Featured – Page 4

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Rights Spotlight: International Day of Families

This May 15th is the International Day of Families. So what’s this all about – and what do families, human rights and gender justice have to do with one another?

Established principles of international human rights law uphold the rights of all individuals within families to be free of coercion, violence and discrimination; free to found families on an equal basis; and free to become a part of diverse forms of families around the world.

Yet today we stand witness to ongoing violations of these intrinsic rights across regions – including intimate partner violence and child abuse, harmful practices, stigmatization, and unequal family laws – and the failure of states to ensure these rights and to hold perpetrators accountable.

And at the same time, conservative actors are leading the charge at the United Nations and other human rights spaces to undermine and chip away at our rights protections themselves. Ironically, many of these actors use emerging discourses around ‘the family’ to defend violations committed against family members, to bolster and justify impunity, and to restrict equal rights within and to family life.

Today, join the Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs) in calling for our universal human rights: equality within families and respect for the human rights of all family members worldwide, without discrimination. Human rights are indivisible, universal, interdependent, and inalienable to every person in the world.

OURs aims to monitor, analyze, and share information on anti-rights initiatives threatening our human rights systems. We hope to strengthen the work of activists facing direct challenges to rights, especially rights related to gender and sexuality.

This International Day of Families, OURs highlights a selection of relevant resources. Please share these with your networks, let us know of your key resources, and tweet using the hashtags #RightsAreUniversal and #FamilyDay

Families are diverse

Counter to the claims of anti-rights actors, as the human rights framework has recognized time and time again, families are diverse and take many different forms around the world.

Conservative discourses undermining rights

We are increasingly seeing the spread of a conservative discourse in human rights spaces which seeks to employ the term “family” strategically – to reserve human rights for the few instead of for all, to promote inequality and to weaken our existing human rights protections.

Regressive actors are collaborating across borders and religions to attack human rights standards with appeals to a narrow and discriminatory conception of ‘the family’ and ‘family values,’ including the recent “Protection of the Family” resolutions at the United Nations.

Equality in family laws

From country to country, personal status or family laws discriminate against women and are employed to restrict their rights to family life and other fundamental freedoms.

Not only do these laws continue to grant unequal rights to custody; provide cover for coercion, abuse and sexual violence; and delimit women’s access to money – states continue to attempt to back out of their human rights commitments to change these laws and challenge discriminatory gender stereotypes by reference to national sovereignty, tradition, religion and culture.

Resources

Diversity of families

Love is a family value: Supporting all families and family members (UN LGBT Core Group – video/event)

Conservative discourses

Family laws

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Safeguarding Individuals, Civil Society & Our Shared Humanity: An Urgent Plea to the Government of Bangladesh

2 May 2016

SAFEGUARDING INDIVIDUALS, CIVIL SOCIETY AND OUR SHARED HUMANITY:
AN URGENT PLEA TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH

We, the undersigned, join other voices from across Asia and the Pacific – and around the world – in calling upon the Government of Bangladesh to step up efforts to effectively address the horrific violence that has claimed the lives of several journalists, bloggers, academics, activists and other civilians who advocated for a secular, open, just and equitable society for all citizens — regardless of religion, ethnicity, sexuality or any other labels.

The latest victims of the carnage were the prominent LGBTI activists Xulnaz Mannan and Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy, both hacked to death by a group of assailants at Mannan’s home in Dhaka. So-called “Islamist” groups, including or linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda, have claimed responsibility for these and previous attacks, but the facts surrounding many of these killings over the past year remain unclear.

The Bangladesh government has sworn to track down those responsible for Mannan and Rabbi’s murders. While we welcome that pledge, the international human rights organization Amnesty International has noted that “not a single person has been held to account” in the various killings so far.

In recent years, LGBTI activists in Bangladesh have sought to expand the space for dialogue and inclusivity for their communities even though they are criminalized by the country’s British-era penal code. These efforts in Bangladesh and other countries such as Indonesia have, on one hand, brought about acceptance and openness on some levels, but have also been met by an increasingly severe backlash as well from a range of actors including governments and religious institutions.

The escalating threats to civil liberties, including LGBTI rights, in so many places are all the more ironic – and dangerous – considering we are in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals that underpin the 2030 Agenda whose primary pledge is “to leave no one behind.”

How can we as a region, and indeed as a world, even begin to fulfil such a pledge if we do not collectively come together to address these threats that target our friends, families and fellow human beings? The rhetoric of the SDGs and 2030 Agenda will indeed ring hollow if we do not bring about genuine openness and understanding leading to an end to persecution and terror. Governments must be held accountable, but organizations such as ours, and each of us as individuals, must play our part as well.

Let us seize this opportunity then to bring about dialogue between governments and civil society, with the support of the United Nations, national, regional and global human rights networks and other facilitators, to tackle the mounting crises in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Together we call on the government of Bangladesh to bring justice and ensure that the rule of law is firmly in place and is implemented to provide safety to all citizens.

All individuals across Asia and the Pacific must not see these atrocities as isolated events, but must act in solidarity to uphold the rights of all human beings.

