CSBR News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, Statements

CSBR Statement of Solidarity for Freedom of Assembly & Association, and the Rights of LGBTIQ+ Peoples in Turkey

Read the full statement below, and download the PDF to share here:

CSBR_SolidarityStatement_FreedomofAssembyLGBTIQTurkey2021Download

4 February 2021

The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) expresses our solidarity with the people of Turkey who are fighting to ensure that freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and the broader human rights of LGBTIQ+ peoples are respected. We are deeply alarmed by the repression of academic freedoms and escalating violence at Boğaziçi University in recent days. This includes the shutting down of the LGBTIQ+ Club on campus,[1] the arrests of hundreds of students and activists, targeting specifically LGBTIQ+ students and all LGBTIQ+ community, and the increasing militarization of campus through continued police presence. 

Commitments to freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly and association are cornerstones of democratic societies, ensuring exchange of ideas, pluralism, and dialogue across the diversity of peoples of any given nation. Under a false pretext of shoring up “national security”, the AKP government has increasingly acted to silence public debate and critique across universities, beginning with mass evacuations, taking administrative or judicial action against professors voicing critical views, and the continued incarceration of academics, students and intellectuals over the last few  years.[2]

This escalating violence in the sphere of higher education over the years, has also had a deeply chilling effect on freedom of expression, freedom of association, and human rights across wider social spheres in Turkey.  The most recent events at Boğaziçi University, and the statements from those in power–including the government appointed University Rector, the Minister of Interior Affairs, and the President as well–are deeply disturbing, considering they attempt to justify the restrictions of academic freedoms, and the rights of LGBTIQ+ people specifically, in the name of Islamic values.[3] 

In a public statement President Erdogan targeted LGBTIQ+’s for the protests and denied LGBTIQ+ existence in Turkey, saying that LGBTIQ+ existence is not in accordance with Turkish national and religious values. We as feminists and LGBTIQ+ people living in Muslim societies affirm and restate unequivocally that LGBTIQ+ peoples have always existed within Muslim societies and across the world, and will continue to exist. The manipulation of religious ideology to deny fundamental human rights, either by state or non-state actors, cannot ever be condoned.  

The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies is deeply concerned for the security and safety of our friends and allies, who are organizing and living within a climate of fear and insecurity, with no protection or recourse from the judicial or legal systems in place.

We call upon the Turkish government to ensure the exercise of independent thought and freedom of expression and association in the country, in line with its human rights obligations and constitution.

We affirm sexual and bodily integrity, freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief are fundamental rights of all people, regardless of their gender, citizenship, class, age, mental and physical ability, religion, marital status, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, and sex characteristics. We stand in unequivocal support of LGBTIQ+ people in Turkey,  and their fundamental rights to live with dignity and free from persecution and violence.

We amplify the call from the people of Turkey, for the international community to raise awareness, issue statements of solidarity, and spread the news of what is happening globally. 

#LGBTİHaklarıİnsanHaklarıdır #AsagiBakmayacagiz #WeWillNotLookDown 

Signed,
Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR)

_________________________________
Notes:
1. Melih Bulu shut off the Boğaziçi LGBTI+ Studies Club! 
2. Middle East Studies Association
3. Slander, investigations, and hate campaigns against LGBTI+’s at Boğaziçi University

CSBR News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, Resources & Tools

Inclusive Bangladesh joins CSBR!

“At Inclusive Bangladesh, we envision to create an inclusive Bangladeshi society where every citizen will be a resource for safe-guarding each-other’s human rights and peaceful living. Our work and effort circulate in promoting gender equality, religious literacy, global citizenship, diversity and equality.”

Inclusive Bangladesh joined CSBR in October 2020. Inclusive Bangladesh is a non-registered, local non-profit and volunteer-based community youth organization from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 2013, Inclusive Bangladesh is now working with diverse local and international organizations, multilateral and multi-layered development partners and active youth change makers. Its mission is to construct an inclusive culture through ensuring quality education, addressing hate speech and violent extremism, promoting interfaith dialogue and gender diversity with the active participation of youths across Bangladesh.

As part of CSBR’s One Day One Struggle campaign in 2020, Inclusive Bangladesh organized a month-long campaign to raise awareness on the rights of intersex people in Bangladesh. Check out their zine, which captures experiences and struggles through visual arts and literary pieces: https://bit.ly/IntersexZineBangla

CSBR News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, ODOS

#OneDayOneStruggle ~ Cyber Hygiene is a Priority!

Cyber Hygiene (or digital hygiene) is a term that can be defined as a set of good simple daily routine practices, which individuals undertake to ensure the correct use of any devices that are connected to the Internet and engage in any sort of information transfer processes.There are a variety of practices with which we achieve cyber hygiene; some of these practices deal directly with our devices, such as periodically scanning for viruses, using a reliable and secure internet connection, and making sure that files are encrypted.

Digital hygiene practices, for some, also include matters that seek to safeguard the mental health of individuals while using the Internet, starting with limiting the content that would appear to them and which is considered harmful to their psychological and mental safety and security, through to the presence of awareness among individuals about dealing with the stress accompanying what is called “Browsing Addiction”, which is a psychological disorder that compels a person to search, play, shop or gamble to satisfy a need, deficiency or psychological void, not a material need; arriving to practices that contribute in avoiding the feelings of fear of not following the events, updates, and so on.

This year, Mesahat celebrates the “One Day, One Struggle”, by shedding light on the importance of including the concept and practices of “Cyber Hygiene” as part of our basic practices to reach our holistic safety and security.

“النّظافة الرّقميّة أولويّة”


النّظافة الرّقمية (أو النّظافة الإلكترونيّة) هو مصطلح يمكن تعريفه على أنّه مجموعة الممارسات البسيطة اليوميّة الرّوتينيّة الجيّدة، التي يقوم بها الأفراد لضمان صحة استخدامهن/م لأيّ أجهزةٍ تُوصَل بالإنترنت وتتعلّق بعمليّات نقل المعلومات. تتنوّع تلك الممارسات الّتي نحقّق بها مفهوم النظافة الرقمية؛ حيث تحتوى تلك الممارسات على أمورٍ نقوم بها على أجهزتنا بشكلٍ مباشر كالفحص الدّوريّ للفيروسات، واستخدام إنترنت موثوقٍ به وبطريقةٍ آمنة، والتأكّد من تشفير الملفات. وتشمل أيضًا ممارسات النّظافة الرّقمية لدى البعض أمورًا تسعى للحفاظ على الصّحّة النّفسيّة للأفراد على الإنترنت، بدايةً من عمل البعض على تحجيم المحتوى الظاهر لهن/م في ما هو ضارٌّ لسلامتهن/م وأمانهن/م النفسي والوجدانيّ، مرورًا بتواجد وعيٍ لدى الأفراد حول التّعامل مع التّوتّر المُصاحب لما يسمى “إدمان التّصفُّح”، وهو اضطرابٌ نفسيٌّ يدفع الشّخص قهرًا للبحث، أو اللعب، أو التّسّوق، أو المقامرة سدًّا لحاجةٍ أو نقصٍ أو فراغٍ نفسيٍّ لا حاجةً مادّية؛ وصولًا لممارساتٍ تساهم في تجنُّب الشُّعور بالخوف من عدم متابعة الأحداث والتّطوّرات، وغيرها


تحتفل مساحات هذا العام بحدث “يومٌ واحد نضالٌ واحد”، عن طريق التّركيز على أهمّية إدراج مفهوم النّظافة الرقمية “السّيبرانية” كجزءٍ من مفاهيمنا الأساسيّة للوصول لأماننا الشامل

CSBR News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, ODOS

#OneDayOneStruggle 2020: Exploring touch, collective security, community fundraising, intersex rights, poetry as resistance, love in a pandemic, and solidarity beyond borders!

Every 9 November communities around the world come together in celebration of sexual and bodily rights as human rights, as part of the One Day One Struggle! campaign, coordinated by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR).

By highlighting the pressing political developments impacting sexual and bodily rights across our local and national contexts, the campaign demonstrates that sexuality is a site of political struggle and seeks to build solidarity to support everyone’s right to choose freely on matters of sexuality, fertility, bodily autonomy, gender identity and self expression.

In 2020, One Day One Struggle actions are planned across Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine, the Philippines, and Turkey, with some cross-regional action from Central Asia as well.

