US country musician Steve Grand with Armenian flag during EuroPride in Riga

It was a pretty historic event - the EuroPride that took place in Riga on 20 June. Latvia is currently hosting the EU presidency, and this was the first EuroPride in the ex-Soviet state.

However, Latvia has yet lots to do in order to embrace fully human rights for all. According to ILGA-Europe press release:

…the country is on a cross road between embracing the fundamental principles of the European Union and advancing the human rights of LGBTI people or slipping back into the past and mirroring by its eastern neighbours and introducing discriminatory and oppressive laws.

Just yesterday, the Latvian Parliament adopted a change in education law which prescribes ‘constitutional morality education’ to schoolchildren to ensure children are educated in line with the constitutional definition of marriage as union between a man and a woman. In effect such legislative change mirrors the infamous Russian law banning ’gay propaganda’ to minors. On the other hand, Latvia is in the midst of a very lively and positive debate of a gender neutral cohabitation law which is being championed by some mainstream politicians and gaining wider public support.

Moreover, as per ILGA-Europe Rainbow Europe Index, “Latvia has the lowest score among the EU Member States in terms of laws and policies affecting LGBTI people – only 18% equality achieved”.

One of the biggest flags one could spot during the EuroPride held in Riga was our Armenian tricolour.

And it’s great to see popular and pretty hot openly gay US country musician Steve Grand in Riga’s Euro Pride with Armenian flag

Re Steve Grand: “He became an overnight internet celebrity and was acclaimed by some to be the first openly gay male country musician to attract mainstream attention in the United States. The music video of his first hit "All-American Boy" went viral on YouTube in less than a week in July 2013.” (more on Wiki)

And below is a pic with rainbow flag that Steve Grand posted on his Instagram with the following comment: “#EuroPride in #Riga, #Latvia #USEmbassy It is an important time to be here for #pride. Grateful to be a part of the effort to further #equality in this part of the world”

Violence, intimidation, no legislative protection - reports highlight urgent need for Armenia authorities to ACT NOW to tackle LGBT discrimination

Series of reports published over the last month or so by various European, international and local groups consistently highlighted lack of legislative protection of LGBT people in Armenia. Reading these reports side by side reminds us what a horrible year 2012 was in terms of violations of human rights of LGBT people in Armenia. Unfortunately, nothing much has changed since. No politician was sacked or resigned for inciting or supporting anti-gay violence. No one was charged for anti-gay violence. No legislative changes have been made to ensure human rights protection of all Armenian  citizens, regardless of sexual orientation. Instead, hysteric outbursts in media and by MPs, politicians and other public figures are abound fuelling further homophobia and discrimination of people based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
***

European Commission: Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in Armenia Progress in 2012 and recommendations for action

Comprehensive legislation on discrimination is not yet in place, while discriminatory attitudes are widespread. The current definition of discrimination does not cover all forms of discrimination (race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, gender, sexual orientation or other status). Moreover, efforts to ensure effective implementation of the current laws are inadequate.

Efforts need to be stepped up on ensuring non-discrimination in social life, in particular regarding the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The firebombing of a pub in Yerevan in May, the subsequent disruption of the Diversity March, cancellation of a film screening on tolerance under pressure from unidentified entities, and discriminatory statements from influential politicians are incompatible with European values. This area has not been covered by the National Human Rights Strategy.

Freedom House: Armenia Report 2013 

The year 2012 witnessed a number of crimes and protests apparently motivated by homophobia. In the early morning hours of 8 May, a gay-friendly rock club in central Yerevan was firebombed, causing damages assessed at $7,500. Two young Iranian citizens arrested in connection with the crime were reportedly bailed out by representatives of the Dashnaktsutyun party, who spoke favorably of the bombing, as did Eduard Sharmazanov, an MP for HHK. On 24 May, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia called the attack a crime against sexual minorities and called upon Armenian law enforcement to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards hate crimes.

On 21 May, a Cultural Diversity march was held in Yerevan by the Women’s Resource Center and PINK, a group supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights. Some media labeled the event “gay parade in disguise.” Although there is no official ban on gay pride parades in Armenia, one has yet to take place there. A group of young men, including from the nationalist youth group Hayazn, staged a counter-protest with posters saying “Keep your kids away” and “Say ‘no’ to perversions.” They attempted to disrupt the march but police intervened in order to prevent clashes between the two groups. In October, Hayazn also obstructed the screening of Parada, a film by Srđan Dragojević about LGBT rights in Serbia. Three screenings, funded by the EU delegation and the German Embassy to Armenia, were announced, but protests from Hayazn led all of the venues to back out due to concerns of mass disorder and potential property damage.