Ultimately, we must collectively work towards a world where enlightenment prevails, even as we vow never to forget the sacrifice that far too many have made to safeguard our shared humanity.
Signed By:

Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director, APCOM

Sattara Hattirat, Regional Coordinator, ILGA Asia

Ryan Silverio, Regional Coordinator, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus

Natt Kraipet, Network Coordinator, APTN

Niluka Perera, Project Officer, Youth Voices Count

Rima Athar, Coordinator, CSBR

South Asian Human Rights Association of Marginalised Sexualities and Genders

Endorsed By The Following Organizations:

1. Association of Transgender People in the Philippines (ATP), Philippines

2. Blue Diamond Society, Nepal

3. Central Initiative for Transgender, Young Gay, Lesbian Asylum Seekers (CITY GLASS), Kenya

4. Consultation Centre of Aids Aid and Health Service, China

5. EQUAL GROUND, Sri Lanka

6. FORUM-ASIA

7. GAURAV, India

8. GAYa NUSANTARA Foundation, Indonesia

9. Haus of Khameleon, Fiji

10. Health Options for Transgender (HOT GENDER), Tanzania

11. Health Options for Transgender, Tanzania

12. HIV YOUNG VOICES (Hi 5), Kenya

13. Human Rights Working Group, Indonesia

14. Human Rights- Youth Health Support Centre NGO, Mongolia

15. I-Girl group, Việt Nam

16. IDENTITY ETHIOPIA (ID ETHIOPIA), Ethiopia

17. ILGA Oceania

18. India HIV/AIDS Alliance, New Delhi, India

19. Khwaja Sira Society, Pakistan

20. LGBT Kiribati, Kiribati

21. Life Gets Better Together (LGBT FOUNDATION), South Sudan

22. Lighthouse club, Việt Nam

23. NAZ Pakistan, Pakistan

24. NGO Phoenix PLUS, Russia

25. Oogachaga, Singapore

26. Organization Intersex International-Chinese, Taiwan

27. PinoyFTM (Filipino Trans Men), Philippines

28. Project Mama, Rwanda

29. QUEER ESCORT NETWORK (Quest Net), Madagascar

30. Rainbow Pride Foundation Youth Wing, Fiji

31. Safety Urban Network (SUN East Africa), Uganda and Kenya Chapter

32. Samoa Faafafine Association, Samoa

33. Sangama, India

34. Sierra Leone Youth Coalition on HIV & AIDS, Sierra Leone

35. SOMALI SOCIETY CARE (SSC), Somalia

36. South Asian Human Rights Association for Marginalized Genders & Sexualities (SAHRA)

37. SUNCITY AFRICA FOUNDATION, Kenya

38. Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBT) Hotline Association, Taiwan

39. Transgender Resource Center, Hong Kong

40. Transgender Youth Revolving Fund (TRAY REFUND), Uganda

41. Transmen Indonesia, Indonesia

42. Transpiration Power, Thailand

43. We are students club, Việt Nam

44. Yourself Belize Movement, Belize

Endorsed By The Following Individuals:

1. Abhina Aher, India

2. Ahsan Ullah, Bangladesh

3. AR Arcon, Philippines

4. Farid Ahmed, Bangladesh

5. Idrissa A. Conteh, Sierra Leone

6. Jake Oorloff, Sri Lanka

7. Jofiliti Veikoso, Fiji

8. Kemas Achmad Mujoko, Indonesia

9. Masaki Inaba, Japan

10. Nguyễn Đặng Duy Anh, Việt Nam

11. Qasim Iqbal, Pakistan

12. Raksak Kongseng Desaulniers, Thailand

13. Sumit Pawar, India

14. To’oto’oali’I Roger Stanley, Samoa

15. Trung Tâm NT.LGBT, Việt Nam

16. Tuisina Ymania Brown, Samoa

17. Vaialia Iosua, Samoa

Media Contacts:

Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Executive Director, APCOM: midnightp@apcom.org, +66-85-360-5200 (Bangkok)

Sattara Hattirat, Regional Coordinator, ILGA Asia: sattarah@gmail.com, +66-82-339-5252 (Bangkok)

Ryan Silverio, Regional Coordinator, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus: rsilverio@aseansogiecaucus.org, +63-917-879-7710 (Manila)

Natt Kraipet, Network Coordinator, APTN: natt.kraipet@weareaptn.org, +66-82-653-3999 (Bangkok)

Niluka Perera, Project Officer, Youth Voices Count: niluka@youthvoicescount.org, +66-94-835-1762 (Bangkok)

CSBR Featured, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, Resources & Tools

Queering Indonesia: Self, Subjectivity and Crisis

IFJ Vol.4 No.1, March 2016

Feminism gives hymn of equality the power and the incentive to emancipate humanity. Originally this fight embraces the cause of women’s liberation in full which still unachieved in recent years. Those experiences defend a specific understanding of philosophy as social critique. It owes its conceptual tools from the long struggle against racism and the history of slavery. In Indonesia, the tradition of phenomenology explores women’s experiences facing state violence as well as society’s unjust treatment against LGBT’s voices. The relationship between language and linguistic meaning as cultural marker has sharpened the way state and society rejected equality. Indonesia fails to think of history of transgendering, of Srikandi’s transgendering in Mahabharata epic. Or the ritual role of Banyuwangi transgendered males.

Full Journal in PDF from: http://www.jurnalperempuan.org/indonesian-feminist-journal.html

Articles:

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Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs) web platform launch

The Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs) is pleased to announce the launch of its web platform: oursplatform.org. The platform will be the goto place for information and resources on safeguarding the universality of rights in international and regional human rights spaces.

A new collaborative project

Human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent, and inalienable for every person in the world.

Yet, increasingly conservative actors are targeting the systems established to protect human rights for all. These actors use arguments based on antirights interpretations of religion, culture, tradition and state sovereignty to roll back our fundamental human rights — particularly women’s rights and gender justice— and to justify state impunity.

The Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs) is a new collaborative project that aims to monitor, analyze, and share information on antirights initiatives threatening international and regional human rights systems.

Grounded in a feminist framework, the OURs initiative works across regions, issues, and human rights spaces towards the advancement of social justice.

The project seeks to understand who is undermining the universality of human rights; why and how they seek to do it; and what can be done to secure equal human rights for all, including and especially rights related to gender and sexuality.

Learn more about the OURs project

A platform for organizations and individuals

Are you or your organization:

● Working for gender justice at the international or regional level?

