CSBR at the Global Feminist LBQ Women*’s Conference

GlobalLBQClosingPlenary
(Caption: Global Feminist LBQ Women*’s Conference Closing Plenary Group Photo)

CSBR Coordinator, Rima Athar, was one of the Content Committee Working Group members that organized the first ever Global Feminist Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer (LBQ) Women*’s Conference, which took place from 6-9 July 2019, in Cape Town, South Africa.

The historic conference brought together more than 500 LBQ women and non-binary people, from 111 countries and 11 global regions. Under the themes of Leading, Healing and Transforming, the forum hosted over 50 workshops, panels and other creative sessions, including writing, films, arts, and dance.

Topics explored by participants covered an expansive range, including sexual pleasure and desire, climate justice, indigenous queer identities, feminist technology and the internet, anti-fascist and anti-racist organizing, experiences of LBQ trans and non-binary peoples, disability rights, sexual and reproductive justice, safe spaces for queer youth, intersex experiences, and much much more.

CSBR held two parallel sessions at the forum. The first was a conversation on “Unpacking Religious Rights: Queer Feminist Resistance to the Politicization of Religion, Sexuality and the Body”, with our networkers from Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia sharing their experiences and strategies with an audience of about 60 conference goers.

The second was an interactive workshop on “Queer Inclusionary Magical Feminists”, which facilitated a conversation and exploration about the tensions we experience within and across movements for rights and justice, and how feminist responses could strengthen solidarity in our strategies and organizing.

GlobalLBQWG
(Caption: Global Feminist LBQ Women*’s Conference Working Group Members)

As one participant summed up in a reflective piece, “The Global Feminist LBQ Women’s* Conference was a precious opportunity to build bridges, coalesce, express solidarity, strategise and to celebrate the beauty in our diversity.”

Read some more reflections on the forum here, Claiming Space for Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer feminists, and here, Have You the Courage to Hear My Story?.

 

Global-Feminist-LBQ-Womens-Conference-2019-STICKY-A-610x291

Religious Communities affirming LGBTIQ People around the World

HRC41-2July2019

CSBR is a co-sponsor of Religious Communities affirming LGBTIQ people around the World, a side event at the upcoming 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council taking place Tuesday, 2 July 2019, from 2:30 – 4:00pm, at the UN Headquarters, Geneva, Conference Room IX.

To attend this event you will need a valid accreditation to access the UN or a UN grounds pass.

Human rights organizations, including LGBTIQ groups and faith-based actors, alongside State actors and UN representatives, have been working steadily for many years to promote inclusive faith-based messages.

This side event seeks to amplify the efforts of people of faith and share the realities lived by individuals and communities from different contexts around the world, particularly from key affected contexts (mostly in the Global South), and most especially, inclusive religious experiences and interpretations. This side event aims to highlight how different religious institutions, from different traditions and contexts, include and affirm the rights of LGBTIQ people around the world. These stories stand in stark contrast to the regressive and exclusionary narratives often heard at the UN.


Panelists:

Yulia Dwi Andriyanti, Qbukatabu, Indonesia
Rev. Nokuthula Dhladhla, Ashes to Purpose, South Africa Rev. Dr Brent Hawkes, Rainbow Faith & Freedom, Canada
Bochra Bel Haj Hmida, MP, Tunisia
Ankit Gupta, Queer Hindu Alliance, India Father Thomas Ninan, NCCI, India

Moderator: Dr Fulata L. Moyo, WCC

UNHRC41-ReligiousCommunitiesAffirmingLGBTIQ

 

Tutur Feminis: Meluruhkan yang Biner (Indonesian Feminist Voices, Shedding the Binary)

Tutur Feminis: Meluruhkan yang Biner
(
Indonesian Feminist Voices, Shedding the Binary
)

Tutur Feminis is a coloring book created by Yulia Dwi Andriyanti and the Qbukatabu Collective in Indonesia as one of the activities under CSBR’s collaborative program CARE: Continuous and Responsive Empowerment through well-being initiatives for LGBTIQ human rights defenders in South & Southeast Asia.

Promotion1

Tutur Feminis: Meluruhkan yang Biner (Indonesian Feminist Voices, Shedding the Binary)

This coloring book documents a series of conversations with five women leaders who are allies in realizing Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender female to male (LBT) rights and justice. Each of the women interviewed have long been committed to social transformation, and hold feminist values as their basis and strategy. In a context where politics of hate towards LBT groups is becoming a major challenge, including to consistently living in feminist consciousness, these women leaders share about their efforts to keep up the struggle to shed the binary.

 
Why a coloring book?
We chose this format of a coloring book as an interactive way to pass the messages through text and visual representation, and to relate them with the readers’ feelings and emotions. We can experience the conversations not only through reading the messages from those allies, and also expressing feelings by coloring the illustrations. It is also a way to support a self-healing process.


When you Buy the Book, you Donate to the Collective

You can buy a copy of the Tutur Feminis coloring book with a minimum donation of IDR 35,000 (USD 2), excluding the post & packaging fee. We want to make our publications available to all supported friends, and we welcome donations of any amount above this as well. When you buy a copy, you are also donating to support Qbukatabu works and the collective works of women (including lesbian, bisexual and queer women), trans, and other non-binary identities to strive for the enjoyment of their rights as Indonesian citizens.

For the first printed edition in Indonesian language, the donation per book will be distributed towards the printing cost of the 2nd edition, the collective works
across in Indonesia (75%) and Qbukatabu’s work (25%).

How to get the book?

Please note for the moment, we are only able to ship within Indonesia.

  1. Request your order by providing your name, mobile number, amount of order, donation amount, and address to (choose any that fits you):IG: Qbukatabu
    Twitter: Qbukatabu
    Facebook: Qbukatabu
    Number (whatsapp only): 0813 2219 7685 or 0878 8190 7310
  2. Qbukatabu will respond your order request via WhatsApp, including the information of the bank account number where you can send the donation and the post & packaging fee.
  3. Qbukatabu will mail you the book after you send the transfer receipt.

 

Promotion2 Promotion3 Promotion4

Brunei: Halt the Implementation of the Sharia Penal Code

CSBR-Logo

4 April 2019

Brunei: Halt the Implementation of the Sharia Penal Code

 

The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) and civil society members across Muslim societies call on the Sultanate of Brunei to immediately halt the enforcement of the Sharia Penal Code (SPC). We believe that any entry into force of the penal code demonstrates a disturbing disregard of basic civil and political rights of the people of Brunei.

We are deeply concerned that the new SPC includes the death penalty and extends its application to a range of supposed moral offenses, including adultery, consensual sexual relations outside of marriage, consensual same sex relations, and statements critical of the State interpretation of Islam. It also introduces public whipping for those who access abortion, amputation for theft, and criminalizes exposing Muslim children to the beliefs and practices of any religion besides Islam.

We are further appalled that the SPC prescribes stoning as a form of execution, and whipping and amputation as corporal punishments, and claims this moral authority from Islamic sharia law. Stoning is not prescribed in the Qur’an, and there is no consensus on these punishments under Muslim jurisprudence. Muslim countries across the world forbid these forms of torture, ill-treatment, inhuman and degrading punishments as fundamental violations of human dignity.

We reiterate that state-imposed violence cannot ever be condoned, and all such forms of penalisation and criminalisation are in contradiction to the Islamic principles of justice, compassion and equality.

Implementation of the SPC would be to move in direct opposition to the government’s expressed intent to “maintain peace and order and preserve religion, life, family and individuals regardless of gender, nationality, race and faith”. Instead the penalties imposed by the law will encourage violence and discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation and religious affiliation, create a climate of fear, limit civic space in the country, and further sow extremism in the region.

We remind the government of Brunei of its commitments to uphold the right to life, freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, and non-discrimination as enshrined in both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). The UDHR is also the basis of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Brunei has signed and acceded to. As a State party to these two Conventions, Brunei has the obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill these rights to all its citizens.

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.

Signed

  1. Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (Global)
  2. GAYa NUSANTARA, Indonesia
  3. VISION, Pakistan
  4. Possibility, Bangladesh
  5. Bishkek Feminists Initiatives, Kyrgyzstan
  6. Rumah Pelangi, Indonesia
  7. Khartini Slamah, Transgender Activist, Malaysia
  8. Rafiul Alom Rahman, Queer Activist, India
  9. The Queer Muslim Project, India
  10. Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative “Feminita”, Kazakhstan
  11. Inclusive Bangladesh, Bangladesh
  12. Baidarie, Pakistan
  13. Kyrgyz Indigo, Kyrgyzstan
  14. Secularism is a Women’s Issue
  15. Rainbow Street, Jordan/USA
  16. Andi Suraidah, Women’s Rights Activist, Malaysia
  17. Kaos GL Association, Turkey
  18. Al-Fatah Islamic Transwoman Boarding School, Indonesia
  19. Cairo Foundation for Development and Law, Egypt
  20. Muslims for Progressive Values (Global)
  21. Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (Global)
  22. Justice for Sisters, Malaysia
  23. SEED, Malaysia
  24. Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Canada
  25. Aun Shahid, Advocate, Pakistan
  26. PLUSOS (People Like Us Support Ourselves), Malaysia
  27. The Healing Circle.sg, Singapore
  28. Women Living Under Muslim Laws (Global)
  29. Rhadem Camlian Morados, Queer Muslim Activist, Philippines
  30. MUJER LGBT, Philippines
  31. TEAM Magazine, Philippines
  32. OUTSpoken Philippines
  33. Dr. amina wadud, Visiting Researcher, Starr King School for the Ministry, US
  34. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS), Malaysia
  35. LINC Foundation, Malaysia
  36. Jejaka, Singapore
  37. The Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
  38. Cangkang Queer, Indonesia
  39. Penawar Support Group, Singapore
  40. Beyond The Hijab, Singapore
  41. LighT, Tajikistan
  42. Association for Struggle against Sexual Violence, Turkey
  43. Kazakhstani LGBT-media Kok.team
  44. Youth Interfaith Forum on Sexuality (YIFoS Indonesia)
  45. Indonesia Christian Youth
  46. Amir Shaikezhanov, LGBT activist, Kazakhstan
  47. Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association, SPoD, Turkey
  48. Young LGBTİ+ Association, Turkey

If you would like to add your voice to the petition, sign on here: http://bit.ly/SIGNON-BruneiHaltSPC

Tajassodat: Conversations to Advance Trans Rights and Justice in Muslim Societies

Tajassodat-SM

 

Applications are open Tajassodat: Conversations to Advance Trans Rights and Justice in Muslim Societies (26-30 May 2019), which is a joint program by Qorras and CSBR.