PINK Armenia: Human rights situation of LGBT people in Armenia 2012
Along with the highlights of main instances of the human rights violations of LGBT people, such as firebombing of gay friendly DIY bar, attacks on Diversity march perceived as "gay parade", failure to stage a screening of gay themed film Parada, PINK's report reflects briefly the development of draft anti-discrimination legislation that lately became a favourite topic of discussions of Armenian media, politicians and so on, who dubbed this legislation as "gay rights law" (I will come back to this in separate posts). The need for comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation was highlighted by the EU too (see above).

Human Rights Ombudsman office initiated the development of anti-discrimination legislation. In the first presented draft law “discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity” was included, but later this point was excluded from the definition of discrimination. The Human Rights Ombudsman Office refuses to provide explanations on this matter. Perhaps it could be the first law, which will ban the discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There is no law in Armenia that prohibits discrimination, hate promotion, violence and other crimes based on person’s sexual orientation and gender identity.

PINK's report also mentioned an extraordinary attempt at silencing activists not only inside Armenia, but also abroad, within the Diaspora framework.

“Armenians and Progressive Politics” conference took place in USA and was launched in New York city, and then continued in San Francisco, Berkley and Los Angeles.Together with other civil society activists ”Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO president Mamikon Hovsepyan presented human rights situation of LGBT people in Armenia. The speeches had success in three cities, however in Los Angeles the hosts, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee – Eastern Region did not allow him to present his speech, in a result of which the majority of participants left the conference hall and conducted that part in another place. The organizers explained their decision as for safety considerations. 

While leaving the venue, Markar Melkonian, brother of national hero Monte Melkonian, approached Mamikon Hovsepyan, shook his hand and said that he supports him.

[read also: Widow of Armenia national hero Monte Melkonian blasts ultra-nationalists for hijacking his name to spread hatred and anti-gay violence]

This case was highlighted also in the annual report of Europe's main LGBT rights group - ILGA-Europe:

In October, human rights defender and president of PINK Armenia, Mamikon Hovsepyan, was forced to withdraw as a speaker in the panel discussion at the Armenians and Progressive Politics conference in Los Angeles, organised by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee – Eastern Region, after he was threatened with retribution because of the LGBT nature of his speech. Hovsepyan was later told that the extreme nationalist forces within ARF didn’t want him to speak at the conference. 

"In November, the activists of PINK Armenia were stalked by young people who attacked the Diversity March in May. The attackers of the march followed activists on the streets and sat next to them in cafes. Activists believe that the motive behind these actions was to intimidate and silence them."

Also relevant -

Armenia - at the bottom of Europe re human rights protection of its LGBT citizens

Armenia - at the bottom of Europe re human rights protection of its LGBT citizens

Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), leading European gay rights group ILGA-Europe launched its Rainbow Europe package reviewing the human rights situation and assessing what life is like for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people in Europe in 2013.

According to the Rainbow map and accompanied score sheet, countries have been assigned scores based on the level of legal human rights protection for LGBT people.

The Rainbow Map covers the legal and policy situation with regards to 6 thematic categories (Equality and non-discrimination; Family; Bias motivated speech / violence; Legal gender recognition; Freedom of assembly, association, and expression; and Asylum). The main rule is that sexual orientation and gender identity (or equivalent) need to be clearly referred to in the respective law or policy; or that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people are treated equally in law or by the state. For the purposes of this map, a law or policy is taken to exist once it is adopted by the respective parliament. 

Published also a comprehensive qualitative annual review report containing separate chapters on each country that gives more detailed background about the situation.

Only 3 countries among 49 European countries have a one-digit score: Russia (the lowest 49th place with 7%), Armenia (48th place with 8%) and Azerbaijan (47th place with 8%). 

Shameful.

And with such credentials, Armenia assumed today chairmanship of the Council of Europe for six months.

[below is Armenia Score Sheet in English and Armenian]

Armenia LGBT rights record to be scrutinised before UN Human Rights Committee

Review of Armenia at UN Human Rights Committee to begin on Monday 16 July 2012.

PINK Armenia in cooperation with the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, ILGA-Europe and the George Washington University Law School International Human Rights Clinic has prepared and submitted a shadow report focusing on "Human Rights Violations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People in Armenia" for consideration at the 105th Session of the Human Rights Committee. (ILGA-Europe)

This is the first time such a comprehensive LGBT report has been submitted as part of the review of Armenia human rights commitments before the UN.