● Working at the national or local level and encountering religious fundamentalisms?

● Interested in learning more about the dynamics of international and regional human rights spaces and threats to human rights, or starting to engage in this kind of advocacy?

You will find on the OURs web platform:

● A wide range of resourcesfrom quicktouse tools to indepth analysis and reports;

● Latest news related to the impact of religious fundamentalisms on human rights around the world;

● Major events that mark important opportunities to safeguard the universality of rights

PLEASE NOTE: The English language site is now live, with French and Spanish versions set to launch in 2017.

Discover the OURs platform now

Contribute to OURs

OURs welcomes organizations and activists that work to promote human rights, especially rights related to gender and sexuality, to engage and participate.

For more information, to share resources with us, to enquire about institutional membership, or to suggest opportunities for collaboration, please contact: OURs@awid.org

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

Confronting the Backlash – Dede Oetomo, Indonesia

Indonesia moves quickly and slowly at the same time. The anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex backlash currently underway in the country has grown quickly since its start last January. Daily headlines feature the latest bigoted statements by government officials, moves to intimidate local LGBTI communities or proposals by religious political parties to make certain sexual orientations and gender identities illegal. At the same time established democratic institutions slow the legislative process and offer time for pro-LGBTI forces to educate and empower communities in an organized response.

Dédé Oetomo understands this dynamic better than most LGBTI activists in Indonesia. In 1987 he founded the health education and advocacy group, GAYA NUSANTARA in Surabaya, a city of three million in East Java Province. Since that time Dédé has seen dozens of other organizations start and grow under Indonesia’s liberal human rights statutes, and the establishment of a world-class HIV/AIDS health care and education infrastructure. According to Dédé, these successes, along with the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, are the likely causes for the sudden concern of social conservative and religious forces in Indonesia.

“When the United States sneezes, the world shakes,” Dédé says. “The (U.S.) Supreme Court decision shocked conservative politicians. When marriage equality passed in the Netherlands or Ireland, no one paid attention.” Shortly after this shock, December elections produced losses for religious parties across much of the country. Dédé notes, “The religious parties are very corrupt, with two Ministers for Religious Affairs currently in prison.”

It seems the LGBTI community is a convenient scapegoat to distract from political failure and build fearful public support for future elections. How much longer this tactic can be effective is a real question. In the meantime, groups like GAYA NUSANATARA try to create a space for LGBTI Indonesians. “There is no sex education in public schools, but in GAYA NUSANTARA sexuality discussion groups Muslim students will often talk of ‘queering God’ before and after prayer breaks in the organization’s prayer room.”

Overall though, the targeting of LGBTI people has real daily consequences for individual Indonesians.

“Over the past few weeks, we have seen police crackdowns at the ‘gathering place’, a public park in Surabaya, where gay men and male sex workers have socialized for years. At the same time, muggings and other physical crimes have increased as criminals feel empowered by the harsh public rhetoric. Even our HIV/AIDS testing and education efforts are threatened as healthcare workers become afraid to work in established locations,” he said. Police have also increased their demands to see identification documents of those in the gathering place. Many who meet there lack an official family card, the basis for issuance of IDs, as they have run away from abusive situations in their hometowns.

International civil society organizations and foreign governments have been working through diplomatic channels to encourage President Joko Widodo, who was elected in 2014, to end his long silence on the LGBTI backlash. “I voted for him, but he’s not Barack Obama,” says Dédé. “He used to hang with LGBTI people when he was mayor of Surakarta, but he relies on his self-made man biography rather than individual human rights as the best way to achieve equality.” In early February, the U.S. Ambassador hosted a gathering of activists to brainstorm strategies to combat the possible anti-LGBTI propaganda law that could reach Parliament next year. Also in early February, Randy Berry, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons held a series of low-profile meetings in Jakarta.

While high-level efforts offer hope on the horizon, the situation for LGBTI people in Aceh and West Java provinces becomes more dangerous. Violent Islamist movements inspired by Islamic State are growing in these areas and activists are attempting to set up a safe house network to provide protection for targeted individuals forced to evacuate these areas. Dédé notes “The need is urgent in these areas, but funds for the program are very limited.”

During this time of uncertainty Dédé and GAYA NUSANTARA continue to work locally, nationally and across the Asia-Pacific region to defend the health and human rights of LGBTI people. Whether Indonesia continues to make global headlines as a place of increasing repression of its LGBTI communities depends on their efforts.

Reposted from: Alturi.com, 31 March 2016

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Urgent Call to Action: End the Crackdown against Egyptian Human Rights NGOs

TAKE ACTION:

The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) is deeply concerned about the on-going crackdown against independent human rights NGOs in Egypt, including the recent imposition on NGO staff of travel bans, asset freezes, as well as the interrogation by investigative judges without transparency or due process.

Since mid-2011, thirty-seven of Egypt’s leading independent human rights NGOs have been under threat of closure and their workers under threat of prosecution, and/or imprisoned, in relation to Case 173—“the foreign funding” case.

The harassment continues today, and the NGOs under threat—including the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the Arab Network for Human Rights Studies, and most recently Nazra for Feminist Studies—make up some of Egypt’s most respected, independent human rights civil society. They are some the few organizations that continue provide essential social services, including documentation and legal advocacy on human rights violations in Egypt. As recently as 17 February 2016, the Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence was served with a closure order by the Ministry of Health for “breach of licence conditions.”

If the current prosecution of NGO workers goes ahead, including the charges being brought against Hossam Baghat and Gamal Eid, it could lead to the closure of these NGOs and the sentencing of their workers on charges that could carry life sentence in prison.