The call is open to transgender & non-binary people living and organizing across the MENA and SSEA regions. Please see full details below, and please do share the call with your networks.

 

Application link: Call for Collaborators-Tajassodat

Deadline to apply: 20 March 2019 (23:59 IST)

 

Please email the Tajassodat team if you have any questions: tajassodat@gmail.com

 


 

ABOUT TAJASSODAT

Tajassodat is a 5-day strategic convening set to take place on 26 to 30 May 2019, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The goal of the convening is to create the space for trans activists from the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and South Asia & Southeast Asia (SSEA), to come together and strategize around trans experiences and needs, strategies for proactive networking, resource development and mobilization in support of trans led organizing, and joint-collaborations amongst trans activists and their allies to advance trans rights and justice.

We aim to bring together 25 collaborators, from Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Gulf Countries, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India.

 

BACKGROUND

Who is organizing Tajassodat?

 Tajassodat is a collaborative initiative launched by Qorras and the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR), supported by HIVOS and Astraea Foundation.

Qorras aims to work on knowledge relating to the issues of gender and sexuality in the MENA region. Qorras focuses on collecting, producing, and disseminating crucial knowledge in the broader sense of the word, all other approaches come to feed this main goal. While acknowledging that the work Qorras does is mostly inspired and based in a more Levantine, Lebanese context.

CSBR is an international solidarity network of over 30 member organizations across 16 countries in MENA, SSEA and Central Asia. CSBR supports the integration of a holistic approach to sexual and bodily rights as human rights across Muslim societies, through feminist knowledge building, strategic convenings, and activist capacity building.

In December 2018, the Steering Committee driving the process of Tajassodat, and made up of 6 activists working to advance trans rights across the regions, through various routes of community organizing, human rights advocacy, and legislative policy at national and international levels, came together.

The Steering Committee Members: Iyan Hyadi (Palestine), Maya Zaman (Pakistan), Rebecca Nyuei (Indonesia), Satya Rai Nagpaul (India), Elisabeth Strandberg (Algeria/Sweden), Zakaria Nasser (Lebanon)

 

What can we expect from the meeting?

General Method

The convening will take place over five days, exploring the three core themes of (a) Personal embodiments, health & well being; (b) Language, culture & histories; and (c) Legal human rights advocacy & trans movement building.

In the first three days, collaborators will create the space to share personal experiences and contextual histories on trans organizing; map out common trends and obstacles across national contexts, as well as unique opportunities for advocacy; The way trans activists build understanding & solidarity to advance human rights, will also be documented.

In the last two days, these reflections will be shaped into a collective visual zine, documenting collaborators’ experiences on bodily autonomy, self-determination and community organizing. We will also explore networking & solidarity questions with allies, to strategize around greater support and resources for trans led organizing across the regions.

 

Expected Outcomes

The expected outcomes are:

  • a collectively made publication, documenting trans lived experiences and the conversations from the meeting;
  • a stronger network of activists connecting their human rights work across the MENA & SSEA regions, and the wider global South;
  • practical follow-up steps and priority strategies to support community level change at home.

 

Language of Participation: The primary language of the convening will be English.

Who Can Participate?

Call for Collaborators

We are sharing an open call for collaborators who want to come together and co-create the space with us. The call for participation is open to transgender and non binary individuals with experiences in the medical and legal systems; artists, writers, organizers, workers focused on community support; as well as individuals who have experience with community outreach, networking, and physical and online security.

 

Individuals should be living or organizing across the MENA and SSEA regions. This includes: Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Gulf Countries, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India.

 


APPLY NOW


Please apply using this link. The information will be kept confidential. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Applications should be submitted by 20 March 2019 (23:59 IST Time UTC+05:30)

 

Scholarships: Selected collaborators will be provided scholarships to attend the convening, including economy return airfare, local transportation to/from the airport and home, cost of visa to Nepal, accommodation on a shared (twin) basis, meals during the convening, and basic travel emergency health insurance.

 

Important Dates: The Call for Collaborators is open from 1 March – 20 March 2019. Applications will be reviewed by the Steering Committee, and we expect to announce acceptances by 10 April 2019.

Tajassodat will take place from 26 to 30 May 2019.

Webinar: Resist fundamentalisms and fascisms in Asia-Pacific

Four activists from Asia Pacific share their analysis of the advances of fundamentalist and fascist forces across the region. Listen to the audio below:

 

This discussion addresses the following questions:

  • How are anti-rights forces operating in Asia-Pacific? How are they gaining support?
  • What are the impacts on gender justice and human rights in the region?
  • What does collective resistance look like and how can we strengthen it?

The conversation was led by :

  • Rima Athar (Chair): Coordinator of the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR)

With presentations from:

  • Cristina “Tinay” Palabay: Secretary General of human rights group Karapatan in the Philippines
  • Rozana Isa: Executive Director of Sisters In Islam, Malaysia
  • Chayanika Shah: a queer feminist researcher, teacher, and activist based in Mumbai, India.

 

rightsatrisk-webinar4_1024x512

Art therapy, Communities of Care, Safe & Accessible SRHR, Self-Defense and ending Bullying–One Day One Struggle 2018 kicks off!

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 across constituencies to support everyone’s right to choose freely on matters of sexuality, fertility, bodily autonomy, gender identity and self expression.

In 2018, actions will take place across Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia,  Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tunisia.

CSBR_ODOS9November

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

 

*     *     *     *     *

BANGLADESH

Bandhu-Logo-2

Bandhu Social Welfare Society is organizing a day-long workshop on Art Therapy for Self-Expression & Peer Support,  that will bring together young community members (aged 15 – 20) from the Youth & Transgender/Hijra network to explore the power of art therapy as a tool for self-expression, self-healing & self-discovery.

Art and the therapeutic creative process of creating art can be incredibly useful for young people who may have experienced bullying or trauma, as it can provide a safe sanctuary to share our feelings and emotions. Throughout the day, participants will explore various mediums, including different kinds of painting (watercolour, pastels, body paints) & craft-making–linking each activity to personal reflection around sexual and bodily autonomy.

Participants’ creations will be documented and shared within the network. Bandhu will host the workshop in collaboration with community artists & also representatives from UNICEF.

_________________________________________

 

INDONESIA

 

This month, Qbukatabu is hosting a series of live Instagram discussions on the theme of “Protect Yourself from Sexual Violence”As part of ODOS on 9 November, Qbukatabu will be in conversation about self-defense from sexual assaults & violence with Poedji Tan–a women’s rights activist, co-founder of  konde.co, and former Taekwondo athlete.

QbukatabuODOS2018

You can join the live discussion on Instagram at: @qbukatabu at 7PM Jakarta time on 9 November.

Want to explore more about ending sexual violence against women & trans people with Qbukatabu? The collective is hosting two additional live Instagram discussions this month:

  • Prevent and Handle Sexual Violence towards Transgender Man, with Sam (Transman Indonesia). The discussion will take place on 20 November 2018, as part of campaigning on the International Transgender Day of Remembrance.
  • Safe Working Space to Eliminate Sexual Violence for Women Workers with Mutiara Ika (Perempuan Mahardika). The discussion will take place on 25 November 2018, as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence

Also keep up with them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/qbukatabu, Twitter: @Qbukatabu and YouTube: Tim Qbukatabu.

*     *     *     *     *

 

GN LogoBuilding on their use of video as a tool for community documentation & amplifying progressive narratives, for ODOS 2018 GAYa NUSANTARA Foundation is launching a short set of interviews with gay Muslims, that explore each persons’ individual struggles, challenges, and perceptions around queerness & Islam.

Follow GAYa NUSANTARA on Facebook: facebook.com/YayasanGAYaNUSANTARA/ and Twitter: twitter.com/gayanusantara to catch the videos.

 

_________________________________________

 

EGYPT

 

Nazra for Feminist Studies launches a conversation on “Non-Conforming” for ODOS 2018.

Nazra-ODOS2018-NonConforming

“Non-Conforming” addresses the issue of bullying, with particular attention to the impacts on the psychological health of people bullied because they don’t conform to norms around gender and sexual binaries.

Throughout 9 November, Nazra will launch tools for discussion online, including a video which explores the impacts of bullying on mental health from the perspectives of psychosocial support workers; a set of short comics and infographics on various kinds of bullying and their impacts; and a series of blog posts by people who’ve experienced bullying exploring resilience and resistance.

Catch it all by following Nazra on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Nazra.for.Feminist.Studies/ and Twitter:  twitter.com/NazraEgypt

 

*     *     *     *     *

Mesahat Foundation for Sexual and Gender Diversity joins the campaign with two posters, to celebrate “the resistance of bodies against the state’s entrapment and arrest of transwomen, queer men and queer sex workers,we stand against social prosecution of queer women and the exclusion of the LGBTQI+ in Egypt and Sudan.” #OurBodies_OurResistance

 

Mesahat-ODOS2018

_________________________________________

MALAYSIA

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) joins ODOS 2018 to amplify the call of the on-going national level campaign in Malaysia to end child marriage, which will culminate on 13 November 2018 with national advocates delivering citizen petitions against child marriage to the parliament.

For ODOS, keep an eye on WAO’s social media–Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womens.aid.org/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/womensaidorg–and share/RT to help build momentum for the national action on 13 November.

45170199_10156301271249930_6330847468648923136_n

_________________________________________

TUNISIA

L’Association Tunisienne des Femmes Democrates (ATFD) is hosting a national coalition workshop from 3-6pm at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Tunis, to strategize around the Tunisian’ state’s disengagement from providing safe, accessible and affordable sexual and reproductive care.