Human Rights House Network reports that the hearings of this and other Armenia related issues will take place on 16-17 July. You may follow live broadcast here: http://www.treatybodywebcast.org

To access LGBT Report in full - follow this link. Below are selected key summary extracts.

***

The purpose of this report is to highlight the widespread and systematic human rights violations experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals in Armenia. These violations have become all the more concerning in light of the recent upsurge in violent attacks against the LGBT community, and speech inciting such attacks in the month of May 2012. In particular, the report draws the attention of the Committee to the following breaches of the Covenant:

Background summary
• The State of Armenia remains deeply oppressive toward LGBT individuals, as reflected by public officials’ statements against the LGBT community.
• The Armenian State fails to protect LGBT individuals from public stigma and hate speech because it has failed to enact laws that criminalize hate speech, including against LGBT persons.
• Individuals in Armenia are subject to discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity by both State and non-State actors, including in access to education, employment opportunities, and healthcare.
• Though inadequate reporting makes exact numbers uncertain, local human rights groups report an alarming number of non-combat deaths in the army each year, including deaths of LGBT individuals. Gay and bisexual men serving in the army may be particularly at risk. The Armenian State fails to adequately prevent, investigate, and/or prosecute incidents of gender and sexual orientation-based killings, including against LGBT individuals.
• Gay and bisexual men in Armenia suffer cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment while serving in the army or detained in prison. In some instances, the State is responsible for this abuse or fails to adequately prevent, investigate, and/or prosecute incidents of violence toward LGBT individuals.
• The Armenian State refuses to recognize the gender identity of transgender persons. By denying transgender individuals appropriate identity documents, the State withholds from them the status of legal personhood.

Recommendations
The State of Armenia must adopt legislative, administrative, and judicial measures to ensure respect, protection, and promotion of, and minimize violation of, human rights without any distinction based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. To that end, the Human Rights Committee should recommend:

1. Armenia should adopt anti-discrimination legislation that condemns discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
2. Armenia should take appropriate measures to end all discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity by adopting comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. In particular, the State party should introduce a comprehensive system of laws that criminalize hate speech and discourage statements by public officials that foster discrimination against LGBT people.
3. Armenia should take action to end all violence committed against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity in the Armenian army or who are detained in prison. In particular, the State party should protect LGBT persons from discrimination, physical and mental torture, and degrading treatment. The State party should revise the military code and put in place measures to fully investigate alleged crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and where appropriate, ensure that such crimes are properly prosecuted and punished.
4. Armenia should take appropriate measures to ensure that all persons have the enjoyment of their rights and are entitled to access basic services, such as education and employment, without discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. In particular, the State Party should pay special attention to undertake these efforts outside of the capital city of Yerevan.
5. Armenia should take steps to improve its public health campaign to end discrimination against LGBT persons infected with HIV/AIDS.
6. Armenia should adopt appropriate laws that permit transgender persons to legally transition, and to receive identity documents that reflect an individual’s identified gender.

Question to the State party
1. What is the State party doing to address discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity?
2. What is the State party doing to address hate speech and homophobic statements by public officials, which are detrimental to the full exercise of the right to freedom of expression?
3. What is the State party doing to protect individuals from physical and mental torture, and degrading treatment on grounds of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, particularly in the Armenian army and among detainees?
4. What is the State party doing to legally recognize sex and name that reflect the individual’s gender identity in the case of transgender people?

History in making: Rainbow flag flying above UK Government Office to mark Gay Pride Day

This is why (along with other reasons) I made London my new home. This is why, despite all the problems and remaining challenges, UK is the best place in Europe to be gay. [And unfortunately, according to the same survey by ILGA-Europe, Armenia trailing in the bottom, among the worst...]

*picture via @libdemvoice: A proud moment - the Rainbow flag flying above the Deputy Prime Minister's office [Cr: Verity Harding]

PinkNews: In a first for central Government, the Cabinet Office is flying a rainbow flag to mark World Pride being held this weekend in London. The iconic flag has been flown on the personal request of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Officials say that Mr Clegg thought it ‘was about time for Whitehall to bring itself up to date’ by flying the flag in solidarity with the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) community. Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “There has to be a first time for everything – flying this iconic flag in the heart of Whitehall is a small but important emblem that the Government and this country are behind equal rights. “I’m absolutely delighted that, with a little bit of persuasion and determination, we’ve been able to fly the rainbow flag for this weekend’s festivities. I hope this is the start of a new era of pride across the historic Whitehall village.”

