One Day One Struggle! 2023

On November 9th, a global chorus rises in celebration of sexual and bodily rights as human rights. This year, the One Day One Struggle! campaign, led by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR), united communities around the world. We proudly supported four dynamic member organisations: Asosiasi LBH APIK Indonesia and Qbukatabu; Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI), advocates for sexual and bodily rights in Pakistan; and Kaos GL, a leading voice for LGBTQ+ rights in Turkey.

From Indonesia to Pakistan and Turkey, these organisations brought the spirit of One Day One Struggle! to life through diverse and impactful initiatives. Stay inspired by these stories and join the movement for sexual and bodily rights for all. Visit the CSBR social media pages to learn more and discover how you can contribute.

Pathchola Foundation – Bangladesh

Pathchola organised an online workshop, “Breaking Barriers: Empowering Youth through Transgender Sensitization in the Digital Age,” on Monday, November 27, 2023, via Google Meet regarding One Day One Struggle (ODOS) in the month of November. This workshop was held for support to Global Campaign One Day One Struggle #ODOS2023.

A total of 37 participants from Government Organization, NGO, Local Level and youth community attended the workshop. The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by the transgender community and to discuss ways to empower them through digital literacy and sensitization. 

Asosiasi LBH APIK Indonesia – Indonesia

Asosiasi LBH APIK Indonesia has arranged an Instagram Live online discussion entitled “From Morals, Culture, Religion, to the State: The Situation of the Fulfillment of Rights Access to Safe Abortion for Women in Indonesia”. The discussion was held to celebrate the ODOS campaign together with the opening of 16 days of anti-violence against women campaign, by inviting three speakers from a SHR expert, a legal assistant for victims of sexual violence, and a Moslem religious expert.

The 1.5 hours Live IG discussed the current situation of access to safe abortion in Indonesia with various obstacles both from religious, cultural aspects and legal instruments that still hasn’t yet accommodated the needs of women and people with the capacity to become pregnant. Currently, abortion regulations in Indonesia can only be provided to: (1) victims of sexual violence up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, and (2) pregnancy which has medical emergencies. Meanwhile, the absence of implementing regulations that regulate the technical implementation of safe abortion makes safe abortion to those two specific conditions still inaccessible.

They also produced two short videos highlighting the speaker’s key statements. The recorded discussion can be accessed here, and the bilingual short videos can be accessed on Youtube.

Through the safe abortion access campaign, the LBH APIK Indonesia Association aims to: (1) raise public awareness regarding safe abortion belongs to sexual and reproductive health right, (2) breaking the stigmas and discriminations aimed at women and people with the capacity to become pregnant regarding abortion, (3) encourage and invite the public to jointly monitor the technical regulations of the Health Law 17/2023.

Qbukatabu – Indonesia

To observe ODOS 2023 campaign, Qbukatabu brought the conversation about Feminist Queer Artists: Resistance and Resilience. A number of feminist queer artists voiced out their work, struggle and hopes in future in doing artivism in the format of video. We hope this video can inspire others who also have to deal with everyday resistance because of their bodies, sexuality, gender identity and self-expression to persistence and to be resilience. They also produced and published short videos in YouTube Channel & Instagram Reels a short video that contain basic information regarding ODOS campaign. They would also upload a compilation short videos from Feminist Queer artists regarding artivism to promote sexual & bodily rights. The latter video would consist of thoughts and experiences from up to 8 feminist & Feminists Queer artists regarding their works & journey in the respective fields.

Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI) – Pakistan

FDI arranged a study circle to support an important and timely initiative aimed at addressing the intersections of climate change, women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and the deficiency of gender-responsive policies. The One Day One Struggle Campaign would provide the perfect opportunity for FDI to organize a study circle with university students on the implications of climate change on women’s bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health, and rights. The study circle aimed to raise awareness by educating students and the community about the linkages between climate change and women’s SRHR, shedding light on the vulnerabilities and challenges women face. It also facilitated research on this critical intersection, identifying specific issues, and solutions that can inform policy changes. Develop a clear advocacy strategy to promote gender-responsive policies at the local, national, and international levels. The ultimate goal is to build a community of engaged individuals advocating for gender-sensitive climate policies by encouraging dialogue to better understand the intersectionality of sexual and reproductive health and rights and climate change and through actionable research findings to advocate for gender-responsive policies.

Kaos GL – Turkey

The ODOS 2023 was organized by Kaos GL Association in 9 November 2023. This year, in parallel with the global economic crisis after Covid-19 pandemic and its subjective effects of different societies was brought to the agenda. In this framework, the theme of the event was “+” is not always positive. Between sur-plus exploitation and sur-plus potentiality.

OneDayOneStruggle 2022

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

Followed by COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 has been a challenging year for human rights movements as many organization resuming in-person events besides online meetups, many of them have come up with hybrid presence to ensure inclusion of respective communities. CSBR has also gone through transitional phase for the entire year which has limited its presence in external presence. In the spirit of embracing the new normal & towards better tomorrow, for this year’s One Day One Struggle campaign, all member organizations have focused on building strong narratives to support communities across regions.