ATFD-ODOS2019

Bringing together over 12 national level organizations, the conversation will explore what a citizen’s initiative can look like to promote & ensure the state meet’s its responsibilities and obligations on sexual & reproductive health care across Tunisia.

Collaborating civil society groups include: Groupe Tawhida, Association des Femmes Tunisiennes pour la Recherche et le Développement (AFTURD), Association BEITY, Association de Défense des Libertés Individuelles (ADLI), Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l’Homme (LTDH), Association Tunisienne de Santé de la Reproduction (ATSR), Association Tunisienne de Lutte contre les Maladies Sexuellement Transmissibles et le Sida (ATL/MST/SIDA Tunis), Association de Prévention Positive (ATP+), Mawjoudin, Association Damj pour la justice et l’égalité, Association Tunisienne de Défense du Droit à la Santé (ATDDS), NESS, and CHOUF.

Follow updates live from Tunisia via ATFD’s Facebook page for the campaign, ‘Un Jour, Un Combat’: https://www.facebook.com/Un-Jour-Un-Combat-996099703765811 and the ODOS 2018 event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/285712255484481.

 

_________________________________________

PAKISTAN


VISION
iVISION-PKs holding a discussion on the Transgender Persons (Protections of Rights) Act and its implementation, in conversation with members of the judiciary in Pakistan.

*     *     *     *     *

Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI) is launching a campaign to raise awareness about the need for women, girls’ and trans people’s access to safe & clean public toilets in Pakistan.

 

FDI_ODOS2018-SafeandClean

*     *     *     *     *


HOPE–Have Only Positive Expectationsis launching a blog piece about the importance of community organizing and creating safe spaces for marginalized communities. HOPE works to create safer spaces for trans men and LBQ women in Pakistan, using both virtual private spaces and physical places to get together, explore peer support and counseling, and build community.

_________________________________________

PHILIPPINES

PILIPINA Legal Resources Center (PLRC) builds upon 5 years of actions through ODOS to move forward the national level Anti-Discrimination legislation, with a round-table discussion to develop policy recommendations by women leaders in Davao City.

ODOS Poster

The Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill (Senate Bill 948) seeks to penalize discriminatory practices based on age, racial or ethnic origin, religious belief or activity, political inclination or conviction, social class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, marital or relationship status, disability, HIV status, health status or medical history, language, physical features, or other status.

*    *     *     *     *

Stay tuned by following us on social media as the campaign actions and events unfold on 9 November 2018!

CSBR on Facebook: facebook.com/CSBRonline , CSBR on Twitter: twitter.com/SexBodyRights

As always, our greatest appreciation to the efforts of the organizers and participants of the campaign!

Letter to President Essebsi of Tunisia

CSBR joins Tunisian civil society and the Alliance of Inclusive Muslims to endorse this letter to President Essebsi of Tunisia, calling for equal inheritance rights.

 


 

AIM-Logo-Twitter

6 September 2018

 

Your Excellency Mr. Beji Caid Essebsi President of the Republic of Tunisia,

The Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (AIM), and the undersigned organizations and individuals from across Muslim societies, full-heartedly support and praise Tunisia for the report of COLIBE and its recommendations, particularly on equality of inheritance between men and women, that are aligned with gender equality and universal human rights principles.

By doing so you have taken a strong lead in the Muslim world and will encourage Muslims around the world to follow in instituting political and juridical reform, and adopting a form of Islam that more accurately reflects the principles of al ‘adālah (justice) and al maslaḥah (social needs). It is important to protect women from economic disadvantages and empower them to contribute fully in the human, political, social, economic, and cultural development of the society, shoulder to shoulder with men.

We fully understand the challenges that Muslim-majority countries face in implementing democratic reforms, especially in matters pertaining to women in Islam. Reforms will not be effective without public awareness; they must go hand in hand with amplifying counter narratives through education, thereby breaking long-held mindsets promoted by fundamentalist individuals and groups.

We condemn the negative and hateful campaign against the members of COLIBE by those who claim to speak in the name of Islam. Islam, after all, does not promote injustice and discrimination. We affirm that Tunisia does not stand alone; like-minded community and religious leaders, academics and civil societies around the world can formally assist in counter-narrative initiatives. This includes developing fiqh al mu’aṣirah al taqaddumiah (progressive Islamic jurisprudence) and educating the general public and vulnerable groups with an intersectional Islamic understanding of gender equality and universal human rights values.

We applaud the exemplary progressive steps Tunisia has taken and wish for other Muslim-majority countries to quickly follow suit. With these positive developments in Tunisia, we hope your country be granted with consistent political, social, economic stability and prosperity. We would be very pleased to work with Tunisia on strategies to ensure that the recommendations made by COLIBE come to fruition.

Respectfully,

Alliance of Inclusive Muslims


كوالا لامبور10 سبتمبر2018

فخامة الرئيس الباجي قائد السبسي، رئيس الجمهورية التونسية
نكتب إليكم بالنيابة عن منظمة تحالف المسلمين الغير اقصائيين (AIM) ، والأفراد والمنظمات من الموقعين والموقعات من مختلف المجتمعات الإسلامية.

إن الموقعين والموقعات على هذه الرسالة، وبعد دراسة متأنية لتقرير لجنة الحريات الفردية والمساواة وتوصياتها، ولا سيما بشأن المساواة في الميراث بين الرجال والنساء ، يعلنون عن دعمهم وتأييدهم وثنائهم لتونس لإطلاقها قوانين وسياسات تتماشى مع مبادئ المساواة بين الجنسين والمبادئ العالمية لحقوق الإنسان.

إن خطوتكم هذه قدمت مثلاً ونموذجاً رائدا قياديا داخل العالم الإسلامي وسوف تشجع المسلمين والمسلمات في جميع أنحاء العالم على السعي قدماً في ترسيخ القواعد المؤسسية للإصلاح السياسي والقانوني، واعتماد شكل من أشكال الإسلام الذي يعكس بشكل أكثر دقة مباديء العدالة والمصالح المجتمعية المتضمنة في جوهره. إنه من الأهمية بمكان توفير الحماية للمرأة من التمييز الاقتصادي وتَمكينهن، كي يساهمن بشكل كامل في التنمية البشرية، والسياسية، والاجتماعية، والإقتصادية والثقافية للمجتمع، جنباً إلى جنب مع الرجال.

وبَوصفنا منظمة إسلامية عالمية شاملة ، فإننا نفهم تماماً التحديات التي تواجهها البلدان ذات الأغلبية المسلمة في تنفيذ الإصلاحات الديمقراطية ، لا سيما في الأمور المتعلقة بالمرأة في الإسلام. وندرك أيضاً ان هذه الإصلاحات لن تكون فعالة بدون نشر وعي عام، يسير جنبا إلى جنب مع نشر رؤى وتفسيرات تنويرية من خلال التعليم ، وبالتالي كسر العقليات التي تروج لها منذ فترة طويلة الجماعات الأصولية المتطرفة.

نحن ندين بقوة الحملة السلبية وخطاب الكراهية الموجة ضد عضوات و أعضاء لجنة الحريات الفردية والمساواة من قبل من يدَّعون التَحُدث بإسم الإسلام. لاسيما وأن الإسلام لا يروج للظلم والتمييز. ونود هنا أن نؤكد أن دولة تونس لاتقف وحدها؛ إذ يمكن لمن يشاركونها موقفها من المجتمع المحلي والأكاديميين والمجتمعات المدنية والقادة الدينيين في جميع أنحاء العالم أن يساعدوا بشكل رسمي في تقديم الدعم بمبادرات رسمية للرؤى والتفسيرات التنويرية الإصلاحية؛ وهذا يشمل تطوير الفقه الإسلامي التقدمي وتثقيف الجمهور والجماعات المهمشة مع فهم إسلامي متقاطع للمساواة بين الجنسين والقيم العالمية لحقوق الإنسان.

إننا وإذ نُحيي الخطوات التقدمية النموذجية التي اتخذتها تونس، نأمل أن تحذو الدول الأخرى ذات الأغلبية المسلمة حذوها سريعاً. ومع هذه التطورات الإيجابية في تونس ، نرجو ان تحظى دولتكم بالرفاهية والإستقرار السياسي والإجتماعي والإقتصادي المتواصل. وسنكون سعداء للغاية بالعمل مع تونس على وضع استراتيجيات كي تٌؤتي التوصيات التي قدمتها لجنة الحريات الفردية والمساواة ثمارها.

تفضلوا سيادتكم بقبول وافر الإحترام

عزت شمس الدين
رئيس التحالف

CSBR Statement – International Coalition of Rights Groups across Muslim societies condemns whipping of two women in Malaysia

For immediate release:cropped-Screen-Shot-2017-01-24-at-5.49.27-PM.png

International coalition of civil society groups across Muslim societies–from Algeria, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, Pakistan, Palestine, Turkey and beyond–condemn the whipping of two women for “attempted sexual relations” which was carried out on 3rd September 2018 by the Sharia High Court in Terengganu, Malaysia.


HOW YOU CAN HELP:

● Share this statement on social media and with family, friends, colleagues & media contacts to create awareness about this issue: http://www.csbronline.org/?p=2224

● Contact Malaysian government representatives or embassies to protest against the public caning of the two women in Terengganu and the on-going discrimination and violence against Malaysia’s LGBT community.

● For more information and media inquiries, get in touch with Malaysian group Justice for Sisters, at: justiceforsisters@gmail.com



International Coalition of Rights Groups across Muslim societies

condemns whipping of two women in Malaysia

4 September 2018

The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR), and the undersigned organizations and individuals from across Muslim societies, condemn in no uncertain terms the public whipping of two women for “attempted sexual relations”, which was carried out on 3 September 2018 by the Terengganu Shariah High Court in Malaysia.

The two women, aged 22 and 32, pleaded guilty on 12 August 2018 to attempted “musahaqah” (sexual relations between women) under Section 30 of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Takzir) (Terengganu) Enactment 2001. They were sentenced to RM3,300 in fines and given the maximum sentence of six strokes of caning.