The laws being used include Penal Code Articles 78, 98(c)(1), 98(d), as well as Article 76(2)(a) of the Associations Law 84/2002. For full details on the ongoing cases, charges, and background please see: goo.gl/PmZ6GN

Asks to the government of Egypt:

Halt the ongoing investigation of independent human rights organisations in relation to their legitimate exercise of their activities, and close the “foreign funding” case once and for all.
Grant NGOs a grace period of one year to register under a new associations law that would comply with Article 75 of the Egyptian Constitution, which allows groups to be recognized and funded by notification and invite NGO participation in consultations on the drafting of this new associations law.
Withdraw the administrative decision to close down the Nadeem Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and Violence.
Lift travel bans and asset freezes that were arbitrarily ordered against human rights defenders.
Issue a presidential decree pardoning all Egyptian and foreign NGO staff convicted in the 2012 foreign funding case.
Comply with the pledges made when accepting Egypt’s UPR recommendations in March 2015 at the UN Human Rights Council, and cease the harassment and prosecution of civil society organizations, women’s rights defenders and human rights defenders.

TAKE ACTION: We are asking for your support in circulating the news: goo.gl/PmZ6GN, and request that you write immediately to your government officials at home and in Egypt, to relay the demands above. Find contact information for Egyptian embassies here: http://www.embassypages.com/egypt

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Oral Statement by WWHR at CSW 60

Oral Statement by Women for Women’s Human Rights – New Ways for the General Discussion segment of the 60^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women

18 March 2016

Your Excellences,

In September 2015, the world has made a promise to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030 under this very same roof. We are proud to say that women’s and feminist organizations have been vital contributors and enablers for the realization of this commitment. Today, we express our continued enthusiasm and ambition to realize 2030 Agenda and reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this regard we welcome the Secretary General’s report to this session, which specifically refers to “the key role of women’s leadership and women’s civil society organizations” in all aspects and levels of 2030 Agenda. We would like to note our suggestions for equal, effective, transparent and well-resourced participation of women and feminist organizations, at all levels, to ensure a gender – responsive and human rights based sustainable development.

We already have existing international and regional instruments on development, human rights and gender equality. The question remains, how we can make the normative power of all instruments, and now the ambitious 2030 agenda, operative and responsive to women’s human rights and gender equality causes. Our suggestion for the optimization of this process is the inclusion of women, throughout their life course, and women’s and feminist organizations at every step and level of the implementation, monitoring, follow up and review of the SDGs and the Beijing PfA.

CSW will, and should play an active role in this regard, and needs to be a strong platform to ensure that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is undertaken as a crosscutting issue of all the SDGs as well as Goal 5 and other gender-related targets, as these are necessary for the full implementation of the Beijing PfA. And we affirm this session and its Agreed Conclusions as important milestones towards this end. CSW should also provide a space for establishing interlinkages within different international instruments on gender equality and human rights, especially the CEDAW Committee.

The UN’s institutional capacity needs to be supported to ensure an “open UN” that effectively engages with various groups, including women’s and feminist civil society organizations, not only to promote and support their engagement in SDG implementation and monitoring at all levels, but also to ensure their full engagement in the UN system’s own work.

We take this opportunity to strongly condemn the assassination of the Honduran feminist indigenous rights activist Berta Cáceres, in early March, and demand justice and protection for the sole witness. We are very much concerned about the escalating restrictions of space and security for women’s human rights defenders (WHRDs). All relevant instruments, including CEDAW, should also support and take measures to address the issue of security of and space for WHRDs in their capacities. Throughout the 2030 Agenda, an enabling environment to support the work of women human rights defenders, and women and feminist organizations, should be created. WHRDs should be able to work in an environment conducive for their work free from harassment, intimidation and violence by state and non-State actors. Flexible and rapid funding should be available for women’s and feminist organizations in order to ensure their effective response to urgent crises and opportunities.

This statement has been prepared and made by Women for Women’s Human Rights – New Ways, on behalf of the list of organizations and groups below (in alphabetical order):

Afrihealth Optonet Association (AOA), Nigeria
Antalya Women’s Counseling Center and Solidarity Association, Turkey
Association Femmes Africaines, Congo
Associazione Italiana Donne per lo Svilupp – AIDOS, Italy
Association for Support of Women Candidates, Turkey
ATHENA Network
Atria – Institute for Gender Equality and Women’s History, The Netherlands
Balance Promoción para el Desarrollo y Juventud, Mexico
Beyond Beijing Committee (BB), Nepal
Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA)
Christian Aid, United Kingdom
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR)
CSW Organizing Group, Turkey
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA), United States of America
Equality Watch Women’s Group – EŞİTİZ, Turkey
Executive Committee for NGO Forum on CEDAW, Turkey
Federation for Women and Family Planning, Poland
Fondation pour les femmes Africaines, Nairobi
Fundacion Arcoiris, Mexico
Fundacion para Estudio e Investigacion de la mujer – FEIM, Argentina
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
International Council Of Aids Service Organizations, Canada
International-Curricula Educators Association, United Kingdom
International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers, United States of America
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, United Kingdom
International Women’s Health Coalition
IPAS
IWRAW Asia Pacific
Izmir CEKEV, Turkey
Der – Ankara, Turkey
Karadeniz Women’s Solidarity Association, Turkey
MenEngage Global Alliance, United States of America
Women’s Coalition, Turkey
Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Association, Turkey
Red Pepper Association, Turkey
Liberia Girl Guides Association (LGGA), Liberia
Mor Salkim Women’s Solidarity Association, Turkey
National Alliance of Women’s Organisations, United Kingdom
Nepalese Women Watch (NWW), Nepal
RESURJ
Sansristi, India
SERR, United States of America
SIGLO XXIII, El Salvador
Swedish Federation for LGBTQ Rights (RFSL), Sweden
The Roosevelt Institute, United States of America
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
Federation of Women’s Associations – Turkey, Turkey
Union de L’Action Feminist, Morocco
Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights, United States of America
Vision Spring initiatives, Nigeria
WO=MEN – Dutch Gender Platform, The Netherlands
Women for Peace and Ecology, Germany
Women in Europe for A Common Future
Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Liberia
Women’s Aid Organisation, Malaysia
Women’s Solidarity Foundation, Turkey
World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, Ukraine

Video:

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Justice for Sisters: End Arbitrary Arrests and Repeal Laws that Criminalize Transgender Persons – Malaysia

For immediate release

March 7, 2016

Justice for Sisters is extremely concerned and appalled by the arrests of 12 trans women, including an Indonesian trans woman in a police raid in Penang on 2 March 2016. The 12 are being investigated under various charges, including gang robbery, violation of social pass, and Section 28 of the Penang Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1996, which criminalizes male person posing as a woman.