Pink Paper: It can be seen flying above the Cabinet Office, adjacent to Downing Street: the centre of government dealings. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who in an interview this week reiterated his support of gay marriage.

AP: Nick Clegg has hailed the start of a "new era of pride" as the rainbow flag was raised in Whitehall for the first time. The Deputy Prime Minister said flying the flag, a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride, to coincide with London's gay pride event this weekend was a "small but important emblem". It comes after Mr Clegg called on Thursday for churches and other religious premises to be allowed to host gay weddings.

And finally, UK PM's message on World Pride: “The UK has been judged to be the best country in Europe in which to live if you’re gay so it is great that World Pride is being celebrated here in London – especially during this Diamond Jubilee and Olympic year. “I’m very pleased that the Mayor of London has enabled the march and events in Trafalgar Square to go ahead and I want to thank all the volunteers who will be stewarding the event and contributing to it. “It is 40 years since people first marched in London calling for equal rights. Since then we’ve come a very long way and progress is still being made. We have just finished consulting on how to introduce same sex marriage and we are working with countries across the globe to bring about greater equality. “I hope you all have a happy Pride and remember all those who have, and those who are still fighting for, greater rights and protection for the LGBT community.”

For pictures of the day: Day in pictures - 7 July World Pride 2012, London

Disgrace: Armenian LGBT group WFCE awards "woman of the year" to a homophobic head of local radio station

I intended first to write a post re neo-nazi Mek Azg and Public TV thing but priorities have changed. Instead, I should focus on disgrace of the moment when one LGBT group in Armenia - WFCE ('We For Civil Equality'), awarded "woman of the year" to a homophobe head of Radio Van. Just to make a 'anti-move' against 'rival' group & people. Yes, a disgrace.

I wonder who is next on their list? Perhaps, another comparable "intelligent" homophobe ('environmental expert') Karine Danielyan who in line with what Shushanik (head of radio Van) posted claims that gays are threat to a national security and recently came up with even more ridiculousness claiming that people became "abnormal", i.e. homosexuals, because of what they eat. And then, one by one WFCE could award all the "intelligent" homophobes first, and when their list gets exhausted there is always a neo-nazi Mek Azg to praise for. Just because your 'rivals' were against them. Childish and contra productive tactics, incompatible with the notion of "civil equality".

ILGA-Europe that is vocal in protesting homophobia and their supporters in Armenia and elsewhere should investigate such a shameful behaviour of their member organisation. Sponsors of this Armenian group should take a note.

I know, there are some good passionate people working in WFCE but as an organisation they've lost all the credibility and respect they may have had.

Georgia Ombudsman George Tugushi speaks at annual European LGBT conference

Good to see Georgia Ombudsman participated and presented at the ILGA-Europe annual conference currently underway in Turin. Let's hope, he will be as open and active re defending human rights for all and raising these issues back in Tbilisi, Georgia too.



*video of Georgia Ombudsman George Tugushi speech at the panel Human Rights and Traditional Values, ILGA-Europe annual conference in Turin, Italy. Thanks to @lishtotah for the link.

ILGA-Europe: Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly strongly condemns discrimination against LGBT people in Europe (statement)

Below is a statement by Europe's main LGBT right group - ILGA-Europe, in relation to the resolution adopted by PACE on Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan are members of the Council of Europe and PACE, and this resolution applies to all South Caucasus countries. Read my previous post on some Armenian reactions.

3 May 2010

For immediate release

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly strongly condemns discrimination against LGBT people in Europe

On 29 April 2010, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a Resolution on Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. This is the second time in a few weeks that a major Council of Europe institution has come out strongly in support of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people: on 31 March 2010, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe unanimously adopted a historic Recommendation on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. [see my relevant post here]

ILGA-Europe welcomes the adoption of this Resolution which addresses all the major issues of discrimination against LGBT people and encourages the 47 member states of the Council of Europe to take steps to fight such discrimination.

The adopted Resolution points to an extensive range of human rights violations affecting the lives of millions of people which still take place within the member states of the Council of Europe.

Freedom of assembly and expression: the Resolution calls these rights pillars of democracy and calls upon member states to ensure these rights are respected in line with international human rights standards.

Hate speech: the Resolution identifies hate speech by certain politicians, religious and other civil society leaders as well as hate speech in the media and internet as being of particular concern. It condemns hate speech and discriminatory statements and calls for effective protection for LGBT people from such statements.