By taking no action to condemn this violence or prevent the whipping, the Malaysian Federal government is complicit in the violation of its citizens rights as guaranteed under its own Federal Constitution, national laws, as well as its obligations under international human rights law.

From the beginning, the women were denied a fair trial, as they had no representation at the time of their sentencing. It is abhorrent that the whipping was carried out at all, and that it was done in direct violation of Section 289 of the Criminal Procedures Code that prohibits corporal punishment for female prisoners of any age.[1] Further, the women were subject to this humiliating and degrading punishment in public, in front of a crowd of approximately 100 witnesses.[2] These violations of dignity threaten the constitutional rights and human rights of all Malaysians. The public whipping is a clear tactic by the court adding fuel to the escalating intimidation, harassment and violence against LGBT people in Malaysia over the last month.[3] If state shariah courts are permitted to target one community in this way, then other individuals and groups in Malaysia are also at risk of the same kind of inhuman treatment.

We believe that state-imposed violence against women cannot ever be condoned, and that there can never be any justification for such inhuman and degrading punishments. Whipping is a clear form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, which is prohibited under international law in Article 7 of the ICCPR. Accordingly, “It is the duty of the State Party to afford everyone protection through legislative and other measures as may be necessary against the acts prohibited by Article 7, whether inflicted by people acting in their official capacity, outside their official capacity or in a private capacity”.[4] Allowing the discriminatory treatment and punishment of these women by a sharia court is also a violation of Malaysia’s obligations under CEDAW.

Further, there is no consensus at all on the punishment of whipping under Muslim jurisprudence, and many Muslim countries across the world forbid whipping as a fundamental violation of human dignity. We believe that all forms of penalisation and criminalisation of consensual same-sex relationships are in contradiction to Islamic principles of justice and equality.

We amplify the call made by the Joint Action Group on Gender Equality (JAG) Malaysia that the government “conduct a comprehensive review of the Shariah Criminal Offences laws of this country, with a view to repeal such laws, thus enabling all Malaysians to be governed by a single Penal Code under federal administration”, and that the “Shariah Criminal Offences laws to be repealed on the grounds that they have no basis in Islamic legal theory and practice”.[5]

We amplify the call made by Coalition of Malaysian NGOs in the UPR Process (COMANGO), endorsed by 52 Malaysian NGOs, that the government “eliminate all forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the criminal justice system including the practice of whipping and caning”, and ratify and accede to the UN Convention Against Torture as part of this commitment.[6]

We stand in unequivocal support of LGBT people in Malaysia, and their fundamental rights to live with dignity and free from persecution and violence.

We call on the Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the Pakatan Harapan government to take immediate action to end the escalating persecution of LGBT communities in Malaysia, and to uphold their own manifesto “to make [Malaysia’s] human rights record respected by the world” (Promise 26), as well as the PM’s Independence Day speech that guaranteed “justice for all the people, irrespective of race or religion” and promised “Malaysia will remain strong and progressive whatever the differences, contradictions and suspicions that may arise.” [7]

SIGNED

1. Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (International)
2. Antalya Women’s Counselling and Solidarity Association (Turkey)
3. Adana Women’s Solidarity Center and Shelter Foundation-AKDAM (Turkey)
4. Association Femmes Leadership et Développement Durable-AFELDD (Mali)
5. Association of Women Lawyers (Malaysia)
6. Association of Women for Action and Research (Singapore)
7. Bebaak Collective (India)
8. Beyond the Hijab (Singapore)
9. Bishkek Feminist Initiative (Kyrgyzstan)
10. Canadian Council of Muslim Women (Canada)
11. Cinsel Şiddetle Mücadele Dernegi-Association for Struggle against Sexual Violence (Turkey)
12. ESITIZ-Equality Watch Women’s Group (Turkey)
13. Erzincan Katre Women’s Initiative (Turkey)
14. Fethiye Women’s Solidarity Association (Turkey)
15. Flying Broom Foundation (Turkey)
16. Forum for Dignity Initiatives-FDI (Pakistan)
17. GAYa Nusantara Foundation (Indonesia)
18. Günebakan Women’s Association (Turkey)
19. Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (India)
20. Indonesian Women′s Association for Justice-APIK (Indonesia)
21. International Women’s Rights Action Watch-Asia Pacific (International)
22. Istanbul LGBTI Solidarity Association (Turkey)
23. KADAV-Women’s Soldarity Foundation (Turkey)
24. KAOS-GL (Turkey)
25. Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative-’Feminita’ (Kazakhstan)
26. Kelab Warisan Wibawa-Wibawa Women (Malaysia)
27. Kirmizi Biber Association (Turkey)
28. Malaysian Atheists and Secular Humanists (Malaysia)
29. Maruf Foundation (Netherlands)
30. Mawjoudin – We exist (Tunisia)
31. Muntada—The Arab forum on Sexuality, Health and Education (Palestine)
32. Muslims for Progressive Values (International)
33. Oboyob (Bangladesh)
34. PELANGI Campaign (Malaysia)
35. Penawar Support Group (Singapore)
36. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor-EMPOWER (Malaysia)
37. Projek Dialog (Malaysia)
38. Rural Women’s Association-Alga (Kyrgyzstan)
39. Sayoni (Singapore)
40. Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Center (Pakistan)
41. The Healing Circle SG (Singapore)
42. Transmen of Malaysia (Malaysia)
43. VISION (Pakistan)
44. Women Against Violence (Palestine)
45. Women for Women’s Human Rights-New Ways (Turkey)
46. Women Living Under Muslim Laws (International)
47. Women’s Aid Organisation (Malaysia)
48. Women’s Initiative for Citizenship and Universal Rights (Algeria/France)
49. Women’s Party (Turkey)
50. Anissa Helie, Professor (Algeria/US)
51. Cynthia El Khoury, independent feminist (Lebanon)
52. Donna Swita, Solidaritas Perempuan (Indonesia)
53. Evelyne Accad, Professeur Emerite (Lebanon/US)
54. Hameeda Hossain, Human Rights activist (Bangladesh)
55. Hina Noureen, President-Baidarie (Pakistan)
56. Khawar Mumtaz, Women’s Rights Advocate (Pakistan)
57. Khushi Kabir, Coordinator-Nijera Kori (Bangladesh)
58. Marieme Helie Lucas, Secularism Is A Women’s Issue (Algeria/France)
59. Meerim Ilyas, Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights (Kyrgyzstan/US)
60. Pragna Patel, Director-Southall Black Sisters (India/UK)
61. Qutub Jahan, United Religions Initiative (India/US)
62. Sabina Faiz Rashid, Dean-BRAC University School of Public Health (Bangladesh)
63. Sabra Zahid, Attorney at Law (Sri Lanka)
64. Samia Allalou, Mediterranean Women’s Fund (Algeria/France)
65. Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary-Bangladesh Adivasi Forum (Bangladesh)
66. Sara Hossain, Hon. Executive Director-Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Bangladesh)
67. Shaheen Anan, Executive Director-Manusher Jonno Foundation (Bangladesh)
68. Shamsul Huda, Executive Director-Association for Land Reform and Development (Bangladesh)
69. Sheena Baharuddin, Performance Artist (Malaysia)
70. Sheepa Hafiza, Executive Director-Ain o Salish Kendra (Bangladesh)
71. Suhraiya Jivraj, Senior Lecturer in Law-University of Kent (UK)
72. Sultana Kamal, Founding President-Manobadhikar Sanskrity Foundation (Bangladesh)
73. Yasmin Rehman, Women’s Rights Activist (Pakistan/UK)
74. Zakir Hossain, Chief Executive-Nagorik Uddyog (Bangladesh)


[1]https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/09/03/terengganu-syariah-court-acted-against-the-law-caning-can-only-be-carried-out-against-prisoners/

[2]https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/09/03/100-attend-public-caning-of-couple-in-terengganu-lesbian-sex-case/

[3]https://justiceforsisters.wordpress.com/2018/09/02/does-new-malaysia-mean-all-of-us-without-exception/; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/22/malaysia-accused-of-state-sponsored-homophobia-after-lgbt-crackdown

[4] HRC, General Comment No. 20, 1992, §2

[5]https://www.malaymail.com/s/1668605/with-lesbians-sentenced-to-whipping-womens-groups-want-shariah-criminal-law#.W4yOIWkDkO8.twitter

[6]https://uprmalaysia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/UPR-STAKEHOLDER-REPORT-ON-MALAYSIA_Final.doc1_.pdf

[7]https://justiceforsisters.wordpress.com/2018/09/02/does-new-malaysia-mean-all-of-us-without-exception/

CSBR hosts Project CARE: A regional program on holistic well-being & the sustainability of queer, trans and intersex activism in Asia

In February 2018, CSBR launched Project CARE: Continuous and Responsive Empowerment through well-being initiatives for LGBTI human rights defenders in SSEA–a regional program in partnership with Asia Pacific Trans Network (APTN), ASEAN SOGI Caucus (ASC), APCOM, and ILGA Asia–which seeks to address the sustainability of LGBTIQ organizing through a keen attention to the holistic well-being of LGBTIQ activists, organizers and human rights defenders.

In Phase I of the program, our activities included the following:

  • February 2018: CSBR & ILGA Asia collaborating to integrate a focus on well-being into the Asia Intersex Forum, which brought together 15 intersex advocates from across India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
    Asia Intersex Forum, Bangkok, February 2018Caption: Asia Intersex Forum, Bangkok, February 2018 (Credit: ILGA Asia)

    Supported by Astrea and ILGA Asia, the forum resulted in the launch of Intersex Asia–the first network led by & for intersex activists in the region. To find out more about Intersex Asia, see their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IntersexAsia/.