BANGLADESH

Pathchola Foundation, a trans-led organization from Bangladesh organized three sessions regarding ODOS in the month of November. It also published one video clip showcasing the struggle of a transgender person to survive and thrive to establish their identity. The three offline sessions conducted in three different districts of Bangladesh (Khulna, Sylhet & Mymensigh) focused on overcoming the struggled that transgender persons face in everyday life. Each session also included ideas about achieving goals through solidarity, networking & proper guidance.

INDONESIA

Our member organization Qbukatubu published infographics in their website and their socials (Twitter and Instagram). The infographics are to get our audience know more about One Day One Struggle Campaign. They asked their audience to post in their social media accounts about their thoughts on the importance to have solidarity in advocating sexual and bodily rights in Indonesia.

Qbukatabu also planned to have an ODOS x TDOR Campaign. They have called on transgender community to share the challenges and hopes of being a transgender Muslim in Indonesia. They plan to collect photos containing messages/hopes and also videos of some trans activists who also promote freedom of belief and religion specifically for the LGBTIQ+ community in Indonesia. The submission remained between 9 – 18 November 2022. Qbukatabu expects to publish the photo-video compilation in our social media by 20 or 21 November 2022. Through this collaboration campaign Qbukatabu will (1) raise societies awareness that everyone including transgender communities has the right to embrace their religion/faith and worship accordingly; (2) be a moment to remember and send our prayers for our trans communities who already passed away for many reason including violence and discrimination on behalf of religion and morality.

PAKISTAN

Our member organization Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI) has arranged a discussion on twitter space on the pressing issue of Periods Poverty & Menstrual Justice in relief work. In regard of #onedayonestruggle campaign on Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights of Women. The young leaders across Pakistan joined the space sharing their experience and learnings on Menstrual relief in flood affected areas.

The discussion focused on the current relief work on Menstrual hygiene of women in flood affected areas and sustainable solutions through inclusive policies in future. The recorded space can be accessed here.

TURKEY

Our member organization WWHR-New Ways and Kaos GL from Turkey, have been organizing “Solidarity Keeps Us Alive” events since 2019 to emphasize the importance of solidarity among feminists and LGBTI+’s together on the struggle against anti-gender movements and discourses, and to develop new strategies. This year we came together as almost 50 activists from feminist and LGBTI+ organizations under a forum to talk about the effects of deepening poverty and the aggravated anti-gender oppression on our lives and bodies.  We concluded the forum talking about an imaginative future where we can all live an equal and emancipated life, leaving the forum with hope and empowerment.

OneDayOneStruggle 2021

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

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose unprecedented challenges to all of us, 2021 has been a tough year for human rights movements, many of which face setbacks unique to their communities. In the spirit of acknowledging this struggle, for this year’s One Day One Struggle campaign, all member organizations will focus on themes that they deem important and most pressing respectively.

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


TURKEY

WWHR-New Ways and Kaos GL from Turkey, have been organizing these events since 2019 to emphasize the importance of the struggle of feminists and LGBTI+s together against anti-gender movements and discourses, and to develop new strategies.

This year, they wanted to consider all these debates which arose again around the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, and to rethink the concepts of gender and gender equality. For this purpose, their panel titled  “Gender: from Feminism to Queer Theory”, which will be online on November 9, will discuss how and when gender has become one of the key concepts of the LGBTI+ rights struggle, theoretical and historical transformations that paved the way for the emergence of trans exclusionary feminist views and their increasing visibility in years, the reflections of these debates in the feminist movement in Turkey, the historical alliances between the Turkey’s feminist and LGBTI+ movements and the possibilities of alliances in the near future. 

After the panel, they continue with an online party. 

The event will be Turkish. If you still want to participate, you can register via this link.

Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzzJ9QgFV7/?utm_medium=share_sheet

BANGLADESH

Inclusive Bangladesh and its EQUAL partner organizations (Prantoz Foundation, Pothchola Hijra Shongho, and Shree) will be jointly celebrating this year’s ODOS, highlighting the day-to-day struggle of Non-Binary people in the context of Bangladesh. The celebration will be a month-long program where the organizations will hold online and offline events such as ten digital poster publications, one art campaign, one webinar with nonbinary people, and a virtual dance show. This year ODOS will be celebrated under the hashtag #DOTOKOTA, a Bengali term that reflects upon something that has the power of creation, mixing with others. This highlights the power of non-binary people who shades lights on the unknown aspects of diverse gender in one singular body.

Event logs will be available from 1st November onwards on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/INCLUSIVEBD/ and on twitter https://twitter.com/Inclusivebangla

INDONESIA

GAYa NUSANTARA Foundation, one of the first national LGBTIQ+ organisations in Indonesia, will be uploading 15 video/audio series of religious narrations delivered with love by young friends with Islamic & Christian backgrounds. They will be uploaded gradually through the GAYa NUSANTARA YouTube channel from November 8, 2021 to November 12, 2021.