Five women investigated for robbery, have been remanded for 6 days until 8 March 2016. No further information is available at the moment, including their cells, and the exact sections that they are being investigated for.

In a positive move in November 2015, Penang State EXCO for Youth and Sports; Women, Family and Community Development, and Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam YB Chong Eng recommended separate cells for transgender persons to protect their safety. Based on her correspondence with the Penang Police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi in August 2015, she noted that there is currently no guideline for detainees who are transgender, however placed in separate cells based on sensitivity and discretion of the police.

We echo YB Chong Eng’s recommendation, and urge the Penang Police Department to ensure that the detainees are being treated humanely. We further call Members of Parliament and State Assemblypersons to support the recommendations, as all detainees and prisoners have the right to humane treatment, including being treated as per self-determined gender identity. There is overwhelming anecdotal evidence of the multiple forms of violence experienced by trans women in detention, including disregard of gender identity (being treated as a cisgender man), physical and sexual violence, and lack of access to trans specific healthcare needs, which increases anxiety and stress due to changes in appearance and body.

Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. Some of the trans women were arrested in their hotel rooms, while they were asleep. Six trans women, who are being investigated under ‘Section 28 Male person posing a woman’, which criminalizes any male person who wears women’s attire or poses as a woman in a public place for immoral purposes, were released on 3 March 2015 by the Penang religious department.

These on-going arbitrary arrests of trans women further affirm Justice for Sisters’ call for the repeal of all laws that criminalize transgender persons based on gender identity. These laws are not only discriminatory and violate fundamental human rights of transgender persons— including right to self determination, freedom of movement and freedom of expression—but these laws are also open to abuse. In this case, although the women were asleep while they were arrested in their hotel rooms, they are still being investigated under Section 28.

We strongly emphasize that gender is not determined by genitals. In fact, it is a widely accepted and evidence-based fact that gender is a spectrum signifying personal sense of belonging and identification (as a girl/woman, boy/man, both, neither, other gender identities). Transgender persons do not pose, pretend or cross dress. Transgender people are merely expressing their identities, like cisgender persons. Parallel with this, gender recognition legislations in many countries now, no longer require medical intervention.

Dehumanizing Media Coverage of the Arrests

We are also extremely appalled by the media coverage of the arrests. The media cannot continue to dehumanize, dismiss and erase identities of trans people by misgendering (using the wrong pronouns) and using derogatory terms, like transvestite and cross dressers to refer to trans women. Further, it is disappointing to note that some media, which had in the past used trans affirming language, has reverted to using discriminatory, dehumanizing and outdated terms in their coverage.

At least one media outlet, The Star Online had published a photo of one of the detainees. Trans women are often subjected to public humiliation and violation of privacy during raids and arrests, including through the presence of media. I am scared to be woman, a report by Human Rights Watch that documented violence against transgender persons in Malaysia included an experience of a woman who lost her job after her photo and news of her arrest was released in the media.

Anecdotal evidence shows that arrests and disclosure of details, including name as per identification card and photo in the media causes increased mental health issues, like trauma, anxiety, stress and isolation; and has the effect swaying support provided by family members. It exacerbates further humiliation and condemnation by friends and family members, and impacts future livelihood through the loss of employment.

In addition, we strongly emphasize that hate crime and violence against transgender persons are real. The lack of positive portrayal of trans people, and the overwhelming negative and sensationalistic articles further increase anxiety and fear over personal security and safety among transgender persons. It further creates an unhealthy and unsafe environment for trans people in this country.

Justice for Sisters firstly calls on all media outlets to treat transgender persons with dignity, and use respectful language to refer to trans people. We also call the media to play a role in public education to reduce intolerance and hatred towards communities already marginalised, misunderstood, and deprived of access.

media guides – panduan media BM | GLAAD media reference guide

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For more details, please contact justiceforsisters@gmail.com

CSBR Featured, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights

Victory in Tunisia: Activist group Shams wins in court

23 February 2016

Shams, the Tunisian group pushing for the decriminalization of homosexuality, has won its legal challenge shams-victoire-2-2016 against a government order that it suspend operations.

“Shams can resume normal activities, thanks to the decision of the court,” the organization announced on Facebook today.

The trial dealt with a legal notification Shams received Jan. 4, ordering the suspension of its activities for 30 days, which was understood to be a first step toward full dissolution of the advocacy group.

Shams (which is Arabic for “sun”) received official recognition less than a year ago, on May 18, 2015, with the aim of defending the rights of homosexuals, bisexuals and trans people.

“The association is now legal, after months of dithering on the part of the authorities,” Sofien Trabelsi, executive director, said at the time. The association, created by Tunisians, was intended to open a nationwide debate about homosexuality with the goal of repealing Article 230 of the Tunisian Penal Code, which provides for up to three years in prison for sodomy.

Shams has been active in the defense of seven Tunisian men arrested and imprisoned for alleged homosexual activity.