 

  • March 2018: CSBR published a contextual summary on Project CARE, which includes a look at evolving international & regional mechanisms to protect human rights defenders, as well as links to pertinent resources on well-being for LGBTIQ communities and WHRDs on digital security, physical security, emergency response grants, toolkits on well-being for feminist activists, and other websites and manuals. Download it here: CSBR-Resource_Building a contextual approach to Holistic Well-Being for LGBTIQ HRDs in SSEA

 

  • April 2018:  ASEAN SOGI Caucus held a regional well-being & wellness workshop for 14 LGBT human rights defenders from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Throughout 5 days, activists learned varied approaches to well-being, including from the perspective of psychology as well as body & energy practices from CAPACITAR. Since the workshop, participants have been able to cascade their knowledge and introduce conversations & work on well-being in their home contexts

 

  • May 2018: CSBR & ILGA Asia collaborating to integrate a focus on well-being into a training on human rights mechanisms for East Asian HRDs, bringing together 21 activists from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. For many activists this was the first introduction to the topic as it applies to activism. Together we were able to map common emotional, mental and physical impacts of our work on HRDs, and created space to take small steps as individuals to shift our habits to prevent or mitigate these impacts.

    CSBR-ILGAAsia-EastAsiaWellBeing
    Caption: Participants engaged in mapping out personal well-being for activists (Credit: CSBR)

 

  • June 2018: CSBR & Qbukatabu collaborating on research to support LBTQ movement building in Indonesia. This intervention focused primarily on in-depth interviews and research with key allies from across the women’s movement & faith-based movements in Indonesia on how to strengthen allyship and build support to address the stressors, challenges and need of LBTQ activists in Indonesia.

 

  • June 2018: APCOM released an online survey about LGBTIQ HRDs’ experiences around mental health and well-being in the context of their activism, collecting inputs from activists across the region. One of the primary findings was a consensus that there are not enough spaces or opportunities for activists to discuss and unpack mental health issues, nor is there much awareness or knowledge on friendly and accessible mental health resources for LGBTIQ communities in the region

 

  • July 2018: CSBR collaborating with APTN & PLUHO (People Like Us Hang Out) Malaysia on a two-day workshop on holistic well-being for LBQ women, trans and intersex activists & community members in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    CSBR-WellBeingWorkshopJuly2018
    Caption: Participants engaged in a visioning exercise on the state of well-being for our communities (Credit: CSBR)

    Over the two days, we brought together 18 people with the aims of creating a reflexive space to:

  •  Share and explore personal lived experiences & sources of support as LBQTI organizers and community members.
  •  Identify contextual stressors & challenges that affect our well-being, particularly as LBTQI organizers and community members.
  • Unpack and explore theory and practice around well-being, self-care & integrated security for activists, as a means of sustaining activism and organizing.
  • Map out existing tools and resources, as well as gaps in what’s available for LBQTI communities.
  • Learn a mix of techniques from psychology, energy healing, and somatic practices to support & strengthen self-reflexivity and resilience.

CSBR’s methodology has drawn primarily from the work of:

  • Interdisciplinary approaches to psychotherapy, including exercises that engage participants in understanding different frameworks & approaches to mental-health, self-reflexivity, resilience and holistic well-being drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, arts-based therapy and more.


Responses
to the program so far have affirmed that Project CARE is providing support to strengthen activists’ resilience, by focusing on elements of our personal lived experiences, our activism, and the links to our professional and community organizing that are often overlooked.


Stay tuned
for updates from Project CARE in the near future!

For more information, email us at: coordinator@csbronline.org.

Digital Storytelling: Stories of Faith & Sexuality [Videos]

CSBR hosted the first national digital storytelling workshop in Indonesia, on the theme of “Faith & Sexuality”, in partnership with the Youth Interfaith Forum on Sexuality (YIFoS), Kampung Halaman, and GAYa NUSANTARA.

CSBR-DSTApaCeritamu

The workshop brought together 15 participants representing grassroots organizations and collectives working on issues ranging from women’s rights, political participation, and religious pluralism, to digital rights, sex worker rights, sexual and gender diversity, and youth empowerment. Over the five days we explored themes of faith & sexuality, to create narratives that explore lived realities and perspectives on questions of faith, gender, sexuality, diversity, pluralism, secularism and human rights.

 

Method

Through the workshop, each participant learned the art of story-telling through training delivered by Kampung Halaman, as well as the technical skills of open-source video, audio & photo editing software. The workshop was conducted in Bahasa Indonesia to ensure the most accessible, supportive space for learning and self expression amongst participants. At the beginning of the workshop, some participants were completely unfamiliar with computers before the workshop, others had mid-range skills–yet in the course of 5 days everyone produced a short film about a personal struggle and screened it to the group.

It was healing, empowering, and cathartic process for all. The discussions and stories translated into tangible shifts in people’s perpectives, including greater attention to ending violence against women, support for LGBT communities, inter-faith solidarity around people’s struggles for acceptance.


Follow Up

Together we had wanted to create stories to amplify narratives & perspectives in support of freedom of expression, freedom of religion, diversity, pluralism and human rights. We reached out six months after the workshop to find out how participants had been able to use their videos as tools for community engagement. Within one month, some participants had shown the videos to their families to open up conversations on their identities. Others had shown it to community members to encourage dialogue on sensitive topics. One participant was even able to raise funds to hold a new digital storytelling workshop for women survivors of violence in rural areas. Seven participants also agreed to share their stories with us as a public resource, which you can watch below!

The pilot project of Stories of Faith & Sexuality was made possible through a grant from the Love Fund.

________________

 

Stories of Faith & Sexuality

 

Aku Amek


Mujahidah!

 

Like the Earth

 

Becoming Lulu

Doa Ibu | Mother’s Prayer

 

Knowledge = Freedom

Affirming UN Agencies Positions on Sex Work

red-umbrella

At the start of CSW 62, CSBR joined over 230 organizations from across the world to call on the UNSG to reaffirm support for UN Agencies’ long-standing position on sex work, which has been developed with the meaningful engagement of sex workers, as well as representatives of women’s rights and human rights organizations.


 

13 March 2018

H.E. Antonio Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations

c.c.
H.E. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Executive Director, UN Women

Ana Maria Menéndez
Senior Advisor on Policy

RE: UN Position on Sex Work

Dear Y.E. Guterres,

At the beginning of the 62nd Commission on the Status of Women we are writing to express our concern about discussions within your office to revisit the UN’s and in particular, UN Women’s, position on sex work.

We are individuals and organizations that work to advance the full realization of women’s and girls’ human rights and achieve gender equality across the world. Sex workers’ rights are human rights and all
women and girls, including sex workers, have the right to work under conditions of dignity and safety, without the fear of criminalization or violence.

UN agencies already have a clear position on sex work that has been developed with the meaningful engagement of sex workers, as well as representatives of women’s rights and human rights organizations. This is the case, for instance, for the UN Joint Programme on AIDS guidance on HIV and sex work, and the policy recommendations of the Global Commission on HIV & the Law, managed by UNDP. The results are policies that place the human rights of sex workers at the center, respect the agency and self-determination of all sex workers, recognize that sex workers have the same rights as other workers in relation to rights at work, social protection and social dialogue as outlined in ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, respect the agency and self-determination of all sex workers, and recommend decriminalization of sex work and related acts. It is the position that is supported by the best available evidence about what is effective in empowering sex workers, eliminating discrimination and reducing violence against them.

Given the mandate of the United Nations to promote equality and human rights for all, it is essential that the UN and UN Women continue to take such a rights-affirming approach to sex work. There cannot be a so-called ‘neutral’ position on the human rights of sex workers; that would actually undermine sex workers’ human rights and run counter to the principles of the UN Charter.

We look forward to hearing a clear statement from your office reaffirming support for the UN Agencies’ long-standing position on sex work, and working with you to further advance the human rights of all
people, including sex workers.


See the full list of signatories here: SG Letter on Sex Work

Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI) Pakistan joins CSBR!

CSBR is excited to welcome our newest member, Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI), from Pakistan!

FDI_logoFDI’s mission is to improve the human rights situation of invisible and marginalized sexual and gender minority groups, specifically transgender people, sex workers, and girls and young women. FDI serves as a facilitator to integrate these identified marginalized groups into the mainstream society with economic empowerment and ensure their socio-cultural inclusion at all levels with equality, equity and dignity.

As part of the 2017 One Day One Struggle campaign, FDI released a video documenting their views and approaches to solidarity, support and advocacy work with trans women in Pakistan:

At the national level, FDI has been active on issues of law reform, legal gender recognition, human rights education, the use of arts & culture as tools for awareness raising, policy dialogues, and much more. FDI is also involved in the global Right Here, Right Now partnership, working on youth and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Find out more about FDI through their website: https://www.fdipakistan.org/

A petition to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

CSBR joined ARROW and over 194 organisations to send a petition to the UNESCAP calling on governments to fulfil their committments to the ICPD as key to achiving the SDGs in Asia Pacific.

Text of the petition below, and PDF with full list of signatories here: Fulfilling commitments to ICPD – a key to achieving SGDs in the Asia Pacific

* * * *

January 2018

Fulfilling commitments to ICPD – a key to achieving SGDs in the Asia Pacific

We, the undersigned,[i] strongly feel that the principles and objectives of the ICPD (Cairo International Conference on Population & Development, 1994) and outcomes of sixth Asian and Pacific Population Conference (APPC)[ii] are critical to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region. The ICPD reaffirmed the importance of gender equality, equity and empowerment,sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as cornerstones to a sustainable development. [iii]

ICPD beyond 2014iv and its assessment in 2017 reiterate the continued need to fulfil the agenda especially in the Asia- Pacific Region where over 132 million women aged 15-49 years in the region still do not have adequate access to modern contraceptive methods [v] and 9.8 million young women have an unmet need for contraception [vi]. Adolescent birth rates continue to be a challenge in Oceania (62%), South Asia Region (46%) and South-East Asia Region (44%). Unsafe abortion continues to be a major factor in maternal deaths in the region; mortality due to unsafe abortion for South East Asia is estimated as 14% of all maternal deaths, and 13% for South Asia. About 2.3 million women
in the region are hospitalised annually for treatment of complications from unsafe abortion. Also, cancers of the sexual and reproductive system are a major threat for women[vii] as prevention, screening, treatment and palliative care are not implemented adequately. The ICPD beyond 2014 [viii] report also highlighted that lack of information concerning sexual and reproductive health and limited access to related services are contributing to unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions in some parts of the region.