Da’wah in Love, the title for this campaign, delivers religious narratives that calm, reassure and embrace diversity in gender and sexuality, so that religion can increasingly appear in a friendly face and uphold justice and equality for all mankind.

It is hoped that the doors of love or mercy can be opened wider in a religious framework that no longer judges, oppresses and hurts, but is instead open to accepting those who are often labeled as sinners and are limited in their safe spaces even in the context of religion which should be a place of worship and shade for sweat bearers; those who continue to be attacked and hated in such a way simply because they have a different sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or sex characteristics from the majority group.

Below is the list of the videos.

November 8, 2021

1) Developing Islam Rahmatan Lil Alamin – audio (Surya Alam Maulana);

2) Love Wins (Yasinta Fatmawati);

3) Creating a Safe Space for All (Agus R Nugraha);

November 9, 2021

4) Conversion Therapy: Coercion in the Name of God (Felix);

5) Religion and Justice for the Oppressed – audio (Miftahul Huda);

6) Judging Others (Amar Alfikar);

November 10, 2021

7) Gender Diversity in Religion (Ratna Triwulandari);

8) Highlighting Labeling of Gender Identity and Sexuality (Han);

9) Self-Acceptance as Part of Faith (Mohamad Safiq Niam);

11 November 2021

10) Religious Da’wah that Embraces not Clobbers (Ratna Dewi Palupi).

11) Religion and Humanity (Arimbi);

12) Worship in Diversity (Agetta Putri Awijaya).

12 November 2021

13) God’s Judgment Doesn’t See Gender Identity and Sexuality (Fikri Abdillah);

14) Gender and Sexuality Based Violence (Masruroh);

15) Interpreting the Story of the People of the Prophet of Lut or Sodom & Gomorrah – audio (Kelphin Jeremiah T)

Plastic Etude #OneDayOneStruggle

Watch this improvised contemporary performance exploring authentic body movement and self expression. How does it speak to you?

This video was created by feminist activists across Central Asia who are exploring embodiment as part of holistic and integrated security, well-being and care. They’re launching it in celebration of sexual and bodily rights for all, as part of #OneDayOneStruggle 2020!

#OneDayOneStruggle ~ Cyber Hygiene is a Priority!

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

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

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

“النّظافة الرّقميّة أولويّة”


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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BANGLADESH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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CENTRAL ASIA

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

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EGYPT

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

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

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

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INDIA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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INDONESIA

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

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

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

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

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

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MALAYSIA

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

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

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

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

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

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#RightsCameraAction! #CapturingQueerMalaysia #QueerOnScreen!

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

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

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PALESTINE

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

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

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

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

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

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TURKEY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mesahat & Artivism for #OneDayOneStruggle: “Our non-conforming bodies are a masterpiece, their hues are our choices, and their presence is a war against social structures”

أجسادنا الغير نمطية هي لوحة؛ ألوانها هي خيارتنا، وحرب على القوالب المجتمعية”

” الجواب بيبان من عنوانه”، واحد من الأمثال المصرية الشائعة التي يتم إدراجها فى سياق تبرير الأحكام المسبقة على الأفراد والأشياء من المظهر الخارجي. يعد ذلك المثل نتاج لثقافة توغلت في جذور المجتمع المصري وتشعبت في أفكاره, وهي “النمطية”. تسعى تلك الثقافة لصنع نماذج موحدة من الأجسام والعقول, وتضع صوراً مٌثلى لما هو جيد ومقبول وما هو غير جيد بناءاً على أعراف وتقاليد وموروثات ثقافية ودينية، غير عابئة إطلاقاً لحرية الأفراد في أجسادهن/م وعقولهن/م.
أرتبطت مفاهيم حرية الأجساد إرتباطاً وثيقاً بمجتمع الميم؛ حيث كان من الصعب لأجسادنا الغير نمطية أن تجد مساحاتها المتعددة في أي من تلك القوالب المجتمعية الحادة، والمتجاهلة للتعددية. وعليه كان أحد المساعي الهامة هو النداء بوقف تعليق المشانق وتكفيرنا بناءاً على اختياراتنا فيما يخص أجسادنا وهوياتنا.

كانت – و مازالت- أجسادنا الكويرية وتجاربنا و إختياراتنا صرخة يومية في وجه مجتمعنا المصري، الذي يعتبر أموراً مثل عدم ارتداء أزياءاً محافظة، وصولاً إلى العمل بالجنس التجاري، أو الإجهاض, خارجة عن آدابه العامة وخادشة لحياء أفراده. فصاحب ظهورنا -ولو الضئيل- بالشارع المصري سواء بشكل ظاهر أو خفي صخباً بداخل العقول؛ صخباً من الصعب تجاهل وجوده. وفٌتِحت أبواباً لعدة نقاشات نتج عنها إعادة النظر في آراء، لتلغي الحد على حريات الجسد والوصم القائم على الاختلافات الجسدية والجندرية لجميع الأفراد. كما ساعد ذلك الصخب على خلق مساحات نحتضن بها بعضنا البعض، نراعي بها رفاهنا الشخصي والجماعي, وننشر ثقافة التقبل بداخلها لأنفسنا, لجميع الإختيارات والتفضيلات, سواءً كنا أفراداً من مجتمع الميم أو أفراداً من خارجه من الغير منتميات/ين لقوالب المجتمع المصري الصلبة، مساحة تعبر بعيداً عن وصم المجتمع وتفكك ثقافة الكره، والتمييز وعدم الاعتناء الكامنة تجاه الأفكار والأجساد الغير نمطية.