See a brief listing of the planned actions below, and keep up with us using on Twitter (@SexBodyRights, #OneDayOneStruggle), Instagram (@csbrsexbodyrights) and Facebook (facebook.com/CSBRonline) on November 9th for updates as the actions occur!

* * * * *

BANGLADESH

Under the title শরীরিনিবর্তন, or #ForebearingBodies, Inclusive Bangladesh and the EQUAL platform, Somota Foundation and Noboprophaat, have designed a month-long program to celebrate each week, with a key focus on “Stories and Struggles of Intersex Peoples” in Bangladesh.

On 9 November, the team will launch a podcast exploring different dilemmas and experiences intersex people face. On 16th November, community members from rural & remote areas will share their experiences through various literary forms and visual arts, with a focus on grief and desire. On 23rd November, intersex activists will lead a webinar to discuss ways to reduce depression & isolation during Covid-19, for intersex peoples and people of diverse gender identities. Finally, on 30th November, a brief video of celebrating ODOS 2020 throughout the month, and a Zine compiling the discussions, artwork and expressions of intersex struggles will be launched.

Follow the hashtags: #শরীরিনিবর্তন, #ForebearingBodies, and #OneDayOneStruggle throughout November, and catch the updates with Inclusive Bangladesh through Facebook @INCLUSIVEBD, and Twitter @inclusivebangla.

Inclusive Bangladesh is a youth-led community organization based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Since 2013, Inclusive Bangladesh has been promoting gender equality, SRHR, diversity, peace, tolerance, and religious literacy, employability skills development and mental health wellbeing
among the key young population of Bangladesh.

* * * * *

Working within the context of the on-going pandemic, much confusion, myths and disinformation abound about how communities can best stay safe. Working with gender diverse communities across Bangladesh, for #OneDayOneStruggle, Bandhu Social Welfare Society will launch a series of informative videos to dispel myths and build greater awareness of factual ways to prevent high prevalence rates, and to reduce mental stress.

This is part of Bandhu’s on-going efforts to support communities with COVID-19 relief, including through ensuring mental health support, awareness programs, distribution of personal safety equipment, networking, develop different types of education materials.

* * * * *

CENTRAL ASIA

Across Central Asia, feminist activists have been exploring the use of dance therapy as a means to engage in embodied healing and stronger self-expression. For #OneDayOneStruggle, we’ll launch a video amplifying the beauty, joy and power of authentic body movement.

* * * * *

EGYPT

In celebration of One Day One Struggle, Mesahat Foundation for Sexual and Gender Diversity is holding a focus group discussion for LGBTQI++ activists and community leaders to provide their inputs on the development of a collective safety and security manual.

The manual serves to provide a risk assessment tool and recommended actions based on the assessment, which can support readers to make informed and practical decisions on their safety.

Stay tuned as well for a poster exploring holistic well-being, collective care, diversity and agency on 9 November, and the launch of the manual later this year!

* * * * *

INDIA

Catch a live conversation on #FearlessTouch and Embodiment, by Fearless Collective and Sar-e-Rahguzar, from 5:30-6:30 PM IST.

Artist Shilo Shiv Suleman and poet Sabika Abbas Naqvi will be sharing updates from the recently concluded Touch project, which resulted in two public art murals as monuments that explore feminine desire and tender masculinities–all carried out in safety and resistance against the backdrop of the pandemic in Lucknow and Jaipur.

Follow @FearlessCollective on Instagram on 9 November to catch the conversation, and to also see updates and content about Embodiment, a campaign which looks across the gender spectrum to engage with masculinity, feminine energy, and emotional intelligence. #FearlessTouch

* * * * *

The Queer Muslim Project (TQMP) will be hosting an Instagram live session on Queer Muslim Futures as part of #OneDayOneStruggle 20202, 9 November at 7:30 pm IST.

Reya Ahmed and Maniza Khalid, the creators of TQMP’s latest publication Queer Muslim Futures: A Collection of Visions, Utopias and Dreams will be in conversation.

Follow The Queer Muslim Project on Instagram: @thequeermuslimproject to catch the live discussion! You can also download the book here: http://bit.ly/qmfbook.

* * * * *

INDONESIA

Join GAYa NUSANTARA for the launch of Judging LOVE: Pieces of Poetry about Women, Diversity of Genders and Sexualities, Beliefs, and Love that Wins, on 9 November, on Zoom, at 19:00 Surabaya.

To celebrate #OneDayOneStruggle, GAYa NUSANTARA is hosting a poetry launch for the collection of poems titled “Menghakimi CINTA: Serpih Puisi tentang Perempuan, Ragam Gender dan Seksualitas, Ragam Keyakinan, dan Cinta yang Memenangkan” (Judging LOVE: Pieces of Poetry about Women, Diversity of Genders and Sexualities, Beliefs, and Love that Wins) .

This is an anthology written by numerous feminists, queer activists, and religious figures from diverse faiths, capturing the harsh realities of women and minority groups in Indonesia, as well as messages from religious leaders to fight against violence and hatred based on gender, sexuality and religions.

Register for the even using the QR code, or signing up here: bit.ly/festivalcinta.

* * * * *

To celebrate #OneDayOneStruggle, Qbukatabu has compiled video documenting the perspectives of a diversity of activists–from young LBTQ organizers, indigenous people, musicians, media journalists and feminists–on how to maintain and expand the space for activism amidst heightened repressions of civil society. They’ll also be sharing updates about the campaign, as part of the exploration of how solidarity bolsters our movements! Follow Qbukatabu on Facebook, Twitter: @Qbukatabu and YouTube: Tim Qbukatabu to catch it!

* * * * *

MALAYSIA

Pondan Bantu Pondan by Cempaka Collective, co-organised with Gender & Sexuality Alliance Kota Kinabalu (GSAKK) – 9 November 2020, 20:00-22:00 Malaysia.

Pondan Bantu Pondan is an initiative to bring together queer people from all walks of life to promote and find solidarity from each other.

In Malaysia, one of the most common insults or slurs thrown at queer people is “pondan”, often directed towards trans women or “flamboyant” men. The term has been hurtful in the past, but today the queer community is starting to reclaim it, with a sense of empowerment. Through this conversation, Cempaka Collective aims to share experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic is particularly impacting queer people living in rural areas, who face additional barriers to accessing financial aid and other forms of support due to their identity and sexuality.

As such, the event supports on-going fundraising efforts for the Queer Solidarity Fund, started in May 2020 by GSAKK in response to the pandemic. These funds have been used to support the costs of essential needs for queer folks, including food, rent and utility needs. With the second wave of COVID-19 arriving in Sabah due to the recent state election, there’s been an increase of support needed. The current fundraiser is aiming to raise RM 38,000 in funds, and to date is halfway through. 

Follow Cempaka Collective on Twitter @Cempaka_Co & Instagram @Cempaka_Co, and GSAKK on Instagram @gsakotakinabalu to find out more. If you can, donate to support the fundraiser! #PondanBantuPondan #OneDayOneStruggle

* * * * *

#RightsCameraAction! #CapturingQueerMalaysia #QueerOnScreen!

Songsang Studios is a participatory filmmaking journey, empowering queers in Malaysia and beyond to utilise video for visibility, to amplify the experiences of sexual minorities and produce entertaining content that advocates for equality. 

For #OneDayOneStruggle, Songsang Studios will share a short video on the journey so far, while the full series will be launched on their Youtube channel in January 2021. You can already subscribe at bit.ly/songsangtube to not miss their content, add them on IG bit.ly/igsongsang, and follow them on their twitter bit.ly/twsongsang

* * * * *

PALESTINE

Love, marriage and relationships in the time of COVID19, a podcast series by Muntada Al Jensaneya–the Arab Forum for Education, Sexuality and Reproductive Health.

Earlier this year, after months of home isolation, social distancing and fear of the spread of coronavirus COVID-19–Muntada launched this podcast series as a means to engage people in conversation about mechanisms of resilience.

How do we deal with out sexuality and feelings amidst a period of deferred dreams and restrictions on movement? Most of us are in constant wait, sometimes forced to be with others, or forced to remain alone and in isolation. Whatever the situation, the movement restrictions left many of us struggling with conflicting questions and feelings.

Safaa Tamish, the founder of the Gender Forum and a Marital Relation & Sexual Education counsellor, explores answers to these tensions and dilemmas.