—

Shams, l’association tunisienne pour la dépénalisation de l’homosexualité, annonce aujourd’hui sur sa page Facebook qu’elle a gagné le procès où elle avait contesté la suspension de ses activités.

Vive la justice. Shams annonce qu’elle a gagné son procès contre le secrétaire général du gouvernement en effet le tribunal de première instance de Tunis a ordonné le 23/02/2016 l’annulation de l’ordonnance sur requête qui avait suspendu les activités de Shams.

Shams peut reprendre ses activités normales grâce a la décision de la justice.

Le procès a traité d’un avis que Shams avait reçu le 4 janvier ordonnant la suspension de ses activités. Ceci était considéré comme le premier pas vers la dissolution complète dugroupe.

Shams avait obtenu la reconnaissance officielle le 18 mai 2015, avec objectif de défendre les droits des personnes homosexuelles, bisexuelles et transsexuelles.

« L’association est désormais légale, après des mois de tergiversations de la part des autorités » , a dit Sofien Trabelsi, directeur exécutif de Shams (ce qui signifie « soleil » en arabe). L’association, créée par des Tunisiens, avait pour but d’ouvrir un débat à l’échelle nationale sur l’homosexualité. Elle espère à long terme faire abroger l’article 230 du Code Pénal tunisien, selon lequel « La sodomie … est punie de l’emprisonnement pendant trois ans »

Shams a été active dans la défense de sept tunisiens arrêtés et emprisonnés pour activité homosexuelle présumée.

—-

Reposted from: 76crimesfr

CSBR Featured, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights

Call for Submissions: Chouftouhonna 2nd International Feminist Art Festival of Tunis

Chouftouhonna is back! The 2nd International Feminist Art festival of Tunis will take place in 15, 16, 17 March 2016. The call for participation is open to women’s artists and creators, and all persons who identify as women, from all countries. Deadline for submissions: 15 March 2016

The transportion of the selected plastic works will be supported for 35 euros from Europe and North Africa and 50 euros from the rest of the world. The development and printing of the selected graphic and photographic works will be supported in its entirety.

Artists and Art collective can apply according to the categories which follow:

Fine Arts:

This category includes painting, sculpture, ceramics, and engravings.

To apply, send to chouftouhonna.artplastique@gmail.com :

High definition JPEG pictures of your work (on different angles if it’s a 3d work)
A presentation of yourself and your work

Scenic Arts:

This category includes dance, circus, theatre, the self-expression through movement, stage performances, slam, poetry.

To apply, send to chouftouhonna.artscenique@gmail.com :

A good quality video of your performance
A presentation of yourself and your work

Graphic Arts:

This category gathers the fixed digital arts (drawing, cartoons, photomontage / sticking.)
To apply, send to chouftouhonna.artgraphique@gmail.com:

Your work
A presentation of yourself and your work

Photography:

To apply, send to chouftouhonna.photographie@gmail.com :

Your work HD JPEG
A presentation of yourself and your work

Music:

To apply, send to chouftouhonna.musique@gmail.com:

A wetransfer link of your record :https://www.wetransfer.com (good quality record)
A presentation of yourself and your work

Cinema:

This category includes all cinematic expressions: short & very short films, long films, documentaries, animations…
To apply, send to chouftouhonna.cinema@gmail.com :

A wetransfer link of your film :https://www.wetransfer.com
A presentation of yourself and your work

Each participant can only send one work ((this work can consist of several elements)

The call to participation is opened until 15 March 2016

Long live Art and Feminism!

CSBR Featured, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, Statements

Call for Action: Request for Protection for Kemal Ördek

Reposted from AWID:

© Kemal Ördek'in Yanındayız — © Kemal Ördek’in Yanındayız

We call for action for Justice for Kemal and for all trans people and sex workers in Turkey!

1. Please kindly send your letters of protest to the Presidency, Prime Ministry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Family and SocialPolicies.

Use the template letter that we have developed for your own use. Below are the exact information you will need to send your letters:

Republic of Turkey, President’s Palace,
Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (President)
Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi
06560 Beştepe – ANKARA
+903125255555

Republic of Turkey, Prime Ministry
Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu (Prime Minister)
T.C. Başbakanlık
Çankaya Mah. Ziyaur Rahman Cad. Çankaya/ANKARA
+903124035000

Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Interior
Mr. Efkan Ala (Minister of Interior)
T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı
Bakanlıklar – ANKARA
+903124224000

Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Family and Social Policies
Mrs. Sema Ramazanoğlu (Minister of Family and Social Policies)
T.C. Aile ve Sosyal Politikalar Bakanlığı
Eskişehir Yolu Söğütözü Mah. 2177. Sok. No: 10/A
Çankaya – ANKARA
+903127054000

Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Justice
Mr. Bekir Bozdağ (Minister of Justice)
T.C.Adalet Bakanlığı
06659 Kızılay – ANKARA
+903124177770

If you would like to prepare your own template, please send the final draft to kirmizisemsiye.csihd@gmail.com prior to sending to the relevant officials so that we can check and provide our comments to you.

Please also send a copy of your letters to the Turkish embassies in your countries.

2. Please kindly send letters to the politicians in your countries, requesting their support for Kemal Ördek, especially in their communication with their Turkish counterparts.

We would very much welcome your efforts in asking your governments to inform their embassies in Ankara – Turkey to put pressure over the Turkish Government in regard to this case and the overall situation of trans people and sex workers in Turkey. Please feel free to contact us for any supporting documentation that can help you in this process.

Please kindly request the Foreign Affairs Ministry in your country to encourage their embassies in Ankara to monitor Kemal’s hearings.

3. Inform your friends, colleagues or other contacts who work for the media in your countries in regard to Kemal Ördek’s case.