Hate crime: the resolution stresses that the eradicating of homophobia and transphobia requires political will in member states and calls for provision of legal remedies to victims and putting an end to impunity for those who violate fundamental rights of LGBT people to life and security.

Anti-discrimination: the Resolution calls upon member states to adopt and implement anti-discrimination legislation which includes sexual orientation and gender identity among the prohibited grounds for discrimination and provide sanctions for infringement and effective reporting mechanisms for cases of discrimination.

Transgender people: the Resolution particularly highlights the cycle of discrimination and human rights deprivation that transgender people experience. The Resolution calls for specific measures by member states to ensure that identity documents should be changed to reflect a person's preferred gender identity without prior obligation to undergo sterilisation or other medical procedures such as gender reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy.

Young people: the Resolution stresses the particularly serious consequences of homophobia and transphobia for young LGBT people and underlines the importance of not criticising the perceived or declared sexual orientation of young people, particularly of those under the age of 18.

LGBT families: the Resolution points out that the denial of rights to de facto LGBT families in some member states must be addressed through legal recognition and protections of those families. Regretfully, the Resolution calls for the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships only when national legislation envisages such recognition.

Parenting: the Resolution calls for the possibility for joint parental responsibility of each partner’s children bearing in mind the best interests of children.

Asylum: the Resolution calls upon member states to recognise persecution of LGBT people as a ground for granting asylum.

Additionally, the parliamentarians urge the Council of Europe to allocate resources to work on LGBT issues, and to include violence against LBT women in the drafting of its proposed Violence against Women Convention.

Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe’ said:

“This is a very significant development and in a space of one month we see two major Council of Europe institutions adopting comprehensive documents not just strongly condemning discrimination against LGBT people but mapping how the 47 member states should address such discrimination.

We believe this is a solid foundation and a valuable practical tool helping the Council of Europe’s member states develop their laws, policies and practices towards elimination of discrimination against LGBT people and ensuring their fundamental human rights.

Moreover, we believe the Council of Europe has made it crystal clear that homophobia, transphobia, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity are completely unacceptable in Europe and need to be tackled head on.”

All 47 Council of Europe countries, including Armenia, unanimously agreed on historic human rights recommendations for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

There is a motto on a Council of Europe website: 47 countries, one Europe. If only these recommendations turn into actions and get implemented locally in all 47 countries, this would be a big step towards such a goal. Agree with the ILGA-Europe that the Recommendations should serve as a very useful tool to advance LGBT rights forward.

My further reflections: Armenia: ‘A+’ for signatures, ‘Fail’ for practice

***
Europe’s main gay rights group ILGA-Europe reports:

Today the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, representing the national governments of its 47 Member States, unanimously adopted historic Recommendations on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. This is the world’s first intergovernmental agreement codifying the application of human rights standards to LGBT people.

The Recommendations establish how international human rights standards should be applied to LGBT people and contain specific measures for Member States on how they should improve their legislation, policies and practices to address discrimination against LGBT people in such areas as

- hate crime and hate speech;
- freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly;
- right to respect for private and family life;
- employment;
- education;
- health;
- housing;
- sports;
- right to seek asylum.

Additionally, the Recommendations prescribe that Member States should ensure that national human rights structures are clearly mandated to address discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. They also encourage Member States to address multiple discrimination experienced by LGBT people.

ILGA-Europe’s only regret is that the Member States did not go as far as we hoped for in some areas, particularly family rights.

Martin K.I. Christensen, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, said:
“This is a truly historical development! For the first time in history the European continent came together to codify human rights’ applications to LGBT people. As we celebrate this landmark in European human rights history, we also hope that these Recommendations will help to advance the human rights for LGBT people beyond Europe. ”

Linda Freimane, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, added:
“These Recommendations go well beyond the current situation in many European countries for LGBT people and will surely serve as a blueprint for our members in working with their national governments. We will also follow closely the three year review mechanism agreed by the Committee of Ministers to ensure the full implementation. Finally, we encourage the Council of Europe to organise a campaign among its Member States to promote these Recommendations.”

The Committee of Ministers is the Council of Europe's decision-making body. It comprises the Foreign Affairs Ministers of all the Member States, or their permanent diplomatic representatives in Strasbourg.

The full text of the Recommendations is available on the Committee of Minister’s website.

Urgent call for Europe to tackle homophobia & transphobia (special edition of ILGA-Europe magazine)

You may download this publication by Europe's main gay rights group ILGA-Europe here.