Follow Muntada on Soundcloud, Facebook, and Instagram to catch the episodes in Arabic.

* * * * *

TURKEY

Solidarity Beyond Borders! an international conversation hosted by Women for Women’s Human Rights–New Ways and KAOS-GL, on 9 November, at 17:00 Istanbul.

A breath, an inspiration…While leaders acting against LGBTI+ and women learn from each other and develop their oppression techniques, what can we, as resisters, learn from each other? The struggle in Brazil can be a breath for Turkey or a gesture in Russia can inspire a new activism in Poland. We invite you to witness the political atmospheres of different geographies around the world and the activism and international and transnational organization practices that have flourished here.

When this panel was planned, the world had not yet been tested by the COVID19 pandemic. Perhaps for the first time, we experience our attachment to each other’s bodies in such an increasingly expanding global horror – and, more importantly, in a radical uncertainty. We have been witnessing that international associations, governments and institutions have failed to, or chosen not to, fulfill their responsibilities in the face of this global problem. Today, when we are dragged into a radical uncertainty, we are confronted with the “fact” that we have no choice but to produce solutions through individual actions against the risks we face as a society.

To join the panel, please click here to fill in the registration form. Simultaneous interpretation into English and Turkish will be offered during the panel. The detailed schedule of the panel will be announced in the coming days.

* * * * *

Katre Kadin joins the campaign through their on-going workshop for LGBTI+ solidarity in Erzincan.

Located in the province of Erzincan, Katre Women’s Consultation and Solidarity Association, works to achieve gender equality by combatting heterosexism and patriarchy. Katre Kadin recieves many applications LGBTI+ individuals experiencing violence, and provides appropriate and necessary supports. This year, supported by CSBR, Katre Kadin launched the “LGBTI+ Getting Stronger in Erzincan” project. Through a series of workshops, the project beings LGBTI+ individuals together with the aim of countering isolation from homophobic and transphobic oppression and exclusion, developing solidarity skills amongst LGBTI+ individuas, and learning from each other through experience exchange.

* * * * *

Additionally, Muamma LGBTI @muammalgbti will hold an IG Live discussion on support for refugee self-organizing. Stay tuned!

* * * * *

As always our great appreciation to the efforts of the organizers of this year’s campaign!

CSBR News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, Statements

Open letter to WHO: Including LGBTIQ Communities in World Health Organization’s Covid-19 Response


“Rest assured that we have heard your important message, and as we update our guidance and approach to COVID-19, we will ensure that the specific challenges of LGBTQI communities will be recognized and addressed“. – Dr. Ghebreyesus

On 24 September 2020, twenty networks and organizations across Asia–including APCOM, Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR), ILGA Asia, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, Youth Voices Count, Intersex Asia, and International Women’s Rights Action Watch–wrote a letter to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), to advocate for inclusion of LGBTIQ communities in global responses to COVID-19.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO

On 8 October 2020, Dr. Ghebreyesus responded, affiriming that:

“WHO is committed to strengthening collaboration with the broad spectrum of civil society and community organizations, including those representing LGBTQI populations….We need to ensure all voices on how to best respond to the pandemic and deliver needed services are heard…Rest assured that we have heard your important message, and as we update our guidance and approach to COVID-19, we will ensure that the specific challenges of LGBTQI communities will be recognized and addressed“.

Read the original open letter and download the PDF here:

Open-Letter-to-WHO_20200817_v5-FinalDownload

Read the response from Dr. Ghebreyesus here:

WHO-Letter-to-APCOM_Poonkasetwattana-APCOMDownload

24 August 2020

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director General
World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 201202 Geneva, Switzerland

Re: An Open Letter to World Health Organization to integrate effects of COVID-19 on the LGBTQI communities and for SOGIESC Inclusive strategies and response to COVID-19

Dear Dr. Ghebreyesus,

We, the undersigned, represent civil society organizations working to advance the rights of LGBTQI communities in Asia and the Pacific. And we write to urge you to include aspects of sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) into your polices, programs and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has highlighted, and in many instances exacerbated the discrimination and lack of legal protections faced by LGBTQI people, communities and their families.

While the COVID-19 pandemic affects the general population, it disproportionately affects vulnerable sectors, including LGBTQI communities, due to SOGIESC-related stigma and discrimination.

In a joint statement issued by human rights experts on May 14, 2020, this disproportionate effect was highlighted as: “In all latitudes, LGBT persons are disproportionately represented in the ranks of the poor, people experiencing homelessness, and those without healthcare, meaning that they may be particularly affected as a result of the pandemic[..]” The statement also highlighted how COVID-19 and the responses to address it have contributed to existing inequalities and discrimination. In relation to the LGBTQI communities, the statement outlined that criminal laws add to the vulnerability of LGBTQI because of police abuse and arbitrary arrest and detention in relation to the restriction of movements. Also, LGBTQI people who are required to stay at home experience prolonged exposure to unaccepting family members, and this exacerbates rates of domestic violence and physical and emotional abuse. Without a doubt, this affects their physical and mental health.[1]

The UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights also outlined the effects of COVID-19 to LGBTQI people and communities in its guidance document on COVID-19 and the human rights of LGBTQI people. The document highlighted that the existing stigma and discrimination based on SOGIESC while seeking health services, laws which criminalize same-sex relationships and those which target transgender and gender diverse persons due to their gender identities and expression “can elevate the risk for LGBTI people from COVID-19.” The same document also highlighted the possibility of interruption and de-prioritization of health services in the context of overload on healthcare systems as a result of COVID-19.[2]

These scenarios, together with present and possible effects of COVID-19 on LGBTQI people and communities, have been identified in various surveys conducted by organizations working on LGBTQI rights and health issues. For example, a survey conducted by APCOM[3], a regional organization based in Bangkok representing and working with a network of individuals and community-based organizations across Asia-Pacific, indicated that organizations and communities were concerned about the effects of COVID-19 on the delivery of health services, including HIV-related services. Access of LGBTQI people to mental health services, for those who need them, has been affected by the pandemic. These issues are in addition to the stigma and discrimination experienced by service users during normal times.

The effect of COVID-19 to the livelihood of LGBTQI people has also been identified in an OutRight Action International paper, which stated that LGBTIQ people are predominantly engaged in the informal sector, reliant on daily wages and without the safety nets of protections in many countries, they are especially susceptible to the effects of economic slowdowns and limitations on movement.[4]

There are also narratives where LGBTQI couples and families are not able to access programs and responses which aim to alleviate the effects of the pandemic as these programs and responses are designed with heteronormative assumptions about what constitutes families. A survey conducted by Marriage For All Japan [5] suggested fear of same sex-couples about not being able to participate in making medical decisions in cases related to COVID-19 due to the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships. This illustrates worries among LGBTQI couples where they will be denied the ability to care for and make decisions for each other in times of emergencies. Trans and gender diverse people can also experience exclusion in state-sponsored health programs due to requirements of legal identification documents.[6]

We are also cognizant that LGBTQI communities and organizations bring with them a wealth of knowledge about their situations and experiences which can be instrumental in crafting inclusive responses to the pandemic.

It is in this context, we, the undersigned individual activists; organizations; and networks working on LGBTQI and health issues, ask the World Health Organization to:

• Ensure that the challenges being faced by LGBTQI, MSM and people and communities of diverse SOGIESC during the COVID-19 pandemic will be given due attention, and policies, programs, and responses are inclusive and do not add to the exclusion and discrimination experienced by LGBTQI people, communities and families.

• Integrate a SOGIESC-inclusive approach in their COVID-19 related guidance documents, situation reports, briefs, strategies and response.

• Work closely with LGBTQI organizations and communities towards a more inclusive responses to the pandemic.