We would very much welcome your efforts in encouraging your contacts in the media toconduct interviews with Kemal or Red Umbrella in regard to the case.

4. Please kindly inform your contacts at relevant international committees

Contact the European Parliament (especially relevant committees and heads of political groups), Council of Europe, OSCE and the United Nations about the updates regarding Kemal’s case and the negative approach of the court team.

Also, please kindly convey us the contact information of those officials or contact people at the abovementioned institutions/bodies so that we can regularly contact them in cases of further actions.

5. Think of other ways to support Kemal

For regional and global LGBTI, sex workers’, women’s and other human rights networks, we strongly encourage you to think of other ways of support to Kemal;

e.g. a visit to Turkey for meetings with the relevant Ministries in Turkey as well as the parliamentarians to encourage them to follow-up Kemal’s case and support them.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Short information on what happened:

Kemal Ördek is a trans sex worker and a human rights defender from Turkey. They are the co-founder and the current chair of the sex workers’ rights advocacy NGO Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association.

Kemal was raped, physically attacked, threatened, insulted and robbed on the night of 5 July 2015. After escaping from the 3 young men who attacked them, Kemal sought help from two police officers, however Kemal became a victim of ill-treatment at Esat Police Station on the same night.

After filing a complaint against the 3 attackers, a case as opened against the perpetrators however the court team has continuously rejected arresting theattackers in the last two hearing which took place on 27 October 2015 and 26 January 2016. The same court team continuously rejected the third-party intervention bids of human rights associations in support of Kemal, including Red Umbrella which has been negatively impacted on by Kemal’s case.

Even though the perpetrators are free and haven’t attended the last hearing and that there is a potential of another attack against Kemal, the court team acts in opposite of what Kemal’s lawyers have demanded.

CSBR Featured, News from Member Organizations, Resources & Tools

“Jadal” Publishes New Articles about “Sexual Politics in Palestine”

العدد 24 من مجلّة جدل الالكترونية: “السياسات الجنسية والجندرية”

اصدر مركز مدى الكرمل العدد الرابع والعشرين من مجلّة جدل الالكترونية، بتحرير عرين هوّاري. يتناول المحور المركزي لهذا العدد من جدل السياسات الجنسية والجندرية بتقاطعها مع مباني قوة أخرى، وعلى نحوٍ خاص السياق الاستعماري في فلسطين. تلقي مجموعة المقالات النظر على زوايا غائبة أو مغيّبة في مناقشة المجتمع الفلسطيني لقضايا الجندر وللسياسات الاستعمارية، إذ يرفض كتّاب المقالات فصل الجنسي عن السياسي وفصلهما عن الاستعماري. معظم المقالات في هذا المحور كُتبت في أعقاب مشاركة الكاتبات في المخيم الأكاديمي “السياسات الجنسية ضمن السياق الاستعماري في فلسطين،” الذي بادرت اليه ونظمته مؤسسة القوس في كانون الأول (ديسمبر) 2014

“Jadal” Publishes New Articles about “Sexual Politics in Palestine”
alQaws’ first academic school on sexual and gender diversity took place in December 2014. It engaged activists and academics, and was attended by 30 participants. In 2015, we composed and collected written materials produced by the participants. This resulted in a publication of a first set of articles published by Jadal (November 2015 issue), the journal of Mada al-Carmel, edited by Areen Hawari. To read more about this project, click here.

For more information, visit alQaws website

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

The Philippine Shari’a Courts and the Code of Muslim Personal Laws

Publication Date: 14 October 2014

The Philippine Shari’a Courts and the Code of Muslim Personal Laws

Isabelita Solamo-Antonio

Abstract

A survey, conducted by the PILIPINA Legal Resources Center (PLRC) in the Philippines, on the extent of usage of, and the attitudes, aspirations and behavior of Muslim women in relation to the Code of Muslim Personal Laws (CMPL) found that the majority of Muslim women were not familiar with their official legal rights. The solution to the problem of lack of legal literacy is easy. The greater problem, as the survey indicated, is that women’s lack of autonomy is largely cultural, and justified by invoking customary laws and religious traditions. This worldview affects the individual’s ability to participate in every level of social life—from decision making within her home and family, to education, employment and public office. This chapter will discuss the implications of this research and what outreach projects have been implemented (including engagement with the UN Cedaw Committee) since it was undertaken, to overcome the problems revealed concerning Muslim women’s understanding of their legal rights in the Philippines.

Permanent Link to Chapter at Springer: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-09605-6_6
This is a Chapter in The Sociology of Shari’a: Case Studies from around the World, Volume 1 of the series Boundaries of Religious Freedom: Regulating Religion in Diverse Societies pp 83-101

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Kohl: The Non-Exotic Erotic – Questions of Desire and Representation

The winter edition of Kohl: A Journal for Body and Gender Research, Vol. 1, No.2 is available in English and Arabic.

THE NON-EXOTIC EROTIC
Questions of Desire and Representation

Reposted from: Kohl

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

Sisters in Islam denounces Malaysian MP’s suggestion that marriage would stop statutory rape

2 January 2016

PAS’s ulama council information chief has made a mockery of Islam with his suggestion that marriage would solve a high percentage of underage rape cases in the country, Sisters in Islam (SIS) said today.

The non-governmental organisation for Muslim women’s rights said Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali’s statement on Facebook recently was appalling and erroneous.
“Islam does not allow for underage marriages, especially if it is to the perpetrator himself, i.e the underage girl’s rapist.

“As a Member of Parliament, it is shocking that YB Khairuddin would undermine the severity and emotional trauma experienced by victims of underage rape cases,” SIS said, in reference to the Kuala Nerus MP’s Facebook post on Wednesday.

Khairuddin had also been reported in the media as saying marriage was the “most potent medicine in Islam to curb the social ill.”