The incidence of child marriage as well as early and forced marriage continues to persist in the region. South Asia has the highest number of child marriages because of countries such as Bangladesh (66%),
India (47%) and Nepal (41%) having high numbers of women between the ages of 20-24 years, who were married before the age of 18 years.ix There is a high out-of- pocket expenditure, unregulated privatisation of health, including unaffordable health insurance resulting in denial of health services specially to the most marginalised groups including women and young people. The region is also known for its inefficient and under-resourced (financial, human and infrastructure) health systems at
national and subnational levels that do not prioritise acceptable, available, accessible and quality SRHR.

These grim realities are a result of the lack of political commitment for gender equality, especially when it comes to women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), largely owing to the existing structural barriers including the systemic nature of patriarchy. This has led to legal frameworks in many countries that are limiting and do not ensure SRHR. In many countries plural legal systems also discriminate the access to existing SRHR provisions and further marginalise women and girls. The lack of cohesive policies across national and sub-national levels creates barriers in implementing international and regional commitments.

Women’s human rights in the region is further threatened by the rise of extremists and fundamentalists. This is in addition to already existing religious and cultural practices that are used to perpetuate harmful traditional practices such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Right to health and SRHR policies and interventions continue to have marginalised groups [x] fall through the cracks. Their marginalisation manifests through the lack of participation, decision-making, access to services including information and communication that lead to the denial of rights.

The Call

Recalling the unanimous commitments of the governments in the Asia- Pacific region to the full implementation, backed by adequate budget allocation and programme, of the ICPD PoA and the outcomes of Asian and Pacific Population conference (APPC), Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) and Sustainable Development Goals,

Realising that the development agenda of SDGs and beyond, of leaving no one behind, remains unfulfilled until the fulfilment of SRHR for all the marginalised groups including women and girls,

Acknowledging the imperativeness of UN General Assembly resolution 65/243 on the follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014xi, adopted in December 2010 in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the region in their entirety,

Recognising the crucial role of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), as the regional development arm of United Nation for the Asia-Pacific Region, in
reaffirming the commitments of the Asia- Pacific UN members states and decision makers towards the implementation of ICPD PoA,

We call on the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to:

  • Lead and facilitate a robust process to create and implement a regional monitoring framework to review progress towards and persisting gaps in the implementation of ICPD beyond 2015 in the
    Asia pacific region. The review should raise issues of human rights including sexual and reproductive health and rights through an in-depth technical analysis in the region and make concrete recommendations to the member states in order to fulfil their obligations to uphold human rights including SRHR of all citizens.
  • UNESCAP Secretariat should facilitate the review process by proposing a timeline for the review process that is practical and enables adequate collection and reporting on data and other relevant information as well as for national consultative
    forums.
  • Facilitate a process to ensure that the members states implement, monitor and report on SRHR holistically within the mechanisms of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, which in this region are the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) and the Asia-Pacific Population Conferences (APPC)
  • Work with champions, including those from rights-based civil society groups, including community and progressive media organisations that can ensure the advancement of the ICPD
    agenda in a holistic manner.
  • Urge the member states to utilise constitutional and other legislative provisions to provide opportunities for women’s participation on all decision-making structures at all levels to realise and fulfil women’s human rights.
  • Provide technical support to the members states in collaboration with other UN entities such as UNFPA to ensure adequate financial, human and infrastructural resources towards implementing health policies, which ensures highest attainable standard of physical and mental health for all
    including their SRHR.
  • In order to achieve the above, regulation of the private health sector to provide acceptable, affordable, accessible, quality health services and ensure dignity and respect, privacy and
    confidentiality.
  • Ensure that marginalised groups and their access to health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights is at the centre of UNESCAP facilitated dialogues ad processes so that No One
    is Left Behind.

 


________

[i] Civil Society Organisations, thought leaders and human rights defenders and activists from the Asia and the Pacific and Globally

[ii] http://www.unfpa.org/events/sixth-asian-and-pacific-population-conference

[iii] Principles 1, 4 and 8 within the Programme of Action of the ICPD

[iv] Resolution 65/243 adopted by the General Assembly in December 2010

[v] Facts and trends in sexual and reproductive health in Asia and the Pacific, UNESCAP, November 2013. http://www.unescapsdd.org/files/documents/SPPS-Factsheet-SRH-v2.pdf

[vi] Darroch JE et al., Adding it Up: Costs and Benefits of Meeting the Contraceptive Needs of Adolescents, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2016.

[vii] http://arrow.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ICPD-20-Asia-Pacific_Monitoring-Report_2013.pdf

[viii] http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/SDD_PUB_ICPD-report-e_0.pdf

[ix] Laoiza, Edilberto, and Sylvia Wong. Marrying too Young: End Child Marriage. New York: United Nations Population Fund, 2012. Accessed September 13, 2016. https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/MarryingTooYoung.pdf.

[x] Including young people, poor and rural women, female migrants, refugees and internally displaced, LGBTIQ, women with disabilities, indigenous women, religious and ethnic minorities and elderly women

[xi] http://www.unfpa.org/publications/international-conference-population-and-development-programme-action

LBTQ Caucus Statement – 8 December 2017 – Phnom Penh

CSBR had the pleasure of joining ASEAN SOGIE CAUCUS, Sayoni, UN Women Asia Pacific & Justice for Sisters to organize and facilitate a 2-day forum on lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s issues from 4-5 December 2017, ahead of the ILGA-Asia 2017 conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

2017-1210-PhnomPenh

Over the two days, 40 or so participants joined in the discussions, personal story sharing, queer movement history mappings, and the distillation of key issues and concerns for lesbian, bisexual, trans women, trans men and queer (LBTQ) persons. A diverse group of LBTQ rights activists were represented from across Asia, including from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Lebanon, Nepal, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The LBTQ Caucus was a first of its kind at the ILGA Asia conference, and took place due to the demands of LBQ activists to address the consistent marginalization of LBQ women’s visibility and leadership within the wider movements for LGBTIQ+ human rights.

The caucus resulted in a collaborative statement which highlights core concerns that emerged and eleven recommendations moving forward towards strengthening movements for LBTQ rights across the region.

CSBR_041217

Read the statement below and download the PDF here: LBTQ Caucus Statement 2017-Phnom Penh

__________________________________________________________________

Statement of the LBTQ CAUCUS*

8 December 2017 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Lesbian, bisexual, trans women, trans men, and queer persons (LBTQ) exist in all of human diversity. Our issues and concerns cut across diverse groups and communities, including other marginalized groups such as people with disabilities, refugees, migrant workers, and indigenous peoples.

LBTQ persons experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence in multiple spaces based on our assigned, actual, or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). We face arbitrary persecution, socio-economic marginalization, and violation of our self-determination, sexual autonomy, and bodily integrity because of our SOGIESC. Our experiences are often invisible, silenced, and unaddressed.

Gender based violence

The multiple and intersecting layers of discrimination and violence that LBTQ persons experience are underpinned and informed by patriarchal socio-cultural, religious and familial values and structures that expect or impose heteronormative,[1] cisnormative,[2] and socially prescribed behaviors and relationships. Failure to adhere to these norms results in stigma, social exclusion, and increased vulnerability to discrimination, violence, and other forms of punishment.

Families are often sites of violence and discrimination against LBTQ persons.[3] Families can act as powerful enforcers of deeply held patriarchal values that demand of women and persons assigned female at birth to accept a subordinate place in social and familial hierarchies, and to uphold family and community interests. This becomes an integral part of the continuum of violence and discrimination that is perpetuated against LBTQ persons in public institutions and society at large.

Domestic violence and intimate partner violence within LBTQ communities remain unaddressed, due in part to a lack of data, tools, and understanding of how to respond to these forms of violence. While some community support mechanisms exist, their scale and reach remain limited. Moreover, people who experience domestic and intimate partner violence often face isolation, and are pressured to keep silent on these issues by the society at large as well as their own communities.

Criminalization

States institutionalize discrimination and violence against LBTQ persons through laws, policies, and practices, arbitrarily marking us as criminals or deviants. Across national contexts, our consensual sexual relations are criminalized, with several countries even imposing the death penalty. Increasingly, laws are also being used to criminalize and restrict our freedom of assembly, association, and expression.

Even when LBTQ persons are not criminalized, we are at heightened risk of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest, or trumped-up charges by state actors with impunity. In plural legal systems, the multiple layers of anti-LBTQ norms and regulations from quasi-state and non-state legal institutions and actors add to the oppression that LBTQ persons experience and create complications in our efforts to access justice. Advocacy often focuses on how discriminatory laws and policies target gay men, which speaks of the need to expand recognition and understanding of the cascading effects of criminalization on lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender persons.

Physical, sexual, and mental health

The discrimination and violence that LBTQ persons experience impacts adversely on our physical, sexual, and mental health. Depression, substance abuse, and self-harming behaviors, even suicide, are common among LBTQ people. The lack of family and social support, and the lack of accessible health services, aggravate the effects of these problems. Medical health professionals generally lack consciousness about the health issues of LBTQ persons or are not trained to deal with us. In general, society and even LGBTIQ+ movements have failed to acknowledge the serious health dimensions of the discrimination and violence that LBTQ people experience. This includes the physical and psychological harms caused by medically unnecessary and invasive surgery on intersex people. Sexual and reproductive health rights of LBTQ peoples are still not seen as a priority concern within existing SOGIESC advocacy.

Feminist organizing and movement building

LBTQ persons continue to mobilize resistance to the discrimination and violence we face, and to protect and promote our rights across Asia. The movement for LBTQ rights is growing, and it also faces many challenges. Externally, our organizing is taking place amidst rising political authoritarianism and religious fundamentalisms, the expansion of neoliberal trade policies that increase disparities in social welfare and the feminization of poverty, as well as forced migration and displacement due to conflicts and climate change. Feminist movement building is all the more urgent in this context.