Integrating a SOGIESC framework will contribute to our collective goal of addressing impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations and take us closer towards the goal of “leaving no one behind” as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Sincerely,

NamePositionOrganizationTerritory
Midnight PoonkasetwattanaExecutive DirectorAPCOMAsia Pacific
Ryan SilverioRegional CoordinatorASEAN SOGIE CaucusSoutheast Asia
Joe WongExecutive DirectorAsia Pacific Transgender NetworkAsia and the Pacific
Shale AhmedExecutive DirectorBandhu Social Welfare SocietyBangladesh
Suben Dhakal (Manisha)Executive DirectorBlue Diamond SocietyNepal
Esan RegmiExecutive DirectorCampaign for ChangeNepal
Rima AtharCoordinatorCoalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim SocietiesAsia and North Africa
Lieu Anh VuExecutive DirectorILGA AsiaAsia
Ishita DuttaProgram ManagerInternational Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia PacificAsia Pacific
Prashant SinghCoordinatorIntersex AsiaAsia
Gopi Shankar MaduraiCoordinatorIntersex India ForumSrishti Madurai LGBTQIA Student Volunteer MovementIndia
Jeff CagandahanOfficer in ChargeIntersex PhilippinesPhilippines
Hiker ChiuFounderOII ChineseTaiwan
Isabelita B. SolamoExecutive DirectorPILIPINA Legal Resources CenterPhilippines
Jerome YauChief ExecutivePink AllianceHong Kong
Evelynne GomezProgram OfficerThe Asia Pacific Resource & Research Center for Women (ARROW)Asia Pacific
Rafiul Alom RahmanFounderThe Queer Muslim ProjectIndia
Tahir KhiljiBoard MemberVISIONPakistan
Naila AwwadGeneral DirectorWomen Against ViolencePalestine
Justin Francis BionatExecutive DirectorYouth Voices Count, Inc.Asia Pacific

[1] COVID-19: The suffering and resilience of LGBT persons must be visible and inform the actions of States. Statement by human rights experts on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Accessed from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25884&LangID=E

[2] COVID-19 and the human rights of LGBTI people. UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. Accessed from https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/LGBT/LGBTIpeople.pdf

[3] The COVID-19 Effects Series, APCOM. Accessed from https://www.apcom.org/the-covid-19-effect-series-part-1/

[4] Vulnerability Amplified: The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on LGBTIQ Persons. OutRight International. Accessed from https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/COVIDsReportDesign_FINAL_LR_0.pdf

[5] ‘I want them to be treated as the same family: The difficulty that LGBT faces with the new Corona. Accessed from https://www.buzzfeed.com/jp/saoriibuki/marriage-for-all-corona

[6] Recognize the need of trans and gender diverse communities during Covid-19 pandemic. Asia Pacific Transgender Network. Accessed from https://www.weareaptn.org/2020/03/31/see-us-support-us-recognise-the-needs-of-trans-and-gender-diverse-communities-during-covid-19-pandemic

CSBR CSBR Activities, Featured, News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, Uncategorized

CSBR Rights & Resilience Seed Grants: Apply now!

The CSBR Rights and Resilience seed grants aim to support small scale projects that experiment with alternative ways to organize and advance rights amidst the impacts of COVID-19. We are inviting proposals for projects to be carried out between 1 July – 15 December 2020. Apply using the forms below, by 8 June 2020.


Why this Mechanism?

As a community-led international solidarity network, we wanted to explore how we could co-create a peer-to-peer resourcing mechanism at this moment of unprecedented collective crisis. As CSBR, we could no longer hold our in-person convenings for the year. Yet recognizing the privilege of having these funds, we opted to re-route and focus on providing small pipelines of resources that could support a wider circle of activists to stay connected across contexts, even as national borders close. Through developing a peer-to-peer mechanism, we also want to explore best practices in resource distribution within movements.  

We recognized the need to create space to reflect on what these global shifts mean for our movements, not only during the current pandemic, but also once it has been contained. How can we collectively pause, re-route, exchange experiences, and respond in ways that allow us to maintain and even expand the precious space for our organizing? How can we ensure that our actions now continue to strengthen and center collective care within our organizing?

As we engage with the limits of in-person organizing now, what can we learn from each other’s creativity about how to shift certain practices to create more accessible and inclusive methods to organize and mobilize communities? The CSBR Rights & Resilience Program is therefore not intended simply as a means to distribute funds, but rather a mechanism to strengthen collective capacity, solidarity and movement building support, by and for community. Through the mechanism, we will also have a series of Linking & Learning Events for recipients to come together in virtual forums. These events will support us to learn from each others’ work, build relationships and collectively share in the monitoring, evaluation and learnings (MELs) for the program.

Strategic Focus:

Project proposals must demonstrate how they meet the following criteria: 

  1. Address & challenge the root causes of religious fundamentalisms, and their intersections with rights restrictions for LGBTIQ peoples
  2. Strengthen community-led organizing
  3. Maintain & expand civic space across Muslim societies, including continuing existing programs and campaigns through new methods that can function during movement restriction.
  4. Strengthen & amplify progressive expression and discourses. This includes advancing affirming approaches to freedom of religion or belief, premised on gender equality and respect for SOGIESC diversity.
  5. Support innovative/holistic approaches to advancing rights and resilience, including an attention to community and collective care.

Who can Apply?

We accept proposals from both registered and unregistered groups, with an annual operating budget below 50,000 EUR, who meet the following criteria: 

  • Collectives or organizations led by queer (LGBTIQ) Muslims, based in one of the priority or focal countries
  • Queer-led groups, based in one of the priority or focal countries. Priority will be given to LBQ women, trans and intersex led groups. 
  • Feminist, women’s rights and girl’s rights groups inclusive of LGBTIQ peoples, based in one of the priority or focal countries

What kinds of grants can we apply for?


We are inviting project proposals for either Organizational Grants, or Regional/Collaborative Grants, to be carried out between 1 July – 15 December 2020. Grants can be for a total amount of either 2500 EUR, 6000 EUR, or 10,000 EUR. We are able to provide project funding that will cover the essential costs of designing, implementing and evaluating the small projects. This includes costs as needed for human resources and technology.

Organizational Grants. These proposals can be submitted by organizations or collectives working in one of the priority countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, and Yemen. 

Regional/Collaborative Grants: These proposals should demonstrate how they can inform regional strategies, and can be submitted as a partnership with CSBR. They can be submitted by organizations, collectives or networks working in one of the priority countries (above), and/or the focal countries: Algeria, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Turkey. 

What Kinds of Activities Can We Propose? 

Below are examples of activities that could be supported under these grants, which align with the strategic criteria and are based on needs we’ve heard from our peers and programs that are already being developed by network members and allies. These are not intended to limit your proposals, but simply examples of work that we know are needed. Activities could fall under the following broad categories: Knowledge Production; Virtual Networking & Workshops; Strengthening Campaigning & Advocacy;  Mutual Aid & Community Care. 

Knowledge Production. Activities could include: 

  • Research & Analysis on how fundamentalist forces are converging across our contexts. For example, what is the link between religious and economic fundamentalisms, and the impacts of this on government policies to address COVID-19?

  • Research and analysis on how conservative religious forces are undermining community efforts to uphold rights and stop violations (including rising domestic violence, hate crimes, spread of COVID, limited access to essential health services including SRHR)?

  • Publications that challenge traditional assumptions and prejudices against marginalized concepts of gender and sexuality in Muslim societies

  • Documentation of rights-based initiatives that support/advance affirmative and inclusive approaches to faith, sexuality and human rights.

Virtual Networking & Workshops

  • Engaging communities through virtual platforms to come together & stay connected around particular themes. These could be for example, online festivals, online forums for experience exchanges, a lectures series, online workshops–which address the strategic criteria.
  • Experimenting with transferring participatory methodologies from in-person to the virtual sphere. How can we hold what used to be a 5-day in person training, online? Is it possible to create workshops online that still support people to engage in self-reflexive activities, hold space for intimacy, and build relationships?
  • Engaging holistic practitioners to offer a series of virtual psycho-social and body-based support sessions to marginalized communities 
  • Creating and producing a 10-episode thematic podcast

Strengthening Campaigning and Advocacy on laws and policies

  • Organizing virtual workshop series on how to engage with UN mechanisms and high level political processes, even amidst COVID-19 related restrictions

  • Documentation, webinars and social campaigning advocating against the stigmatization of patients and increased risks for marginalized communities due to COVID-19, including LGBTIQ peoples, sex workers, street youth, people living with disabilities, people living with HIV, migrants, etc.

  • Creating common platforms for women, girls and LGBTI defenders to learn from each others’ successful campaigns to ensure governments provide essential services, safeguard human rights & ensure environmental protections during COVID-19 and beyond.