Turkey: stop violence against transgender people

Multiple Murders Highlight Inadequate State Protection
February 22, 2010

Protecting people and preventing violence means more than investigating after the fact. Without meaningful government action to affirm their rights and ensure their safety, transgender people in Turkey will continue to live in fear.

Juliana Cano Nieto, researcher in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights program at Human Rights Watch

(Ankara) - The recent murders of two transgender women in Turkey highlight  an ongoing pattern of violence and the urgent need for stronger protection measures by the government, four Turkish and international human rights organizations said today in a letter to Turkish authorities.

More... (via Human Rights Watch)

Europe's gay rights group ILGA-Europe condemns police raid of member organisation in Georgia, demands immediate release of its board member Paata Sabelashvili (statement and pictures)

For more pictures - ILGA-Europe's Photos - Office of Inclusive Foundation (Georgia) after the police raid

*Statement by ILGA-Europe

On 15 December 2009, the police raided an office of the Inclusive Foundation, ILGA-Europe’s member organisation in Georgia, and arrested Paata Sabelashvili, leader of the Inclusive Foundation and a member of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board.

ILGA-Europe is shocked by the conduct of the Georgian police, which had clearly homophobic motives. ILGA-Europe demands the immediate release of Paata Sabelashvili.

Linda Freimane, Co-Chair of the Executive Board of ILGA-Europe, said:

“We are very troubled by this news. The information we have received from Georgia indicates that the police acted disproportionately and completely ignored basic rule of law. Moreover, we are extremely concerned about the safety of Paata Sabelashvili, who is not allowed any contact with the outside world.”

Martin K.I. Christensen, Co-Chair of the Executive Board of ILGA-Europe, added:

“ILGA-Europe is in very close contact with our member organisation in Georgia and monitors the situation. We are compiling the facts and details so we can bring this shocking situation to the attention of various European institutions and eventually ensure that Georgian authorities behave in accordance with the rule or law and agreed international human rights standards. We will be releasing any further information as soon as we have more details”.

Austria became the 18th country in Europe to legalise gay civil unions

Symbolically coincided with the International Human Rights Day - which calls to "embrace diversity and end discrimination" - Austrian parliament made an important decision today by providing a legal recognition for same-sex partners. Although not a full marriage rights (no adoption or artificial insemination rights), this is certainly a step in a right direction.

VIENNA (AP) -- Austria's parliament passed legislation Thursday allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, a move hailed by proponents as a historic win for gay rights in the country. The bill, slated to become law Jan. 1, will give same-sex couples many of the rights enjoyed by their heterosexual counterparts, including access to a pension if one partner dies and alimony in the event of a split.

What all EU countries (and others) should and would eventually do is to follow the example of Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and South Africa  in providing full and equal marriage rights.

Europe's main gay rights group ILGA-Europe welcomes this decision by the Austrian parliament.

On 10 December 2009, the International Human Rights day, the Austrian parliament passed a law on registered partnerships for same-sex partners. ILGA-Europe welcomes this development which makes Austria the 18th country in Europe which provides legal recognition for same-sex partners. The law will come into effect on 1 January 2010.

New EU anti-discrimination poster featuring Armenian activist Lilit Poghosyan

Lilit Poghosyan is a Programmes & Policy Officer at Europe’s main gay rights group - ILGA-Europe, and my dear friend. Earlier this year I posted about Lilit being chosen as the face for the European Commission campaign ‘For Diversity. Against Discrimination’. Here is the new poster featuring Lilit. (above, left)

The campaign’s work focuses on the five grounds of discrimination which are covered by two EU Directives:

The Employment Equality Directive protects everyone in the EU from discrimination based on age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief in the workplace.

The Racial Equality Directive prohibits discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin in the workplace as well as in other areas of life such as education, social security, healthcare and access to goods and services.

Measures to combat discrimination based on a person’s gender are covered by other EU initiatives.

For more about Lilit Poghosyan - read my earlier post here.

Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Armenians blogging:

Transgenders in Armenia (AM, RU, EN)

Hye Trent (EN)

*Statement by ILGA-Europe

Today, the Transgender Day of Remembrance is marked across the world and Europe. This Day was established following a murder of Rita Hester in 1998 and serves as a reminder of existing prejudice, hatred and discrimination against trans people.

Transgender Europe’s Trans Murder Monitoring Project reveals that more than 160 murders of trans people in the last 12 months of which 16 took place in Europe:

* Turkey – 6
* Italy – 4
* UK – 2
* Spain – 2
* Serbia – 1
* Russia – 1.