Within the broader movement for the recognition, protection, and promotion of the rights of all persons of diverse SOGIESC, the dominance of cisgender gay male leadership, discourse, and practices shapes the movement’s international and national advocacy priorities, and poses a challenge to the struggle of LBTQ persons to be visible, recognized, and respected. The use of English as a medium in practically all areas of regional and international advocacy, including communication materials, has further marginalized LBTQ people who do not speak the language.

Movement building has also been affected by funding models, results-oriented criteria, and frameworks of donor organizations that do not reflect the lived realities of LBTQ women, thereby reinforcing our marginalization. The added layer of global north organizations and networks acting as intermediaries and directing regional priorities and the flow of financial resources limits the genuine growth of grassroots and global south led initiatives, and maintains existing disparities. Global resource reviews from 2013-2015 showed that funding for lesbians makes up 3-5% and for bisexuals less than 1% of the total funding for LGBTIQ+ organizations outside the United States.[4] There is a critical need to review existing donor frameworks and to address the significant funding gap for global south LBTQ organizing.

LBTQ persons continue to experience resistance to integrating our concerns within other movements. Our concerns are still perceived as “too political” or “too controversial”, potentially jeopardizing the progress of the feminist, development and human rights agenda.

LBTQ human rights defenders

Presently LBTQ human rights defenders face increased threats, intimidation, censorship and persecution within a context of rising state crackdowns on human rights organizing across the region. In some contexts, there is no protection at all for human rights defenders. This has created fertile ground for collusion between state and non-state actors to proceed with impunity in targeting LGBTIQ+ people and communities. While some data exists,[5] there remains a clear gap in our understandings of the nature and expanse of threats specifically against LBTQ human rights defenders.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. Guiding Principles. In the adoption of measures and interventions to eliminate discrimination and violence against LBTQ and to address our needs and concerns, state and non-state actors should uphold the right to self-determination, autonomy and bodily integrity of LBTQ persons. Participation of LBTQ persons and communities in the revision or creation of legislation and programs must be a priority. Our human rights must be respected, protected, and promoted at all times.
  2. Decriminalization. States should work toward repealing all laws criminalizing LBTQ persons based on assigned, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or consensual sexual acts. This includes all laws criminalizing and restricting freedom of assembly, association, and expression of LGBT groups and the work of human rights defenders.
  3. Legal protection from gender-based violence, discrimination and mechanisms for redress. States should pass comprehensive anti-discrimination and other appropriate laws that explicitly include protections for all forms of discrimination and violence on the basis of SOGIESC. Domestic violence laws should cover diverse forms of families, relationships, and violence. Governments should also explore alternative redress and support mechanisms beyond criminalization, particularly at the municipal levels. Community-driven prevention and support mechanisms, including targeted social services for LBTQ people, should be budgeted for, established and made accessible.
  4. Legal gender recognition. Governments and communities should work toward the legal recognition and affirmation of trans people’s gender identity, based on self-determination and bodily autonomy, without mandating medical interventions.
  5. Review international human rights norms and standards. The sex and gender binary of male and female and the heteronormative framework of many international human rights standards need to be reviewed, including in CEDAW documents.
  6. Documentation and research. Documentation and research on varied forms of discrimination, lived experiences and needs of LBTQ persons and human rights defenders is imperative, using feminist and participatory framework and methodology. Research should be action-oriented, and produce disaggregated data based on gender identity and intersecting groupings.
  7. Addressing physical, sexual, and mental health issues. LBTQ people’s experiences of physical, sexual, and mental health issues must be heard and define any interventions to be made. Health care and support service professionals need to be provided appropriate training in order to enact sensitive and gender-responsive approaches to LBTQ persons’ health needs, without necessarily medicalizing or pathologizing our concerns. Comprehensive and accessible healthcare information and services for LBTQ people, including friendly and affirming sexual reproductive health services and counseling, must be established and integrated in national healthcare systems.
  8. Education. Gender, SOGIESC, and comprehensive sexual health and rights education should be introduced and integrated in school curricula.
  9. Political participation. Affirmative measures designed to increase the political participation of LBTQ persons in community, government and international processes and institutions, including measures designed to ensure that the LBTQ people are represented in elective positions, must be adopted.
  10. Movement building.  Movement building is critical in empowering LBTQ people and enhancing our capacity to take action to address the discrimination and violence we experience and to transform social attitudes towards us. Grassroots LBTQ community-led initiatives must be supported as the foundation of building effective and sustainable movements for the protection and promotion of our human rights. Responsive budgeting and financial commitments should be made to ensure meaningful participation and language justice for diverse LBTQ persons, including on the basis of disability and language accessibility.
  11. Funding, Donor and Program priorities. Consistent with the principles of participation and self-determination, donors, women’s rights, human rights, development, and LGBTIQ+ organizations must ensure that decisions on funding LBTQ groups and projects targeting LBTQ issues are made after consultations with the affected LBTQ groups or communities. Projects must be implemented in partnership with us, with a practical and applied commitment to accountability, transparency, and LBTQ led organizing.

 

 

* This statement emerged from a 2-day forum focusing on lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s needs, organized by ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC), Sayoni, UN Women Asia Pacific, Justice for Sisters & the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) and supported by OutRight Action International and ILGA Asia.  For the caucus, women is based on self-determination, and includes intersex, transgender, cisgender and all who identify as women. The LBTQ Caucus was held from 4-5 December 2017, in advance of the ILGA-Asia regional conference which ran from 6-8 December 2017 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

 

Notes

[1] Heteronormativity refers to the assumption that all persons are heterosexual; practices and norms of heterosexual persons form the dominant narrative.

[2] Cisnormativity refers to the assumption that all persons are cisgender and norms of cisgender persons apply. Cisgender persons refer to persons whose sex and gender ‘match’ or persons whose lived experiences match the assigned identities at birth.

[3] Violence: Through the Lens of Lesbians, Bisexual Women and Trans People in Asia (2014); Negative Family Treatment of Sexual Minority Women and Transmen in Vietnam: Latent Classes and Their Predictors (2015); Research Report on Opinions, Attitudes and Behavior toward the LGBT Population in Cambodia (2015); Cambodians’ Attitudes Toward LGBT Surveyed (2015); Hitting Close to Home: Homophobia and Transphobia In Asia = Family Violence (2016).

[4] Global Resource Report: Government and Philanthropic Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Communities (2014) ; LGBT Grantmaking by US Foundations (2015)

[5] Violence: Through the Lens of Lesbians, Bisexual Women and Trans People in Asia (2014)

Students hit the road to fight street harassment in Kuala Lumpur – in pictures

On a global day of action for sexual and bodily rights in Muslim societies, Malaysian students stood against harassment in public spaces.

SIS-ODOS2017demo-GroupShot
The organising team from Sisters in Islam sported shirts reading “Muslim Women Speak.” Credit: CSBR.

 

“Cats are cute, catcalls are not”; “Don’t keep calm and stop sexual harassment”; “My name is not baby.” These were some of the slogans on signs floating above a group of about 40 people gathered at Petaling Jaya city council square, in greater Kuala Lumpur last month.

The university students and activists chose to highlight fights against street harassment in the Malaysian capital as part of the annual ‘One Day One Struggle’ campaign, on 9 November, organised by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies.

Armed with audio samples of common verbal insults and catcalls, they invited passersby to listen, share their own experiences, and show support for the anti-harassment campaign.

“Cats are cute, catcalls are not”

One of the organisers Andi Suraidah said the action was inspired by “rising awareness as a result of #MeToo campaign globally.” She said: “The time could not have been better to ride on the campaign by bringing it to the local level.”

“As a woman, being harassed on the street is not uncommon,” she said, describing having to wear “clothes that will attract less attention” and “assessing my surrounding consistently when going out alone.”

She added: “The experience of harassment could even be worse, depending on which race or religion you belong to, if you do not fit within the stereotype of male/female framework; these elements give harassers extra bullets to attack you with.”


Credit: Empower Malaysia.

University of Malaya students conducted a survey with 113 respondents on campus. 80% said that they had experienced sexual harassment in public spaces before.

There is little official data on street harassment in Malaysia. There are statistics on gender-based violence, but street harassment specifically is poorly documented.


Credit: Sisters in Islam.

Activists participating in the anti-street harassment action posed for a photo. One member of the team captured it on video.

Sisters in Islam, one of the organising groups, is a leading Malaysian organisation advocating for women’s rights within the framework of Islam and human rights.


Credit: Sisters in Islam.

Passersby were intrigued by the campaign. Some stopped to listen to audio samples prepared by students with examples of common verbal insults and catcalls.

This creative tactic was designed to encourage reflection and conversations on how one could respond and intervene when witnessing street harassment.


Credit: Sisters in Islam

University students talk to members of the public collecting pledges to combat street harassment.

The action engaged passersby to think of everyday personal actions they could take to build a culture of respect.


Credit: Sisters in Islam

Sisters in Islam staff member Zaffan Ariffin acted as a ‘group leader’ for five university students talking to the public to raise awareness against street harassment during the action.

They used sandwich boards to highlight unwanted sexual advances that women commonly hear on the streets.


Credit: CSBR

Volunteers hold signs asking drivers to “Honk if you’re against sexual harassment”!

Suraidah, one of the organisers, said tackling mindsets is one strategy against street harassment. Another is anti-discrimination law and policy.


Credit: CSBR

The organising team from Sisters in Islam sported shirts reading “Muslim Women Speak.”

The group aims to amplify women’s rights within the frameworks of Islam, universal human rights, and democratic politics.

 

______

By: Rima Athar and Bérengère Sim

About the authors: Rima Athar is coordinator of the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies. Bérengère Sim is a journalist based in Paris.

Re-Posted from: 50.50 Open Democracy, published 8 December 2017.

One Day One Struggle 2017 – Bigger & Brighter than ever!

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).

CSBR_ODOS9November

Running 9 years in a row, ODOS 2017 is bigger and brighter than ever with actions planned by groups across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Uganda!

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

 

 

*     *     *     *     *

AFGHANISTAN

In Afghanistan, sexual and reproductive health advocates are holding a workshop with women university students to discuss sexual health and negotiating healthy relationships.

