- Conference
- Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual & Transgender Conference 2005
- Date
- 29 July 2005
- Decision
- Carried
Conference welcomes the public service provided by the provision of Travel Advice by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on the internet. In providing this public service, the FCO aims to ensure that British Travellers are well prepared. The advice given includes sections on Safety and Security, Health and Local Laws and Customs.
The Local Laws and Customs section detail a range of issues including in the instance of Saudi Arabia, that “Homosexual behaviour and adultery are illegal and can carry the death penalty.” However, not all countries’ Local Laws and Customs sections have appropriate information contained in them. For example, the FCO makes no mention of the fact that in Trinidad and Tobago, Section 13 of their Sexual Offences Act 1986 criminalises homosexuality with penalties typically of five to ten years being enforced.
Whilst Conference welcomes the continued work of UNISON with international bodies such as The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) in aiming to achieve equality and liberation for LGBT peoples, it notes that many countries continue to discriminate by law and custom against LGBT people.
Conference instructs the NLGBTC to work with the Trades Union Congress Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee to make representations to the FCO to review their information and seek to ensure that Travel Advice is inclusive and comprehensive for LGBT Travellers.