تحتفى مؤسسة مساحات للتعددية الجنسية والجندرية بمنطقة وادي النيل (مصر والسودان) هذا العام بالساعيات/ين لحريتهن/م الجسدية وسلامهن/م الروحي والنفسي فى كل مكان, والصامدات/ين أمام قولبة المجتمعات للأجساد وطرق ممارسة العقائد، والمتمسكات/ين بحقوقهن/م في اختياراتهن/م بما يقمن/وا به تجاه أجسادهن/م وعقولهن/ك.

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“Our non-conforming bodies are a masterpiece, their hues are our choices, and their presence is a war against social structures”

“You CAN judge a book by its cover”–an Egyptian proverb that reflects normalized judgment based on how people appear. This proverb is a result of a culture that is rooted in the Egyptian society: “Conformism”. This culture aims to make unit castes of bodies and minds, and place an ideal to what is acceptable and permissible and what is not.

Freedom of bodily integrity has always been close to the existence of the LGBTIQA++ community; as it was hard for our non-conforming bodies to find their colourful existence among the rigid castes of society. Therefore, one of the main aims that crossed all LGBTIQA++ existences was to call for a halt of all sorts of accusations of apostasy based on our choices over our bodies and identities.

Our Queer Bodies, choices, and experiences have been–and will always be–a daily shout in the face of our Egyptian society. A society that considers things from dressing up immodestly, all the way to sex work, and abortion, matters that violates its morals and ethics. Hence our public visibility, stark or sublime, has instigated a stir in the collective conscious; a stir that is hard to dismiss. One that opened gates for questioning the strict regulations on bodily rights, on normalized stigmatization, on discrimination based on bodily and gender differences for everyone. Moreover, it helped create spaces of support, where we care not only for each others but for our own selves, where we spread a culture of acceptance to the diversities existing inside and outside the LGBTIQA++ community, from people who do not conform to the castes, a space that crosses the society’s discrimination, that dismembers the culture of hate, stigma, and carelessness that targets the non-conforming bodies, minds and souls.

This year, Mesahat Foundation for Sexual and Gender Diversity in the Nile Valley Area (Egypt and Sudan) is celebrating the warriors of personal freedom, of collective and individual healing wherever they are. Those who are standing still, and standing up again in the face of each blow that conforms their bodies and beliefs, those who are holding up to their and others rights for all choices related to bodies, minds, and souls. #OneDayOneStruggle

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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BANGLADESH

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

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

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

 

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EGYPT

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

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

#onedayonestruggle #التراضي #الموافقة

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

 

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EGYPT & SUDAN

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

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

Stay tuned!

 

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INDIA

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

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

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

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INDONESIA


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

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

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

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

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

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MALAYSIA

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

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

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

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

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

 

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MOROCCO

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

 

 

 

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ACROSS CONTEXTS

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

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

Hope without Fear amidst Suffering with HOPE (Have Only Positive Expectations)

HOPE-logo

 

The situation of LBQT people in Pakistan is complex, as most of them face fundamental survival challenges. HOPE is one of those very few non-profit organizations which are providing safe spaces to sexual and gender minorities for socialization. Currently, HOPE is working on building a sense of community through mini get-togethers in a private household, which will allow community members to feel psychologically at ease by sharing their struggles and traumatic experiences with one another. Moreover, in these get-togethers HOPE also plans to hold various fun activities, for example, gaming, watching movies etc. which will further add to the positive psychological effect.

The idea of advancement of psychological health within community brings to the second most important point—which is, taking necessary steps for the treatment of mental health issues directly. HOPE are living in a society where it is difficult to find medical service provider who are even sympathetic to the situation of LBQT people. But from own experiences in transitioning, and through some other relevant connections, HOPE have finally come up with a list of reliable private doctors (including psychiatrists and psychologists) who are friendly and sympathetic to our situation.

HOPE also intends to provide emergency funds to those members of the community who, for example, do not have money to access government or private health care services. It is important to note here that the reason why most of the transgender people do not afford private healthcare services is because they are dysphoric and hence jobless. Their dysphoria, mainly, results from the fact that whatever society deems as normal is all imposed on them. This includes the requirement of dressing in feminine or masculine clothes, non-provision of resources to finish education, restriction on mobility, coercion into early marriages etc. Under these conditions, providing them with emergency funds, short-term shelter or a safe space and a livelihood (by hiring them) is a form of activity in itself.  In short, HOPE wants to provide LBTQ people with a healthy lifestyle—leading to self-acceptance and eventually self-confidence. It wants to provide transgender persons with maximum choices they can pick out of in terms of their physical transition. Moreover, it also aims to provide psychological support to lesbians, bisexual and queer individuals.