  • Writing a series of op-eds and articles to be published in the mainstream media on a particular campaign issues

  • Arts-based campaigning through online mediums

Mutual Aid and Community Care 

  • Developing Resource Guides to support communities in building mutual aid circles. E.g. how can we build community responses that lessen the trend towards surveillance and policing in response to COVID-19 and beyond?

  • Designing community support systems to break isolation, address mental health challenges, keep people socially connected, and accessing essential needs (food, medicines, health services)

  • Operating hotlines for information and resource support, to address GBV, CSE, SRHR and access to other essential health services

  • Outreach to communities you’ve not previously reached, in order to strengthen cross-movement organizing. For e.g. building networks and engaging with professionals from a variety of sectors (e.g. social workers, lawyers, teachers, doctors, etc.), who can bring the learnings, experiences and information back to a wider audience

Timeline for Submissions & Review: 

Please submit your project proposals by 8 June 2020, by filling out the Proposal Form below, and email the completed form to: coordinator@csbronline.org.

If you have any security concerns about submitting the proposal form over email, please get in touch with us so we can discuss alternate ways to receive your proposal.

Review by CSBR’s Selection Committee will be completed by 26 June 2020. Expected start dates should therefore not be before 1 July  2020.

We expect grants to be distributed by the end of July 2020.

Download the Proposal Form – English

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Languages for Submission

We are accepting proposals in English, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, and Turkish.

Read the call in Bahasa Indonesia, and download the Bahasa Indonesia Proposal Form

Read the call in Arabic, and download the Arabic Proposal Form

Read the call in Turkish, and download the Turkish Proposal Form

CSBR CSBR Activities, News from Member Organizations

VIDEO: Bringing Progressive Faith Voices towards Diverse Genders and Sexualities (IDAHOBIT Webinar, 18 May)

To mark IDAHOBIT 2020, GAYa NUSANTARA (GN), with the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR, and the Global Interfaith Network (GIN), hosted a historical webinar entitled “Bringing Progressive Faith Voices toward Diverse Gender and Sexualities”, and which notably included a discussion on the newly released booklet “Christian-Islam Progressive Interpretation of Gender Diversity and Sexuality.”

The event was intended for all communities of faith and allies to amplify progressive faith voices in respect to diverse gender and sexualities. For 2 hours from 8:00 am UTC on Monday 18 May 2020, we brought together voices from Islam and Christianity across Asia Pacific and beyond.

Speakers:

– Pastor Kakay Pamaran, a gender justice advocate and Bible teacher
– Dr amina wadud, specialist in textual analysis from a gender and sexuality inclusive perspective, best known as the Lady Imam
– Dede Oetomo, independent scholar and founder of GAYa NUSANTARA
Moderator: Rima Athar, human rights activist and feminist organiser

The 2-hr webinar also included artistic performances: Sheena Baharudin (https://instagram.com/sheenabaharudin & https://facebook.com/SheenaBaharudin) opened by reading her amazing poetry and Pastor Kakay Pamaran closed with a song.

Email strongindiversity.gn@gmail.com for any questions and a copy of the booklet. #breakingthesilence #idahobit2020

CSBR CSBR Activities, News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, Statements

Call for a Feminist COVID-19 Policy: Statement of Feminists and Women’s Rights Organizations from the Global South and marginalized communities in the Global North

CSBR joined the Feminist Alliance for Rights, and organizations the world over to endorse the call for a Feminist COVID-19 Policy, which was delivered to UN Member States.  Read the full statement below.

Key Focus Areas for a Feminist Policy on COVID-19

Food security. In countries that depend on food imports, there are fears of closing borders and markets and the inability to access food. This concern is exacerbated for people experiencing poverty and in rural communities, especially women, who do not have easy access to city centers and major grocery stores and markets. This leads to people with the means purchasing large quantities of goods which limits availability for those with lower incomes who are not able to do the same and are likely to face shortages when they attempt to replenish their food supplies. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Increase — or introduce —  food stamps and subsidies, both in quantity for those already receiving them and in expansion of access to include those who become more vulnerable due to current circumstances
  • Direct businesses to ration nonperishable food supply to control inventory and increase access for those who, due to their income levels, must purchase over a longer period of time
  • Send food supply to rural communities to be stored and distributed as needed to eliminate the delay in accessing supply in city centers and safeguard against shortages due to delays in shipping
  • Send food supply to people unable to leave their homes (e.g. disabled people living alone or in remote areas)

Healthcare. All countries expect a massive strain on their public health systems due to the spread of the virus, and this can lead to decreased maternal health and increased infant mortality rates. There is often lack of access to healthcare services and medical supplies in rural communities. The elderly, people with disabilities, and people with compromised or suppressed immune systems are at high risk, and may not have live-in support systems. The change in routine and spread of the virus can create or exacerbate mental health issues. This crisis has a disproportionate impact on women who form, according to the World Health Organization’s March 2019 Gender equity in the health workforce working paper, 70% of workers in the health and social sector, according to the World Health Organization. It also disproportionately affects those who provide care for others.

In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Ensure the availability of sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis, including differentiated infection and mortality rates.
  • Increase availability and delivery of healthcare services and responders, medical supplies, and medications
  • Ensure women’s timely access to necessary sexual and reproductive health services during the crisis, such as emergency contraception and safe abortion
  • Maintain an adequate stock of menstrual hygiene products at healthcare and community facilities
  • Train medical staff and frontline social workers  to recognize signs of domestic violence and provide appropriate resources and services
  • Develop a database of high-risk people who live alone and establish a system and a network to maintain regular contact with and deliver supplies to them
  • Provide for the continued provision of health care services based on non-biased medical research and tests — unrelated to the virus — for women and girls
  • Implement systems to effectively meet mental health needs including accessible (e.g. sign language, captions) telephone/videocall hotlines, virtual support groups, emergency services, and delivery of medication
  • Support rehabilitation centers to remain open for people with disabilities and chronic illness
  • Direct all healthcare institutions to provide adequate health care services to people regardless of health insurance status, immigration status and affirm the rights of migrant people and stateless people — with regular and irregular migration status — and unhoused people to seek medical attention to be free from discrimination, detention, and deportation
  • Ensure health service providers and all frontline staff receive adequate training and have access to equipment to protect their own health and offer mental health support
  • Assess and meet the specific needs of women health service providers

Education. The closure of schools is necessary for the protection of children, families, and communities and will help to flatten the curve so that the peak infection rate stays manageable. It, however, presents a major disruption in education and the routine to which children are accustomed. In many cases, children who depend on the school lunch program will face food insecurity. They also become more vulnerable to violence in their homes and communities which can go undetected due to no contact. School closures also have a disproportionate burden on women who traditionally undertake a role as caregivers. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Direct educational institutions to prepare review and assignment packages for children to keep them academically engaged and prevent setbacks and provide guidance for parents on the use of the material
  • Create educational radio programming appropriate for school-age children
  • Subsidize childcare for families unable to make alternate arrangements for their children
  • Expand free internet access to increase access to online educational platforms and material and enable children to participate in virtual and disability-accessible classroom sessions where available
  • Provide laptops for children who need them in order to participate in on-line education
  • Adopt measures to ensure they continue receiving food by making sure it can be delivered or collected
  • Provide extra financial and mental health support for families caring for children with disabilities

Social inequality. These exist between men and women, citizens and migrants, people with regular and irregular migration status, people with and without disabilities, neurotypical and neuroatypical people, and other perceived dichotomies or non-binary differences as well as racial, ethnic, and religious groups. Existing vulnerabilities are further complicated by loss of income, increased stress, and unequal domestic responsibilities. Women and girls will likely have increased burdens of caregiving which will compete with (and possibly replace) their paid work or education. Vulnerable communities are put at further risk when laws are enacted, or other measures are introduced, that restrict their movement and assembly, particularly when they have less access to information or ability to process it. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Encourage the equitable sharing of domestic tasks in explicit terms and through allowances for time off and compensation for all workers
  • Provide increased access to sanitation and emergency shelter spaces for homeless people.
  • Implement protocol and train authorities on recognizing and engaging vulnerable populations, particularly where new laws are being enforced
  • Consult with civil society organizations the process of implementing legislation and policy
  • Ensure equal access to information, public health education and resources in multiple languages, including sign and indigenous peoples languages, accessible formats, and easy-to-read and plain languages