 

BANGLADESH

In Bangladesh, Bandhu Social Welfare Society is hosting a sensitization discussion with journalists to discuss how to improve reporting and coverage of third gender rights in Bangladesh. Bandhu-Logo-2

Bandhu started its journey in 1996, and after 20 years, Bandhu is sincerely continuing to serve the communities with undivided commitment and is paving the way for obtaining their social justice, equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Find out more: http://www.bandhu-bd.org/

 

EGYPT

Building on last year’s action on bodily integrity and autonomy, Nazra for Feminist Studies is holding an interactive online campaign on “Prejudgement”.

Nazra-ODOS2017-Prejudgement“Pre-judgement” highlights the social stigmatization of bodies that transgress the social norms and rules relating to imposed concepts of masculinity and femininity. For this year’s campaign, Nazra opened a call for submissions for personal reflections, writings and graphics about people’s relationships to their bodies; the extent to which community-based stigma and social policies impact that relationships, whether on a physical or psychological level; and how individuals overcome and negotiate their bodily autonomy and integrity.

On 9 November 2017, the submissions will be shared online through Nazra’s website: http://nazra.org/    and Facebook: @Nazra.for.Feminist.Studies, using the hashtag #حكم_مسبق .

 

INDIA

Building on their work on self-care and well-being for lesbian, bisexual and trans people assigned female at birth, Nazariya is publishing a reflective piece detailing some of the lessons and insights for strengthening movements for queer justice moving forward.

Nazariya_Logo
Nazariya is a Delhi-based resource group that was established in 2014, which works towards affirming the rights of queer people (LBT) by making visible their lives and creating an enabling environment where queer lived realities is a non negotiable and informs the work and discourse of organizations and institutions. Find out more about Nazariya here: https://nazariyaqfrg.wordpress.com/

 

 

INDONESIA

In Indonesia, on 9 November GAYa NUSANTARA begins a documentary film project that explores transgender Muslims’ experiences and perspectives on faith, gender and sexuality. The film will be launched at the end of the month through community screenings and online as a resource.

 

Qbukatabu_TerlahirKembaliQbukatabu is a new collective formed in March 2017 to establish an Indonesian language online resource center on sexuality. Each month Qbukatabu produce new content amplifying feminist and queer perspectives: November’s theme is “Terlahir Kembali”, or “Reborn”.

On 9 November, Qbukatabu is taking to social media to amplify women and transpeople’s perspectives on  bodily autonomy, including the moments when struggle is transformed through thought, action, and embodied meaning.

Keep an eye out for pop-media content throughout the day, including articles, videos, and interviews on Qbukatabu’s Instagram, Twitter & Facebook. Follow along with the hashtags #ODOS2017ID, #1Hari1Perjuangan, #ODOSLahirKembali #QbukaODOS.

KAZAKHSTAN

Feminita_ODOS2017In Kazakhstan, Feminita – the Kazakh Feminist Initiative – created a video of personal reflections from two activists on the importance of solidarity that cut across identity politics, especially in times of rising stigmatization, discrimination and violence against women who defy the norms; whether through their sexuality or religion or cultural background. Stay tuned for the launch!


KYRGYZSTAN

BishkekFeminists-LogoIn Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek Feminist Initiative along with teenage magazine Boktukorgon, will launch a video in support of bodily autonomy and self-expression in Kyrgyzstan. The video shows the double edges of dress code regulations, and the stigma and discrimination women and girls face, whether they wear a hijab or shorts. Stay tuned for the launch! 

A group of community organizers in Kyrgyzstan will be holding a two day event, including a film screening and a discussion on the theme of faith & sexuality.


MALAYSIA

Women’s Aid Organisation is taking the conversation online to challenge the policing of women’s dress in Malaysia, which has seen a spike since April 2017 when women lawyers being stopped from entering court because their below-the-knee skirts were deemed “indecent” by security guards. WAO-WomensClothesMoralPolicingFollow Women’s Aid Organisation on Facebook @womens.aid.org, Twitter @womensaidorg and Instagram @womensaidorg and amplify the conversation!

 

PAKISTAN

In Pakistan, VISION along with the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) and the National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is hosting a screening of the documentary “My Body My Right”, followed by a policy discussion to strengthen the human rights perspective in the proposed Protection of Transgender Persons Bill, which was introduced in September 2017.

Vision-ODOS2017-Invite
The panelists include: Honorable Senator Ms. Sitara Ayaz, head of the Senate’s Sub-Committee on reviewing the bills on protection of female transgender; Honorable member NCHR Mr. Chaudary Shafique; and Honorable Director General Human Rights Mohammad Arshad from Ministry of Law and Human Rights. “My Body, My Right”, showcases the efforts of transgender women from three districts: Mardan, Multan and Rawalpindi, who participated in VISION’s participatory street theatre program and developed performances based on their lived realities, in Urdu and Pashto. There were 28 performances of this street theater in the above districts in 2016, some of which were performed as part of ODOS 2016.

 

Creative Alley, PakistanCreative Alley is publishing an article on the theme of love, sexual and reproductive health and disability.

Creative Alley is a Lahore based initiative that provides a platform for those who believe in themselves and feel they have what it takes to be in the limelight. Creative Alley seeks out young, enthusiastic, people who want to come up front and reveal themselves–people who can be handed a mic, given a stage, an audience and last but not least a chance! Stay tuned!

Learn more about Creative Alley here: https://www.facebook.com/CreativeAlleyHQ/

FDI_logoForum for Dignity Initiative will launch a video amplifying transwomen’s perspectives on bodily autonomy and community leadership. FDI is a rights-based organization in Islamabad that strives for an equitable society for transgender people, sex workers, and girls and young women. Read more about FDI here: https://www.fdipakistan.org/.

 

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is set to pass national level legislation against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity this year, which is the result of country wide mobilization. Building on their work through ODOS in the past five years, PILIPINA Legal Resources Center (PLRC) along with PILIPINA Davao will be holding a public lecture and policy discussion workshop to strengthen support for sexual & bodily rights as human rights amongst the women’s movement in the Philippines. This includes support for the national level legislation, as well as the implementing rules and regulations of the Davao municipal legislation.

TURKEY

Women for Women's Human RightsWomen for Women’s Human Rights-New Ways (WWHR) and LAMBDA Istanbul joined forces to create a video advocating for the holistic integration of LGBTIQ rights in human rights based work, as part of WWHR’s ongoing ongoing video series targeted towards civil society organizations (CSOs) working in fields such as education, environment, climate change, youth and SRHR.

Through this project, WWHR aims to empower the cross-sectoral alliances among CSOs, while also documenting on-going efforts and initiatives towards realizing the SDGs in diverse fields.


UGANDA

Safe spaces for young women and girls to discuss sexual violence are few and far between. As part of opening such spaces and fostering community support, Islamic Women’s Initiative for Justice, Law and Peace (IWILAP) is holding round table discussion with young Muslim women on sexual harassment, sexual violence and rape. After the round-table IWILAP will support girls to strategize how they can best raise awareness and lead change to speak out against gender-based violence in their communities.

 

ACROSS CONTEXTS

This year, CSBR and IWRAW-Asia Pacific are co-hosting a Twitter chat on advocating for #SafeandLegal abortion through the human rights framework, this 9 November 2017, from 5pm – 6.30pm (GMT+8).  Mark your calendars and join us!

Twitter chat flyer - Abortion and CEDAW (2)

We’ll be in conversation with the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Aware Girls (Pakistan), Women’s Aid Organization (Malaysia), RESURJ, Hidden-Pockets Collective (India), Rutgers WPF Indonesia, Balance AC (Mexico), and Fondo MARIA.

*    *     *     *     *

As always, our greatest appreciation to the efforts of the organizers and participants of the campaign!

Toppling Walls, Building Bridges: The Rise & Prospects of New Global Feminism

CSBR is honoured to have been able to connect with our sisters in Turkey, and those from around the world as far as Peru, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Ireland and more–for an important and timely conversation on “Toppling Walls, Building Bridges: The Rise and Prospects of New Global Feminism“, sponsored by Heinrich Boll Stiftung in Istanbul, from 2-3 November 2017.

kureselfeminizmmailing.19.10.17.rev1_

* * * * *

Over two days speakers shared lessons & insights for strengthening feminist organizing in a political moment where authoritarianism, the “polypore state“, militarism and neoliberal global economic interests are coalescing in new ways to suppress and threaten women’s human rights around the world.

 

Aliyme Demir (KAOS-GL), Rima Athar (CSBR), and Berfu Seker (WWHR-New Ways) - Istanbul 3 November 2017
Aliyme Demir (KAOS-GL), Rima Athar (CSBR), and Berfu Seker (WWHR-New Ways) – Istanbul 3 November 2017

* * * * *

On the fourth panel on “Resisting & Organizing Locally and Globally“, our Advisory Committee member Aliyme Asli Demir discussed the interconnected rise of ‘right-populism’ globally, from the Turkey to the US to India and beyond, and the shifting terrain and tools we have available as activists to resist and organize creatively.

CSBR Coordinator Rima Athar, discussed transnational networks of anti-rights actors–including evangelical Christian NGOs, the OIC block, the Russian Orthodox Church and others–that are pushing an international campaign to suppress sexual and bodily rights under the guide of “protection of the family” and “traditional values”. She highlighted implications for new feminist organizing that recognizes that recent hate-campaigns against LGBT communities in Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia are not isolated events, but rather connected to similar campaigns that have taken place in Russia, Uganda, and at international UN forums with increasing frequency and coordination in the last decade.

Emily Morgan Waszak, an organizer of the organic and powerful women’s protest against the Anti-Abortion Law in Ireland, discussed the methods and considerations of calling the women’s strike to repeal the 8th amendment, which equates the life of a pregnant women with that of an unborn fetus. The #Strike4Repeal was inspired by the Polish women’s black protest the year before, and brought thousands to the streets in Ireland to claim reproductive autonomy.

* * * * *

The full program can be seen on Heinrich Boll’s website here: https://calendar.boell.de/en/node/111607, and is copied below.

 

programeng.20.10.17