At government level, HOPE—the members of HOPE—have been part of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018. HOPE have been part of meetings held for the drafting of the Act in order to highlight the presence and struggles of transgender men in a country where transgender women are very vocal about their rights unlike transgender men who have remained nearly invisible in the public domain, perhaps because of the fears of female body that society instills into them. The purpose of our efforts had been provision of basic human rights to transgender men in particular and lesbians, queer and bisexual women in general.

In sum, HOPE strongly believes in creating safer spaces for gender and sexual minorities which is extremely important in Pakistan. Our situation constantly reminds us of the fact that HOPE live in a third world country with immense security challenges faced especially by lesbians, bisexual and queer women and transgender people. Hence, it is important to create a safe space for them where they can discuss their issues and socialize in peace. A safe space will not only be of great use to the community activity but will also work as an emergency shelter to the people who are in vulnerable situation and need a place for short stay. Moreover, it will add to the psychological health of the community by providing essential tools to help its people cope with their situation.

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!

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

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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

 

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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

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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

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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.

 

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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/

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.

 

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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.

Video: Sustainable Development Goals & LGBTI+ Organizing in Turkey – WWHR & Lambdaistanbul

Want to understand more about the intersections between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and gender equality? Then take a look at Women for Women’s Human Rights (WWHR)–New Ways’ new video series on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnsmoVllXaROEw1KJWSr7Ow!

WWHR launched the  fourth video as part of this years’ #OneDayOneStruggle campaign (ODOS), interviewing with Sedef Cakmak from Lambdaistanbul on current challenges and opportunities for organizing for LGBTI+ rights  in Turkey and how we can link with the SDG framework.

 

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Lambdaistanbul is a volunteer run organization that was formed in Istanbul in 1993, right after the city governor banned the Christopher Street Parade that was supposed to be held in July 1993. Learn more about Lambdaistanbul here: http://www.lambdaistanbul.org/s/

WWHR-Lambdaistanbul-ODOS2017

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Since its establishment in Turkey in 1993, WWHR-New Ways has worked to support the active and broad participation of women in the establishment and maintenance of a democratic, egalitarian and peaceful social order as free individuals and equal citizens at national, regional and international levels. Learn more about WWHR here: http://www.wwhr.org/

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Stress management, burnout prevention, and self-care – Reflections from Nazariya, a Queer Feminist Resource Group | ODOS2017

Nazariya_Logo

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9 November 2017

 

Reflections on Stress Management, Burnout Prevention, and Self-Care

Context

Mental illness is a growing area of interest in India, where about 60 million people are estimated to struggle with some form of mental illness.[1] In spite of such numbers there exists an overwhelming treatment gap; funds allocated to treat mental health problems in national health budgets are disproportionately small in relation to the serious health consequences they pose: the WHO estimates that for every 100,000 people in India, there are only 0.3 psychiatrists, 0.12 nurses, 0.07 psychologists, and 0.07 social workers.[2] With such numbers, the current reality of the situation regarding mental health care services in India is dire. Services and access are limited not only by the scarcity of resources but also by the prohibitive cost. The existing services, particularly in terms of regular psychotherapy and not just prescriptions, are usually only available in urban areas to those who can afford them.

       Such services are not only self selective of an urban, upper middle class clientele, but are also heavily bound by heteronormative norms. Mental health care and mental health care practitioners in India are largely unaware of the intersectionality of the field in terms of catering specifically to minority and historically oppressed populations. In the case of the population marginalized on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation, members of the queer community face significant familial, societal, and legal discrimination on the basis of their identity in addition to the stresses brought on by everyday life such as work, relationships, and peer pressure. Homophobia, transphobia, staying in the closet (i.e., concealing one’s identity), and coming out are only a few examples of stressors that take a heavy toll on mental health. Mental wellbeing is severely impacted by the intersection of gender, sexuality, caste, socioeconomic status, and other identities, and it is important that this is recognized and addressed in an appropriate manner.

 

Nazariya and Our Response

        Nazariya is a New Delhi based queer feminist resource group that was formed in October 2014 by a group of queer feminist activists. It was started to sensitize the work and culture of groups and individuals working on issues of gender based violence, livelihoods, education, and health from a queer perspective through research & evaluations, capacity building, and advocacy. We use the word “queer” for people who have diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. A queer perspective helps build links between issues of people marginalized on the basis of gender and sexuality, and the existing work on violence, livelihoods, education, and health in order to impact the discourse on pleasure, desire, rights, and entitlements.