Water and sanitation. Everyone does not have access to clean running water. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Ensure infrastructure is in place for clean, potable water to be piped into homes and delivered to underserved areas
  • Cease all disconnections and waive all reconnection fees to provide everyone with clean, potable water
  • Bring immediate remedy to issues of unclean water
  • Build public handwashing stations in communities

Economic inequality. People are experiencing unemployment, underemployment, and loss of income due to the temporary closure of businesses, reduced hours, and limited sick leave, vacation, personal time off and stigmatization. This negatively impacts their ability to meet financial obligations, generates bigger debts, and makes it difficult for them to acquire necessary supplies. Due to closures and the need for social distancing, there is also lack of care options and ability to pay for care for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. This produces a labor shift from the paid or gig economy to unpaid economy as family care providers. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Implement moratoriums on evictions due to rental and mortgage arrears and deferrals of rental and mortgage payments for those affected, directly or indirectly, by the virus and for people belonging to vulnerable groups
  • Provide Universal Basic Income for those with lost income
  • Provide financial support to unhoused people, refugees, and women’s shelters
  • Provide additional financial aid to elderly people and people with disabilities
  • Expedite the distribution of benefits
  • Modify sick leave, parental and care leave, and personal time off policies
  • Direct businesses to invite employees to work remotely on the same financial conditions as agreed prior to pandemic
  • Distribute packages with necessities including soap, disinfectants, and hand sanitizer

Violence against women, domestic violence/Intimate partner violence (DV/IPV). Rates and severity of domestic violence/intimate partner violence against women, including sexual and reproductive violence, will likely surge as tension rises. Mobility restrictions (social distance, self-isolation, extreme lockdown, or quarantine) will also increase survivors’ vulnerability to abuse and need for protection services. (See Economic inequality.) Escape will be more difficult as the abusive partner will be at home all the time. Children face particular protection risks, including increased risks of abuse and/or being separated from their caregivers. Accessibility of protection services will decline if extreme lockdown is imposed as public resources are diverted. Women and girls fleeing violence and persecution will not be able to leave their countries of origin or enter asylum countries because of the closure of borders and travel restrictions.

In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Establish separate units within police departments and telephone hotlines to report domestic violence
  • Increase resourcing for nongovernmental organizations that respond to domestic violence and provide assistance — including shelter, counselling, and legal aid —  to survivors, and promote those that remain open are available
  • Disseminate information about gender-based violence and publicize resources and services available
  • Direct designated public services, including shelters, to remain open and accessible
  • Ensure protection services implement programs that have emergency plans that include protocols to ensure safety for residents and clients
  • Develop protocol for the care of women who may not be admitted due to exposure to the virus which includes safe quarantine and access to testing
  • Make provisions for domestic violence survivors to attend court proceedings via accessible teleconference
  • Direct police departments to respond to all domestic violence reports and connect survivors with appropriate resources
  • Ensure women and girls and other people in vulnerable positions are not rejected at the border, have access to the territory and to asylum legal procedures. If needed, they will be given access to testing

Access to information. There is unequal access to reliable information, especially for those structurally discriminated against and belonging to marginalized communities. People will need to receive regular updates from national health authorities for the duration of this crisis. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Launch public campaigns to prevent and contain the spread of the virus
  • Consult and work with civil society in all initiatives to provide information to the public
  • Make information available to the public in plain language and accessible means, modes and formats, including internet, radio and text messages
  • Ensure people with disabilities have access to information through sign language, closed captions, and other appropriate means
  • Increase subsidies to nongovernmental organizations that will ensure messages translated and delivered through appropriate means to those who speak different languages or have specific needs
  • Build and deploy a task force to share information and resources with vulnerable people with specific focus on unhoused, people with disabilities, migrant, refugees, and neuroatypical people

Abuse of power. People in prisons, administrative migration centers, refugee camps, and people with disabilities in institutions and psychiatric facilities are at higher risk of contagion due to the confinement conditions. They can also become more vulnerable to abuse or neglect as a result of limited external oversight and restriction of visits. It is not uncommon for authorities to become overzealous in their practices related to enforcement of the law and introduction of new laws. During this crisis, vulnerable people, especially dissidents, are at a higher risk of having negative, potentially dangerous interactions with authorities. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:

  • Adopt human rights-oriented protocols to reduce spreading of the virus in detention and confinement facilities
  • Strengthen external oversight and facilitate safe contact with relatives i.e. free telephone calls
  • Encourage law enforcement officers to focus on increasing safety rather than arrests
  • Train law enforcement officers, care workers, and social workers to recognize vulnerabilities and make necessary adjustments in their approach and engagement
  • Support civil society organizations and country Ombudsmen/Human Rights Defenders in monitoring the developments within those institutions on a regular basis
  • Consult any changes in existing laws with civil rights societies and Ombudsmen/Human Rights Defenders
  • Commit to discontinuing emergency laws and powers once pandemic subsides and restore the check and balances mechanism

Sign onto the statement here either as an individual or representative of an organization: tiny.cc/endorsenow

CSBR News from Member Organizations

Cinsel Şiddetle Mücadele Derneği (CSMD) joins CSBR!

We’re excited to welcome Cinsel Şiddetle Mücadele Derneği (CSMD – Association for Struggle Against Sexual Violence) in Turkey as a member of the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies!

Association for Struggle Against Sexual Violence (CŞMD); was established officially in 2014 in Istanbul by the activists in order for the issue of sexual violence in Turkey to be addressed as a matter of concern by an inclusive, intersectional and empowering approach despite the polarized gender binary system in Turkey.

The Association conducts preventive, supportive and awareness-raising activities besides its advocacy studies with a queer feminist perspective in order to make the sexual violence more visible, addressable and debatable; in order to bring the invisible forms of sexual violence to the agenda and to struggle against all forms of sexual violence without establishing any hierarchy among them.

Find our more about their work through their website: https://cinselsiddetlemucadele.org/en/ and follow them on social media here: Facebook | Twitter | İnstagram | Youtube

CSBR News from Member Organizations, Resources & Tools

LBT Allies: A Journey of Becoming, and Nourishing Conversation

What are those pivotal moments that we experience along our personal journeys of becoming, and taking action? Those moments of knowing–becoming aware; and those moments of consciousness–when awareness transforms into embodied values, ethics and actions, springing from within.

This publication by Yulia Dwi Andriyanti documents conversations with 5 Indonesian women leaders–writers, strategists, religious leaders, facilitators and trainers across diverse social movements–recollecting their own journeys of becoming allies to lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) peoples as part of the feminist struggle.

Situated within a wider program by CSBR on self & collective care, holistic well-being and integrated security–this qualitative research was originally carried out between May – August 2018. As Yulia shares, the process of having these conversations at that pivotal moment–after the expanding deluge and state-sponsored moral panic against LGBTIQ peoples in Indonesia from 2016 onwards, attempts to criminalize same-sex relations in 2017, and the resulting burnout and fragmentation experienced by under-resourced queer movements–was in and of itself part of a healing journey, of recovering and rediscovering resources, support and community when it was most needed.

The research also formed the basis of the Tutur Feminis Coloring Book, launched by Qbukatabu in March 2019–which was an accessible medium through which to tranlsate key concepts and learnings from the research, while also creating a fun and practical self-care resource for activists. The Tutur Feminis coloring book, originally in Bahasa Indonesia, has since been translated into English, and been made accessible at various national events and international forums, including the Global Feminist LBQ Women*’s Conference (Cape Town, July 2019), the Edinburgh International Book Festival (August 2019), and the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (October 2019).

From there, the narrative report of the original research was revised, refined, translated into English and illustrated as another archival documentation of feminist organizing histories.

These conversations are sources of knowledge that people can always learn from, discuss, celebrate and reflect with–as we continue to advance rights and justice for all. We hope you enjoy it!

** Click Here to Access the PDF of the Publication ** 

CSBR CSBR Activities, News from Member Organizations

Ikhtyar joins CSBR!

We are excited to welcome Ikhtyar Collective, from Egypt, as a new member of the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily RIghts in Muslim Societies!

Ikhtyar is a collective that works to build, produce, circulate and present a local feminist body of knowledge in Arabic around gender and sexuality using different formats: written, audio and oral.  Ikhtyar works for an accepting world, where we are not trading some rights for others. A world paving the way for the less heard to narrate their realities. A world that preserves a space for each one of us; accommodating our diversities and aspirations.

