Continuing Our International Work

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Conference
2007 National LGBT Conference
Date
26 July 2007
Decision
Carried as Amended

Conference acknowledges the ongoing oppression faced by LGBT people in many countries of the world for example:

1.Threats, intimidation and abuse at Pride events and the denial of the freedom of assembly;

2.Homosexuality criminalised in many states, with some still using the death penalty;

3.Lack of action against hate crimes.

4.Rape targeted specifically at a lesbian because of her sexuality not being considered a hate crime.

Conference recognises some evidence of progress in work on international LGBT issues and in particular welcomes:

A.The 2006 Montreal Declaration and the publication of the Yogyakarta Principles on the defence of LGBT human rights;

B.The recent success of the Europe region of ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association) and several other LGBT organisations in gaining accreditation with the United Nations;

C.The UK Government’s stated intention to produce a strategy to promote LGBT rights internationally;

D.Significant recent work by the TUC to raise awareness of LGBT international issues and their advocacy of LGBT equality at the ILO (International Labour Organisation) Conference;

E.Ongoing work through the EI-PSI (Education International – Public Services International) LGBT Forum.

Conference believes that this work must continue and instructs the National LGBT Committee to:

I. Continue to reject any Euro-centric focus to its international work;

II.Work with organisations such as the TUC, ILGA and LGBT Labour to promote LGBT equality within the worldwide labour movement, international institutions and bodies;

III.Seek to raise the profile of LGBT issues in the relevant conferences of labour internationals, especially the European Trade Union;

IV.Confederation (ETUC), European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC);

V.Continue to seek opportunities to promote solidarity with specific LGBT campaigns, involving our regions, branches and individual members through the e-bulletin and articles in Out in Unison.