       Over the last three months, Nazariya has been engaging with the concept of mental healthcare as a process that extends far beyond clinical diagnoses or prescriptions. Various factors in our personal and professional lives can lead to chronic and acute stress, anxiety, fatigue, burnout, tension headaches, and other issues. Mental health is a vital component of our overall well being, and it is therefore important to develop and learn healthy coping styles for the different stressors that impact us. Given the paucity of resources in our country, it is imperative for us to build community initiatives that focus on mental well-being.

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           So far, we have hosted two stress management and burnout prevention workshops in partnership with Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues (TARSHI): a non-residential 4-day workshop for the LBT*FAB (Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer women and Trans*[3]  individuals assigned female at birth) community in New Delhi and a residential 2-day workshop human rights defenders/activists working on issues of gender and violence across North India.

          Our first workshop was restricted to the LBT*FAB community within the overall queer spectrum of identities in order to provide an intentional space that recognized the additional stress that arises out of the intersection of gender identity and sexual orientation. As the only LBT*FAB organization in North India, Nazariya wanted to highlight the needs of the AFAB (assigned gender female at birth)  and transmen community which are largely ignored, even within the queer movement.

      Our second workshop focused on human rights defenders, social workers, activists, and educationists who work within the issues of gender, sexuality, and gender based violence. Individuals within this field are often subject to a great deal of stress and burnout. A part of this sector ourselves, this could be a result of the unjust environment that we work in, criticism that we face from others for the work we do, the emergency situations we handle, and not fulfilling expectations and achieving standard that we set for ourselves. When work revolves around the care and welfare of others in such an environment, self-care is often compromised.

           As a response to these issues and needs, both workshops functioned on a non-medical model with an emphasis on simple stress management techniques that can be practiced individually without any additional equipment/resources necessary.

 

Reflections from the Workshop

       In both the workshops, our discussions often focused on the importance of self-care as we responded to participants’ expectations of the workshop and their reasons for participating. LBT*FAB participants reported struggling with self acceptance, fears of rejection based on their identity, and isolation. The activists and human rights defenders mostly reported wanting to learn how to better manage their stress and work/life balance. Overwhelmingly, however, the participants of this workshop also mentioned their interest in the workshop because they wanted to carry forth their learning into their casework/fieldwork and improve their counselling skills with their clients. This focus on the care and welfare for others even within a workshop meant to focus on the individual demonstrated to us the need for conversations on self-care.

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        All participants, LBT*FAB and activists, were quick to agree that self-care is a feminist issue because it calls on women and individuals serving the community to consciously and deliberately take the time to focus on themselves. This is often at odds with societal expectations of women, who are expected to take care of and nurture others, and caseworkers/activists, who are expected to be on call 24/7. As feminists, as activists, and as individuals, we are aware of the importance of self-care and advocate for it but have a hard time committing to it ourselves. Many participants admitted to feeling guilt or shame when they took time out for themselves because there is always the thought that they could be “doing something useful” with this time.

         Participants in both workshops also were unanimous in their opinion that there is a lack of community space and support to be able to speak and reflect openly on such unique stressors and experiences. LBT*FAB participants spoke about feeling invisible or silenced within larger queer spaces and the activists/caseworkers reported a complete lack of avenues speak about their experiences, especially when boundaries between work and life are constantly blurred. It is therefore imperative to keep creating spaces where people can share their experiences, speak out about the stressors they battle, and have a support system that understands that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity.

 

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Notes

[1] http://www.indiaspend.com/cover-story/nearly-60-million-indians-suffer-from-mental-disorders-68507

[2] http://www.searo.who.int/india/topics/mental_health/about_mentalhealth/en/

[3] Trans* is an umbrella term for transgender people, genderqueer people, or people who do not conform to notions of gender assigned to them at birth.

[4] All pictures courtesy of Nazariya.

[5] This piece is published on the occasion of #OneDayOneStruggle 2017, as part of the campaign for sexual and bodily rights as human rights, coordinated by CSBR.

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For more information on Nazariya, see: https://nazariyaqfrg.wordpress.com/

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!

 

 

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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.

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

Resource: Sariyani | Kapal Perempuan | (video)

As part of ODOS 2016, Kapal Perempuan developed a video campaign, documenting the re-thinking on gender & sexual norms, and the deepening appreciation of human rights, as experienced by graduates of their Sekolah Perempuan (Women’s School) program in Indonesia.

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This video features Sariyani, a small shop vendor living and working in Jakarta.

Find our more about Institut Kapal Perempuan, at: http://kapalperempuan.org/

8 Years Running: Celebrating the One Day One Struggle Campaign

9 November 2016 marks the 8th year of the One Day One Struggle campaign, organized by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR).

CSBR_ODOS9NovemberEach year, One Day One Struggle engages hundreds of people across countries and regions to builds bridges on sexual and bodily rights issues, including:

  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights for all
  • Promoting sexual and bodily autonomy and integrity
  • Ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education
  • Ending all forms of violence against women
  • Ending Discrimination and violence against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity

By highlighting the pressing political developments impacting sexual 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.

We may be working in different contexts, but our struggle is one: ensuring a holistic affirmation and realization of sexual, reproductive and bodily rights as human rights across Muslim societies.