Currently, Ikhtyar’s programmatic work focuses on organizing, knowledge production and advocacy in the areas of sexual and reproductive health rights, creating a feminist internet, and building feminist personal narratives. Follow them on Facebook @IkthyarforGenderStudies and Twitter @IkhtyarCo for more updates!

CSBR Featured, News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights

Reflections from CSBR Members on organizing for diverse sexual rights in ARROW for Change

In this edition of ARROW for Change, read diverse perspectives and voices on the right to choose freely on matters of sexuality across the Asia Pacific region, from a number of CSBR Members, including:

  • an interview with our Coordinator, Rima Athar, “On Invisibility & Erasure within LGBTIQ organizing”;
  • Reflections on “Queer Muslims Movement Building through Storytelling”, from Rafiul Rahman of The Queer Muslim Project; and
  • “Making Space for Sexual Rights within the Religious Spheres”, by Rozana Isa of SIS.

Sexuality is one of the most central and defining aspects of being human. The WHO working definition of sexual rights states that all persons should have the right to the highest standard of health in relation to sexuality which includes access to SRH services; to seek, receive and impart information in relation to sexuality; sexuality education; respect for bodily integrity; choice of partner; to decide to be sexually active or not; consensual sexual relations; consensual marriage; to decide whether or not and when to have children; and to pursue a satisfying, safe and pleasurable sexual life. However, the right to sexuality also remains one of the most hotly contested topics globally, moving it from the realm of personal to political, alongside an ever-growing movement for social and legal acceptance of SOGIESC.

This edition analyses the links between the right to sexuality and bodily autonomy and integrity, and discusses current perspectives on the right to sexuality in the region, drawing attention to the intersectionalities between the right to sexuality and issues such as class, age, ethnicity, and disability. Read about the diverse stories from the ground from countries such as India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Uruguay, Fiji, Malaysia, and others.

** Download the publication Here **

CSBR CSBR Activities, Featured, News from Member Organizations

#OneDayOneStruggle Tweet Chat on Sex Workers Rights

As part of One Day One Struggle 2019, IWRAW-AP and CSBR co-hosted a twitter chat on building solidarity and increasing respect and access for sex workers rights, in conversation with the All India Network for Sex Workers (AINSW), Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW), Project X Singapore, sex workers rights advocates, as well as the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) and CREA.

Catch up on the inspiring and insightful conversation here: https://twitter.com/i/events/1194087186393686017.

 

 

 

CSBR Featured, News from Member Organizations, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, ODOS

One Day One Struggle 2019! Conversations on Bodily Autonomy, Digital Security, Sex Workers Rights, Consent, Self Expression, Paternity Leave and more

Every 9 November communities around the world come together in celebration of sexual and bodily rights as human rights, as part of the One Day One Struggle! campaign (ODOS), coordinated by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR).

By highlighting the pressing political developments impacting sexual and bodily rights across our local and national contexts, the campaign demonstrates that sexuality is a site of political struggle and seeks to build solidarity to support everyone’s right to choose freely on matters of sexuality, fertility, bodily autonomy, gender identity and self expression.

 

In 2019, One Day One Struggle actions are planned across Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, the Philippines, Tunisia & Turkey, with some cross-regional solidarity actions as well.

See a brief listing of the planned actions below, and keep up with us using on Twitter (@SexBodyRights, #OneDayOneStruggle), Instagram (@csbrsexbodyrights) and Facebook (facebook.com/CSBRonline) on November 9th for more details and updates as the actions occur!

 

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BANGLADESH

In Bangladesh, Bandhu Social Welfare Society will engage youths in a series of workshops on the theme of “Love Our Difference”, using discussion groups, experience sharing and self-expression through the use of arts, colors and paint. The outputs in the forms of videos will be shared online on 9 November as part of the ODOS campaign. 

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Inclusive Bangladesh joins One Day One Struggle by sharing a ‘story book’ of everyday life of a Trans Woman in Bangladesh through their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/INCLUSIVEBD/. This campaign will be termed as #মনেকিদ্বিধা (in English #MindStruggle). They’ll also hold an offline group discussion in a safe space with young queer people who are struggling to cope up with their identity.  Leading from there, after 9 November a second online campaign will be launched under #মনেকিদ্বিধা where queer people can share their stories of struggle using the hashtag.

Inclusive Bangladesh is a youth led community organization based in Dhaka. Since 2013, Inclusive Bangladesh has been promoting gender equality, diversity, peace and religious literacy among the youths of Bangladesh. The storybook will be available on 9 November at Inclusive Bangladesh’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/INCLUSIVEBD/

 

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EGYPT

This year بث نسوي / Feminist Podcast celebrates One Day One Struggle with the launch of “How Do You Take Your Coffee?“, a podcast exploring consent.

Silence is not consent, communication is (supposedly) ideal to arrive at an agreement appealing to everyone involved. Common as it sounds, we’re stuck with how to pursue consent within intimate relationships. Are there common rules? There are more questions than answers in this podcast! Follow our two hostess reflecting on consent both within intimate relationships and for the ‘right’ sip of coffee. 

#onedayonestruggle #التراضي #الموافقة

About بث نسوي / Feminist Podcast: We’re a group of feminists using this space to share thoughts, conversations and perspectives on sexual and reproductive rights in Egypt and the whole world. 

 

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EGYPT & SUDAN

Mesahat Foundation will launch an  art poster that explores the daily strength, resistance and resilience of breaking conformism through our bodily representations and psyches.

Whether we are queer, trans bodies, intersex, persons in drag, bodies with showing or hidden different ability, plus size, minus size, people who survived abortion, who survived FGM, who choose selective stages of transness; our arrays of non-conformism surely bring “conformism” into question, but while doing that, we acknowledge the struggle it holds within. What keeps us and our struggles continuing, across regions where access to proper psychological and wellness care is scarce, is our collective healing, care and support.

Stay tuned!

 

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INDIA

In India, the Queer Muslims Project, will host an Instagram Live discussion from at 6PM IST (India Standard Time) on Saturday 9 November, on the topic “Best Practices for Trans Rights in Muslim Contexts”.

TQMP will be in conversation with Dr. Aqsa Shaikh, a Muslim trans woman from Delhi, India, who is a Medical Educator and Advocate for trans and intersex persons’ rights; as well as Amar Alfikar, a Muslim trans man activist who has been working on interfaith and queer groups in Indonesia. He also teaches at the Nurul Hidayah Islamic Boarding School in Central Java.

Tune in & follow the Queer Muslims Project on Instagram: @theQueerMuslimsProject

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INDONESIA


GAYa NUSANTARA and Voices of Youth are hosting a discussion on sexual and gender diversity from within an Islamic perspective on 7 November 2019 to celebrate One Day One Struggle.

Arif Nuh Safri is a lecturer of Tafsir and Pemikiran Hadist (Interpretation and Hadist Metholodogy) in Quranic Science Institute, Yogyakarta. He is also an Imam in Pesantren Al Fatah, an Islamic Boarding School for transgender women. He is very supportive and progressive in creating safe space for queer people to talk and share their experience as well as looking for interpretation and spiritual space for them.

Amar Alfikar is a transman muslim activist who has been working with interfaith community and queer groups particularly those who seeks reconciliation between their gender/sexuality and their faith. He also teaches in Nurul Hidayah Islamic Boarding School in Central Java.

M Rizky (Eky) is youth activist mainly working on issues of diversity, law and human rights, as well as politics. He is deputy secretary of Gaya Nusantara and program staff of Strong in Diversity which has been focusing on strengthening relation among diverse identities in Indonesia.

Follow GAYa NUSANTARA on Twitter @GAYaNUSANTARA  and Instagram @YayasanGAYaNusantara for updates.

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MALAYSIA

In Malaysia, Cempaka Collective hosts a workshop series on the issue of technology related violence, specifically so-called “revenge porn”. 

The term ‘revenge porn,’ though frequently used, is somewhat misleading. Many perpetrators are not motivated by revenge or by any personal feelings toward the victim. Is there any more accurate term for it and most importantly, how can we protect ourselves when the cyber law is not protecting us enough? Come and join Cempaka Collective workshops on law literacy, digital security and mindfulness altogether this November!

Follow Cempaka Collective on Twitter @Cempaka_Co & Instagram @Cempaka_Co  to find out more.

