Canada and greater possibilities for stronger equality legislation and implementation challenges Irish laws through the feasibility and communication on integration of equality and non- 16 Bulgaria: News laws, old attitudes discrimination due in 2005. We will continue to work on these developments. 16 Latvia: European Social Platform study visit 17 News Clips Legislation recognising the rights of same-sex partners was adopted or came into force in the UK, Luxembourg and Switzerland; Spain is about to open same-sex marriage and the issue is being discussed or tested in the courts in a number of other European countries. , The ILGA-Europe Newsletter is the Radomir Trajkovic, Kurt Krickler, On a less positive note, a gay man was murdered in London and research quarterly newsletter of Desislava Petrova, Simone showing that prejudice towards LGBT people and other minority groups in ILGA-Europe. Volume 4, issue 4, Brander, Klaus Jetz, Philipp Braun, Britain is still high. The Latvian Minister admitted that addressing LGBT issues December 2004 Stonewall. is still a 'political suicide' in the Latvian politics and the Bulgarian MP openly Editors: Juris Lavrikovs, Kurt, Krickler Design & layout: Silja Pogule propagates hatred towards LGBT people. Contributors: Bence Solymar, www.siljadesign.lv Birgit Hardt, Christine Loudes, Printer: Sofadi However, all such events make us all only stronger, mobilise us and remind about much Riccardo Gottardi, Max Next Issue: March 2005 work still needs to be done to achieve a Europe free from discrimination and intolerance. Anmeghichean, Fabio Sacca, Deadline: 10 February 2005 I trust you will find this edition of the newsletter interesting, informative and stimu- © ILGA-Europe. Reproduction permitted, provided lating. We will be continuing to develop our communication strategy in 2005 so that appropriate reference is made to the source. you will see changes in the newsletter, the EU bulletin and the website. I am very pleased to be part of this new ILGA-Europe team and together with our board and membership look forward to taking the organisation forward in This Newsletter is published publication does not necessarily achieving our aims and goals. with the support of the European reflect the position or opinion Commission – The European of the European Commission. Since this newsletter comes out at the end of the year, I wish you all a great Union against discrimination. It is not liable for any use that festive season and all the success in our joint work during next year! The information contained in this may be made of this information. PATRICIA PRENDIVILLE ILGA-Europe Executive Director »P2 ILGA-EUROPE NEWSLETTER ILGA-Europe appoints Information & Communications Officer In 1990 Juris became a co-founder of the Latvian Association for Sexual Equality and until 1997 was its board member. In 1995, Juris was a director for the EU funded Lesbian and Gay Anti- Discrimination Project in Latvia. Since 1996, Juris was actively involved in establishing the Homosexuality Information Centre in Latvia and for many years was its legal advisor. In 1998 Juris was employed by the Latvian National Human Rights Office to carry out a research on the legal situation for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in Latvia and other jurisdictions. As part of this research work, Juris prepared a series of legislative amendments to reduce news Personnel Juris Lavrikovs sexual orintation discrimination in Latvia. One of the proposals, the Juris Lavrikovs started his role as ILGA-Europe registered partnership bill, was submitted to the parliament in 1999 Information and Communications Officer on 14 October by the Latvian National Human Rights Office. Since 1992 Juris 2004. Juris' entire professional, academic and voluntary was actively involved in and represented Latvian organisations at career is devoted to lesbian, gay and bisexual human ILGA conferences and other forums. rights issues. Juris is a lawyer and in 1994 graduated from the University of Juris is originally from Latvia, but joined the office from London Latvia. In 1997, he completed his LL.M course in European Legal where he worked for the leading British lesbian, gay and bisexual Studies at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. rights organisation Stonewall. Initially Juris worked for Stonewall's Citizenship 21 project which addressed the issues of multiple dis- We are very glad we are now able to employ someone full time to crimination and provided capacity building support for community work on developing and improving our information service, website organisations. Juris also was involved in establishing Stonewall's and communications strategy. I am delighted Juris has been information centre and creating and maintaining its website, as well appointed for this role and am sure ILGA-Europe will befit greatly as in Stonewall's policy and research work. from his knowledge and experiences. PP ILGA-Europe's new stagiaire Kim Smouter joined the Although a Dutchman by nationality, Kim is perhaps as close as staff of ILGA-Europe on 6 one gets to being a true European. Having lived in France and September 2004 as ILGA- the United States most of his life, and coming from a family of Europe's new stagiaire. mixed origins. In secondary school, Kim was a leader of the Kim is currently following International School of Brussels' Safe Place Project. Safe Place a bachelor level study in is a central element of the school's fight against intolerance and European Studies at the discrimination. University of Maastricht (Netherlands). Kim has Kim is also a writer of science-fiction novels, romantic poetry, and been actively involved a generally creative addition to the staff, as well as an island of within his school commu- tranquillity. Our new stagiaire has certainly grown to become a nities on issues of interest useful member of staff. to LGBT youth. Kim Smouter PP ILGA-EUROPE NEWSLETTER »P3 Lots of fun in Budapest ILGA-Europe badges and went mushrooming organisations and Listening to her speech, you out to have lunch sporting them considerable achievements. He may have noticed that she is as on collars. They were all beam- contributed the point of view of energetic as ever. We all hope ing, and after certain workshops the insider, very unique among to see her from time to time at like the one on the "Brazilian the speeches of the day. various events. Resolution", or the one on lesbian women's organising, they told me Joop Verboom handed over the The biggest reason for celebra- they found them intriguing. A cou- report of what the Dutch EU tion, however, was that José Göncz Kinga, Hungarian Minister of Social and Family ple of times they wished they Presidency had done on LGBT Manuel Barroso backed out of Affairs and Equal were participants so that they too issues, which again was a his dire straits about Rocco Opportunities could give their opinions.