In 2016, One Day One Struggle is taking place across Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tunisia. 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!

 

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EGYPT

Nazra for Feminist Studies is hosting a discussion on women’s bodily autonomy and integrity through a feminist analytical lens, in collaboration ODOS2016_Nazra_MyOwnBodywith the Goethe Institute in Cairo. The event will bring together diverse stakeholders to discuss restrictions and possibilities for change across fields such as the medical industry, film and creative media, civil society organizing, and academia. Nazra will also be sharing articles and blogs on different aspects of bodily integrity and autonomy by feminist writers across Egypt. Follow the online campaign with the hashtags #MyOwnBody and #OneDayOneStruggle.

Read more here: http://www.csbronline.org/?p=1594, and see the Facebook page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1457243860952778/

 

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) is launching a social media EIPRcampaign to raise awareness on the issue of female circumcision in Egypt, including the lack of any medical reasoning behind the practice. Despite a law in place banning the practice, NGOs have said “the law is not enough, and must be accompanied by non-penal provisions, such as comprehensive sexuality education; a rights based campaign focusing on the ‘rights of women and girls to equality and a safe, satisfying sexual life’, and adopting a code of ethics in consultation with the Doctors’ Syndicate to enforce accountability.”

EIPR will be launching articles and infographics online using the hashtags #StopMedicalizingFC and #OneDayOneStruggle. Follow EIPR on Twitter @EIPR  & Facebook @EIPR.org and share widely.

 

In the framework of Trans Awareness Month, Bedayaa Organization for LGBTQI in the Nile Valley Area (Egypt and Sudan) in cooperation with Mesahat Foundation for Sexual and Gender Diversity and Rainbow Egypt Organization together launch their first event in a series throughout this month starting with the One Day One Struggle Campaign for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies.

odos-egypt-2

Under the slogan “My Gender, My Right”, these groups invite everyone to participate in the campaign on 9 November 2016 by blogging, writing, and tweeting under the hashtag #MyGender_MyRight to support Transgender/ Transsexual Rights. 

 

MALAYSIA

Women’s Aid Organization (WAO) is highlighting the importance of addressing women’s rights in the workplace, as part of a larger mobilization across the country towards the implementation of the Gender Equality Act that will domesticate the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

WAO_CSBRODOS2016_2

Read More here: http://www.csbronline.org/?p=1598, and participate in the campaign by following Women’s Aid Organisation on Facebook @womens.aid.org, Twitter @womensaidorg and Instagram @womensaidorg.

 

 

INDONESIA

GN_ODOS2016GAYa NUSANTARA will be hosting a film screening of the documentary CALALAI: In-Betweenness, which was produced by the Ardhanary Institute in 2015, and explores historical and contemporary experiences of gender amongst the Bugis in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The screening and discussion are a much needed intervention into the highly politicized and charged conversation about diversity in sexual orientations and gender identities in Indonesia.

Read more and watch the trailer here: http://www.csbronline.org/?p=1572

As part of an on-going Gender Justice Education project, KAPAL Perempuan has been working with economically and socially marginalized women to run Sekolah Perempuan (Women’s School) that builds leadership capacity and life skills. Over the years, KAPAL Perempuan has established over 130 Sekolah Perempuan across 6 provinces, 9 districts and 25 villages across Indonesia, and now has over 4,230 members. For this year’s One Day One Struggle campaign, KAPAL Perempuan began a documentary project on these women’s views on gender justice issues, and will be launching the trailer online. Stay tuned!

 

PAKISTAN

VISION will be hosting a street theatre performance on the sexual and bodily rights of transgender communities across Pakistan. These performances were the culmination of a five day participatory street theatre workshop VISION conducted with transwomen from 18-22 October 2016.

VISION_StreetTheatre_3

Throughout the five day workshop, participants discussed personal lived experiences, shared insights and analysis on how to challenge narratives and experiences of discrimination to realize sexual and bodily rights. Amidst these sessions, participants also learned the basics of street theatre and collectively developed the storyline and direction for the performance.

Read more and watch videos of previous performances here: http://www.csbronline.org/?p=1526

 

PALESTINE

Coinciding with Muntada – the Arab Forum for Sexuality, Education & Health‘s 10th Anniversary celebrations, Muntada is sharing the portraits from their participatory photovoice workshops with women activists.

400a0471-2

The Portraits explores multiple dimensions, bringing out the many faces of human strength, beauty and resilience. Check back soon to see the photos and read more about the project.

Women Against Violence (WAVO) will be holding a workshop addressing the current legal and policy contest around sexual assault, including assessing gains, losses and room for advocacy moving forward.

 

 

PHILIPPINES

PILIPINA Legal Resources Centre (PLRC), in collaboration with the Davao City Integrated Gender & Development Division, is hosting two dialogues with local legislators and policy makers, with the goal of developing the Implementation Rules & Regulations of the Davao City Anti-Discrimination Ordinance, as well as developing a city-wide action plan for more outreach activities for LGBT rights.