The number of murders is however only the tip of the iceberg with regards to trans discrimination and marginalisation in European societies today. Trans people experience high level of discrimination in employment, access to healthcare and other goods and services. Trans people are also particularly vulnerable to violence and hate crimes. This high level of discrimination has this year been formally acknowledged by Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner, who launched his “Human Rights and Gender Identity Issue paper”.

ILGA-Europe takes today’s occasion to extend its appeal to all European governments to assess where they are scoring poorly in terms of Commissioner Hammarberg’s recommendations and address the gaps without further delay.

ILGA-Europe calls on the European Commission and EU Member States to fully enforce the European Court of Justice’s jurisprudence through implementation of EU Gender Equality Directives vis-à-vis gender identify.

UN Human Rights Committee calls Azerbaijan to combat harassment of LGBT by state employees

I posted about this earlier. Now ILGA-Europe provides details on developments. Not that I think this will have any practical impact on Azeri government, but good to know that LGBT discrimination in Azerbaijan was discussed and noted in the UN.

***

August 09 EUROLETTER - ILGA-Europe

UN Human Rights Committee makes recommendation to Government of Azerbaijan to combat harassment of LGBT by state employees

by Beth Fernandez, ILGA-Europe’s Programmes Officer

From 20 to 21 July the UN Human Rights Committee considered the third periodic state report of Azerbaijan on meeting its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

ILGA-Europe together with Global Rights (www.globalrights.org) and Azeri LGBT organization, Gender and Development (www.lgbt.az) submitted a shadow report in respect of LGBT which can be found at www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/ngos/LGBT_Azerbaijan96.pdf . The joint report contained numerous cases of blackmail and harassment by the police of men having sex with men (MSM) and transgender sex workers in particular.

Once a State has signed the ICCPR, governments are required to provide a report on actions that it has taken, or plans to take, to implement and safeguard the rights contained in the treaty. The practice of shadow reporting provides an alternative source of information concerning state compliance. At the beginning of August the Human Rights Committee released its recommendations after consideration of the State report, shadow reports and other sources of information. With regard to Article 26 (Non Discrimination) the Human Rights Committee expressed its concern ‘at reports that individuals have been harassed by police and prison officials because of their sexual orientation’. It made the recommendation that ‘The State party should take measures in this respect by providing training activities to its law enforcement and penitentiary authorities and by elaborating a relevant Code of Conduct’.

This recommendation is an important recognition of the need for governmental action to tackle a serious human rights violation which Gender and Development have been documenting over the three years of their existence. It therefore constitutes an important advocacy tool which can be used by Gender and Development in persuading the Azeri Government of the need for tolerance programmes in state structures.

Report on violations of LGBT rights in Azerbaijan presented at UN Human Rights Committee

Via Friends of Azerbaijan, Gender and Development local LGBT NGO, in partnership with Global Rights and ILGA-Europe, presented a report on The Violations of the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in Azerbaijan at the 96th session of the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva. It's not clear what was the outcome of that meeting, or whether any practical actions will follow, but the precedent was set as LGBT rights were specifically discussed as part of the overall state of human rights in Azerbaijan at the highest international level. However, when it comes to human rights, UN mechanisms are slow and frequently inefficient.

Earlier Reuters reported that the decision is to be expected on 31 July.

The committee session was held as a top-level delegation from the European Union, with which Azerbaijan is seeking to boost economic relations especially in the energy sector, was expressing alarm in Baku about rights.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who headed the EU team, told reporters there on Monday that he had expressed concern to President Ilham Aliyev over the arrest of two opposition bloggers who were accused of hooliganism.

At the same time, ambassadors of the 27 EU member states voiced disquiet "about the condition of human rights and freedoms" in the country where Aliyev and his late father have held power almost uninterrupted for nearly three decades.

But at a Geneva news conference, NGOs said they feared the EU was unlikely to go beyond words in its criticism of Azerbaijan, a key supplier of oil and gas from Caspian Sea fields offering an alternative to energy from Russia.

"In our experience, the countries most likely to take a strong stance are the United States and (non-EU member) Norway -- they have their own oil," said Florian Irminger of the Geneva-based Human Rights House Foundation.

Azerbaijan and ILGA-Europe: first step to conducting strategic advocacy for LGBT rights

by Beth Fernandez, ILGA-Europe’s Programmes Officer

*via ILGA-Europe June 2009 newsletter

As part of the PRECIS project (Prevention and Empowerment in the CIS), ILGA-Europe organised a two and a half day advocacy planning session in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 2 to 4 June 2009 with our Azeri partner, Gender and Development. The session was attended by 7 staff members and volunteers of Gender and Development and its women’s initiative group Mehriban, plus 2 staff members from Za Ravnie Prava (For Equal Rights) from Kherson in Southern Ukraine.