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Women’s Aid Organization (WAO) advances their on-going campaign #7DaysforDads to introduce 7 days paternity leave in the private sector in Malaysia. WAO has launched a petition: https://www.change.org/p/ministry-of-human-resources-malaysia-introduce-7-days-of-paternity-leave-in-malaysia  — already signed by over 37,000 Malaysians — which will be delivered to Parliament in Kuala Lumpur on 13 November 2019.

Follow WAO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/womensaidorg and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womensaidorg/ for updates on the campaign.

 

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MOROCCO

In Morocco, Kasbah Tal’fin will host one of the on-going Sip Coffee & Talk Gender Roles (STGR) workshops. The workshop series uses creative means to raise awareness about gender roles & expand the discussion specifically with young people, women and the LGBTQ+ community in the southern regions of Morocco. Kasbah Tal’fin works to promote LGBTIQ+ and women’s freedoms, participation in public life & gender equality.

 
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PHILIPPINES
 
 
From 8 November onwards, Pilipina Legal Resources Center (PLRC) in cooperation with Pilipina Davao will launch Gender Based Relief Efforts in Earthquake Affected Areas in Southern Philippines in light of the 6.6 magnitude earthquake on 28 October 2019 that resulted in thousands of evacuees and damaged homes.

 

 
Beginning with Makilala, North Cotabato in the Southern Philippines, the relief efforts include breastfeeding support and counseling to mothers, mobilizing donors to support direct programming addressing the specific needs of women and girls in evacuation areas, and organizing by & for women towards resiliency and sustainable solutions for the provision of essential needs & services in day to day life.
 
 
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TUNISIA
 
In Tunisia, L’Association Tunisienne des Femmes Democrates (ATFD) and partners continue campaigning on the topic of sexual and reproductive health rights in Tunisia and the wider Maghreb region, with a specific focus on the right to #safeandlegal abortion.
 
ATFD and partners will be in conversation with Moroccan feminists, exploring avenues for solidarity particularly in light of the case of Hajar Raissouni, the Moroccan journalist who received a one-year sentence on charges of “having an illegal abortion and sexual relations outside marriage”–which many feel was orchestrated to silence dissent against the government.
 
 
 
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TURKEY

In Turkey, from 9-10 November 2019, WWHR-New Ways and KAOS-GL are hosting a 2-day workshop in Istanbul with diverse civil society advocates.

The workshop aims to strengthen feminist & cross-movement solidarity, support and pro-active collaboration in the face of heightened attacks on gender equality and human rights across the country.

 

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This year CSMD (the Association for Struggle Against Sexual Violence) and Y-PEER Turkey join ODOS to raise awareness about the need for comprehensive sexuality education in Turkey. Follow CSMD on Instagram @cinselsiddetlemucadeledernegi

 

 

 

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ACROSS CONTEXTS

IWRAW-AP and CSBR, will be in conversation with All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW), African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA), Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW), Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW), Project X (Singapore)–for a twitter chat on the struggle for sex workers’ rights, on 9 November, at 6-7 PM Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia time (GMT+8).

Follow CSBR @SexBodyRights and IWRAW-AP @IWRAW_AP on Twitter and join the conversation using #OneDayOneStruggle and #RightsNotRescue!

CSBR News from Member Organizations

Qbukatabu joins CSBR

We are excited to welcome Qbukatabu – Indonesia, as a new member of the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies! Qbukatabu is an Indonesian online resource center on sexuality and service provider for people with diverse sexualities. Qbukatabu brings a feminist and queer perspective to its work, specifically working for woman, trans, intersex and people of other non-binary identities.

Collectively formed on 23 March 2017, Qbukatabu means ‘aku buka tabu’ or ‘I open the taboo’, and is an effort to define, to build and sustain the conversation, to reflect upon the spaces and circumstances presumed as taboo by the society and the state.

If you haven’t already, check out the Tutur Feminis coloring book made by Qbukatabu as part of CSBR’s Asia regional program on holistic well-being.

Follow updates and learn more about Qbukatabu through their website: https://qbukatabu.org/.

CSBR News from Member Organizations

The Queer Muslim Project joins CSBR

We are excited to welcome The Queer Muslim Project – India, as a new member of the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies!

The Queer Muslim Project (TQMP) started as a Facebook page in March 2017 with an objective to create awareness and build community online–but over the years, TQMP has grown exponentially as an online and offline movement. TQMP believes in a feminist and intersectional approach to addressing issues of gender, sexuality, religion, language, caste, class, race and nationality in Indian society.

Today, The Queer Muslim Project works through digital spaces–including regular campaigns on their  Instagram account: @thequeermuslimproject; arts-based advocacy, capacity-building, and organizing retreats to engage LGBTQI and Muslim communities in safe and nurturing spaces for dialogue, self-introspection, confidence-building, emotional support, and spiritual healing.

 

CSBR CSBR Activities, Featured, News from Member Organizations, Statements

Women Transforming A World Radically in Crisis: A Framework for Beijing 25+

CSBR joins feminist organizations and networks across the globe to endorse Women Transforming A World Radically in Crisis: A Framework for Beijing 25+, a collective framework for resisting neoliberal capitalism and climate change: the critical, structural obstacles to gender justice and women’s human rights. 

  1. Framework

In 1995, the NGO forum of the Fourth World Conference on Women was titled “Looking at the World Through Women’s Eyes.” It placed on the global stage the collective vision of women’s movements worldwide, which was pivotal to advancing the most progressive outcomes adopted by the conference. While we have seen achievements in the twenty-five years since, we have also witnessed backlash against those gains and the consolidation of power imbalances and structures underlying women’s oppression, with dire results.

The world is in a state of profound crisis, laying bare the perverse arrangement of capitalism. The ideologies that have been deployed for centuries to justify the accumulation of capital live on today through neoliberalism and the insidious contemporary incarnations of patriarchy, white supremacy, and colonialism that are central to its functioning. As systemic drivers of women’s oppression and inequality, they form an interlocking system that must be confronted.

In marking the Beijing+25, we must celebrate and affirm gains we have made in countering this system and advancing women’s human rights; harness our rage at the crises confronting our communities and ecologies; build on the hope of women’s mobilization and transformative actions; and take collective action to forge solidarity with other resistance and liberation movements, demanding accountability of states and the private sector.

Neoliberal capitalism is a key driver of current global crises. Its core logic positions “free” markets and profit above people and the planet. Women have long been at the forefront of struggles against this system, understanding it to be fundamentally incompatible with the liberation and empowerment of women, and transgender and gender non-conforming people. As we understand patriarchal structures and white supremacy to be central to the current functioning of neoliberal capitalism—evident in the mountain of unpaid care work on which corporate profits rest—the market cannot be an effective mechanism through which to correct gender, racial, or ethnic inequality. Instead, active policy interventions that seek to restructure the current, unequal state of the economy and society are fundamental to a feminist approach. Neoliberalism attacks regulation and policy interventions that might constrain capital; it is, therefore, fundamentally at odds with gender justice and human rights.

Global capital is more fearsome than ever, shepherded through decades of unrestrained growth and extractivism by neoliberal dominance, and unchecked by neo-extractivist developmentalist models. In its pursuit of profit, it has caused ecological devastation, underdevelopment, violence, and repression through deepening authoritarianism worldwide. At worst, it actively sows division and social inequality where it can profit; at best, it either ignores or co-opts popular struggles to advance its own agenda (evident in recent attempts to advance trade liberalization under the guise of women’s empowerment.) From structural adjustment programs in the 1980s to contemporary debt distress, the neoliberal system has used financial and political tools to keep countries, especially in the global South, tied to the interests of global capital, undermining their right to development, and the agency to imagine and adopt policies that prioritize the needs of their people. While trade liberalization, deregulation, austerity, and privatization have been justified in the name of “economic growth,” these neoliberal policies have failed to improve standards of living for the majority of the world’s poor. Instead they have exacerbated existing inequalities of power, particularly along the fault lines of resource and wealth disparities between countries, between rich and poor, between men and women, and between dominant and oppressed racial and ethnic groups.

In Mexico City, we will converge as diverse constituencies of women across social movements who resist these structures of oppression in their various contexts. In a time of dire crisis, we seek a radical transformation of a world in crisis, putting women, people, and the planet over profit.

Continue reading the full Framework here: http://bit.ly/B25Framework