ODOS2016_PLRC

This marks the 3rd year that PLRC has worked for LGBT rights through the ODOS campaign. Read more about their strategy and activities here: http://www.csbronline.org/?p=1602

 

 

TUNISIA

Building on the momentum from last year, l’ATFD and friends have taken to social media and the streets to talk to people, share information and resources, and encourage people to speak up and speak out against sexual harassment on the streets.

ATFD_ODOS2016

This year they began actions on 1st November, and on 9th November the 2016 campaign concludes with a rendez-vous at the Golden Tulip Hotel to reflect on the actions taken, lessons learnt, and experiences shared. Don’t miss it!

Read more here:  http://www.csbronline.org/?p=1578 and check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Un-Jour-Un-Combat-996099703765811/?fref=ts for more details.

 

 

ACROSS CONTEXTS

As part of this year’s One Day One Struggle campaign, we are thrilled to be launching the first submissions to our #SexPleasureRights series.

SexPleasureRights_CSBR#SexPleasureRights seeks to create a space for conversation and curiosity on what it means to conceptualize sexual pleasure as an integral part of our advocacy towards sexual rights and human rights.

We’ll be launching the submissions online through social media, and on the new website sexpleasurerights.csbronline.org. Stay tuned for blogs, podcasts, short stories and more!

Keep up with us on Twitter @SexBodyRights and Facebook @CSBRonline and spread the news using #SexPleasureRights and #OneDayOneStruggle.

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As always, our appreciation and support to everyone who is participating in this years’ campaign, including groups who due to political instability had to cancel their events.

ODOS 2016: Nazra for Feminist Studies hosts “My Own Body” – a discussion on Bodily Integrity & Autonomy

Nazra_ODOS2016_MyOwnBody

For One Day One Struggle 2016, Nazra for Feminist Studies is hosting “My Own Body”, a public discussion to raise the question of women’s bodily autonomy and integrity through a feminist analytical lens. The event is being held in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, and will take place from 6-9pm on 9 November in Cairo.

“My Own Body” will bring together diverse stakeholders to sharpen the picture the restrictions and possibilities for change across fields such as the medical industry, film and creative media, civil society organizing, and academia. Topics to be explored include how contemporary medical/psychological developments reinforce patriarchal authority over women’s bodies; the role played by conservative social and political foundations in controlling women’s bodies and sexualities; how laws interact with traditions to serve as guardians of these politics of control; as well as addressing the everyday violations and violence that women encounter as their bodies are being objectified and targeted. Taking in consideration the escalation of those violations against women’s bodies and their personal spaces in addition to the traumatizing sexual violence in the public sphere, the One Day One Struggle event will explore not only how patriarchal structures of power are normalizing this violence, but also women’s every day strategies to claim their bodies.

Additionally, Nazra will be sharing articles and blogs on different aspects of bodily integrity and autonomy by feminist writers across Egypt throughout the day. Follow the online campaign with the hashtags #MyOwnBody and #OneDayOneStruggle.

See the Facebook page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1457243860952778/

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تشارك نظرة للدراسات النسوية بحملة “جسدي وحدي” في إطار حملة “يوم واحد، نضال واحد” وهي حملة عالمية يطلقها تحالف الحقوق الجسدية والجنسية في المجتمعات الإسلامية. تُطلَق الحملة يوم 9 نوفمبر ولمدة يوم واحد فقط من كل عام، وتشارك نظرة للدراسات النسوية هذا العام من خلال طرح سؤال أجساد النساء من منظور نسوي تحليلي. ويُجدر الإشارة أن طرح مسائل مثل السلامة الجسدية والخصوصية تثير بدورها تساؤلات خاصة بالمنظومة الأبوية ككل. تهدف الحملة لمناقشة وتحليل الدور الذي تلعبه المؤسسات المجتمعية والسياسية المختلفة في التحكم في أجساد النساء، وكيفية تعامل المؤسسات الأبوية مع أجساد النساء بشكل يومي وذلك من الناحية الطبية والنفسية، وكذلك من منظور الفنون والآداب المعاصرة.
وفي هذا السياق تتشرف نظرة للدراسات النسوية بدعوتكن/م للحضور والمشاركة في الأنشطة المختلفة لهذا اليوم وتشمل:

1- ندوة بعنوان ” جسدي وحدي” في تمام الساعة السادسة مساء في مركز جوته بالدقي، ويتبع الندوة نشاط تصوير صور فوتوغرافية مع من لديه/ا الرغبة في المشاركة في الحملة المعنية بالتضامن.

2- النشر والتدوين والزقزقة علي هاشتاج #جسدي_وحدي و #يوم_واحد_نضال_واحد على مدار اليوم.

3- مشاركة ومتابعة مقالات رأي متنوعة حول موضوع أجساد النساء بقلم نسويات شابات من مختلف محافظات مصر، تابعوناعلى موقع “ولها وجوه أخرى” http://wlahawogohokhra.org/home وكذلك على موقع “مصريات” http://masreiat.com/ .