The aim of such sessions is to build the capacity of our partner organizations to advocate effectively and strategically on LGBT issues on a national and international level so that they maximize the potential of their staff and existing resources.

The session provides the participants with a framework and tools to produce a basic advocacy plan with two or three advocacy objectives which they can use to structure the advocacy work of their organisation. During this session, participants selected the passing of national legislation protecting the rights of LGBT people and the promotion of tolerant attitudes in state structures and society at large as their two advocacy objectives.

The session covers the concepts of advocacy and advocacy planning, identification and prioritisation of problems to be solved by advocacy, analysis of those problems, formulation of advocacy objectives and specific objectives, identification of key audiences, allies and opponents and selection of suitable tactics to use in each case. Time is also allowed for discussion of activities, resources and realistic timeframe.

The training received a positive evaluation by participants and we are looking forward to supporting Gender and Development, Mehriban, and Za Ravnie Prava in their future advocacy work.

Gender and Development is the only LGBT organisation registered in Azerbaijan and has been working for three years. They run a community centre which now attracts 300 regular visitors and conduct outreach on HIV/ AIDS prevention and monitoring within Baku. They assist LGBT people on specific cases where their human rights have been violated, offer psychological counseling and social activities. They are currently producing a film with ILGA-Europe’s financial support documenting discrimination in Azerbaijan and in the future they intend to conduct strategic advocacy with national and international institutions and expand their outreach activities to other cities in Azerbaijan.

This training was one of a series of advocacy planning sessions held within the PRECIS project. Trainings were held with Inclusive Foundation (Georgia), LiGA (Ukraine) and Labrys (Kyrgyzstan) in 2008 and we will organise similar sessions with We For Civil Equality (Armenia) in December 2009 and in March 2010 with Amulet (Kazakhstan).

International Day Against Homophobia in South Caucasus countries?

As of today, there are no reports or indications as to whether or how the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) will be marked by local LGBT groups or other NGOs in Armenia and Georgia.

(On 17 May 1990, the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of diseases.)

There is only one brief note posted on ILGA-Europe by anonymous "Gay journalist" in Azerbaijan, which says that IDAHO will be marked in Baku "for the first time this year". Meetings by local NGOs, LGBT-themed presentations and anti-homophobia social ads/billboards will be used, according to that report. No other details are provided.

Forced Out: Report on LGBT people in Armenia

This "Forced Out" Armenia related report is based on a joint fact-finding mission by European and Dutch gay rights groups in January 2006, although, as far as I understand, it briefly touches some recent developments too. It follows similar reports on Georgia and Azerbaijan.

I have not yet read the report, just got it via email. It seems to me a very important account on the situation with LGBT people and rights in Armenia, the first of its kind. Will certainly read it over the next coming days, and will aim to present more details and reflections over the coming weeks. In the meantime, below is a press release by ILGA-Europe which contains link to the full report.

Maxim Anmeghichean, ILGA-Europe’s Programmes Director

ILGA-Europe launches its report on the situation of LGBT people in Armenia – the last in a series of reports about human rights of sexual minorities and transgender communities in the South Caucasus.

Although Armenia has signed most of the relevant international and regional agreements, in practice respect for human rights principles is generally weak, and work to make them a reality ‘on the ground’ is limited. As in the other countries of the South Caucasus, this is particularly the case with regard to human rights of LGBT people, who suffer from a high level of hostility, discrimination, social exclusion, hate crimes and violence. Homophobia is deeply rooted in the Armenian society. Stigmatisation is so pervasive that most LGBT people are forced out of communities and deprived of any chance to openly express their sexual orientation or gender identity. And yet they are forced to come out and organise into associations and groups if they want to be able to stand up for who they are.

The report is based on information gathered before, during and after a joint COC – ILGA-Europe fact-finding mission in January 2006 by ILGA-Europe’s Programmes Director Maxim Anmeghichean. During the mission several working methods were used. In addition to interviews, meetings and analysis of available literature, a legal expert was contracted and a questionnaire developed.

The joint ILGA-Europe and COC report is the first of its kind to be published about same-sex relationships and LGBT people in Armenia. It explores identities, common human rights violations, the landscape of LGBT organising, health and HIV/AIDS, and relevant legal aspects. It also provides recommendations to the Armenian government, donors, LGBT activists and international organisations.

The report is available in PDF format on ILGA-Europe website.