“Society, specifically parents, must encourage and facilitate the marriage of their children.

“While the government must help provide incentives to lessen the burden of couples planning to get married,” he reportedly said.

The PAS lawmaker had been commenting on sexual crime statistics from Bukit Aman that showed 920 out of 1,794 cases reported this year involved statutory rape.

Khairuddin also claimed that 90% of the statutory rape cases were “suka sama suka” (consensual).

SIS considered this remark by Khairuddin to be irresponsible and misleading.

“Rape can never be consensual even if an underage girl does not explicitly say no, thus the term ‘statutory rape’.

“It is time we view rape as a crime that it actually is and a violation of human rights.

“Rape is a despicable act that is sinful in Islam and cannot be awarded with marriage.”

SIS added that Malaysia, as a signatory to the Convention of Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and Child Rights Convention (CRC), had an obligation to ensure underage girls get access to higher education and achieve their potential, instead of allowing child marriages as a solution to statutory rape.

Reposted from: The Malaysian Insider

Other sources: Malaysia Kini, The Star Online

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

Documentary: The Reformer of Wringin Sukowono (Indonesia)

This video, created by Institute for Women’s Empowerment, tells the story of the struggles of Najma Milla and her husband Nurul to establish an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) which is at the same time a public school, rather than being solely based on religion. This model of boarding-cum-public school did not previously exist in Wringin Sukowono Village (Jember District, East Java).

Still from The Reformer of Wringin Sukowono. (Credit: IWE/WELDD) — The Reformer of Wringin Sukowono. (Credit: IWE/WELDD)

Najma Milla is an alumna of RAHIMA in Indonesia, and is featured in this film as a truly innovative and successful feminist leader in her community.

CSBR Featured, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights

Take All Possible Measures To Revoke Death Sentence On Sri Lankan Domestic Worker: Sri Lankan CSOs Tell Govt

3 December 2015

185 Civil Society activists and 40 organisations have today urged the respective authorities to take all possible measures to revoke the death sentence and ensure the migrant worker’s safe return to Sri Lanka.

A 45 year old, unnamed Sri Lankan migrant domestic worker and mother of 4 has been sentenced to death by stoning in Saudi Arabia for ‘adultery.’

We publish below the statement in full;

Death Sentence Imposed on a Sri Lankan Migrant Worker in Saudi Arabia

We the undersigned express our deep dismay and distress that as a yet unnamed Sri Lankan housemaid living in Saudi Arabia has been found guilty of adultery and has been sentenced to death by stoning.

StopStoning-Saudi According to newspaper reports, a court in Riyadh sentenced the woman, reportedly a mother of two, based on her confession. The male worker involved in the case who has been found guilty of fornication (as he is not married) has been given a sentence of 100 lashes. Little is known of the circumstances of the case; generally these cases are difficult to prove as it must be corroborated by four male witnesses or eight female witnesses. However since the woman pleaded guilty the case has been exempted from this standard of proof.

In response to the conviction, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and the Ministry of Foreign Employment has expressed concern and instructed the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia to take all steps to save the convicted woman. The SLBFE has hired a lawyer to appear on behalf of the woman in order to obtain a revocation of the death sentence. Minister Thalatha Athukorale has however noted that this would be an uphill task given that the woman has confessed to the offence.

This is the second instance that a Sri Lankan housemaid has been given the death sentence. PreviouslyRizana Nafeek was beheaded on 9th January 2013 for the alleged murder of a four-month old baby boy. Nafeek’s conviction was also based on a confession, which she later claimed was made under duress and without linguistic assistance. Following a case which dragged on for five years and despite appeals made by the government of Sri Lanka and international and local women’s and human rights organisations, the Saudi government went ahead with her execution in January 2013.

According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia is amongst the top three countries that implement the death penalty and the majority of those who are executed are foreign nationals convicted for non-lethal crimes such as adultery, apostasy, sorcery and witchcraft.

We appeal to THE RESPECTIVE AUTHORITIES TO take all possible measures to revoke the death sentence and ensure the migrant worker’s safe return to Sri Lanka. We EARNESTLY call on you to expeditiously bring to bear all possible means to ensure that the migrant worker is granted justice. We further call on you to ensure that Sri Lankan migrant workers are granted all possible support and protection to ensure their human rights.

Sincerely

Action Network for Migrant Workers (ACTFORM)
Centre for Policy Alternatives
Centre for Social Concerns, Jaela
Ceylon Workers Red Flag Union
Citizens Voice for Justice and Peace
Domestic Workers Union
Families of the Disappeared
Kantha Shakthi Forum
Lanka Estate Workers Union
United Federation of Labour
Lawyers Collective for democracy
Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
Red Flag Women’s Movement
Rights Now
Rural Women’s Front, Galle
Savisthri Women’s Movement for Justice
Sri Lanka Women’s NGO Forum (SLWNGOF)
Suriya Women’s Development Centre, Batticaloa
Trikone Cultural Centre
Woman’s Power
Women and Media Collective (WMC)
Women In Need
Women’s Resource Center, Kurunegala
Association for War Affected Women, Kandy
Christian Workers fellowship (CWF)Women Action Network, Jaffna
Future In Our Hands
The Grassrooted Trust
Coalition for Educational development
SAHODARATHWA SANSADAYA
Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA)
Centre for Peacebuilding and Reconciliation
Inter Relligious Federation of Ampara District (IRFAD)
Al Minan Women’s Society – Kalmunai
Fathima Women’s Society – Central Camp
Nisha Women’s Society Kalmunai
Ambikai Women’s Society – Central Camp
Malar Villy Society Central Camp
Sivasakthi Women’s Society Central Camp
Ina Ottrumaikana Pengal Abiviruthy Ondriyam Central Camp
Women’s Political Academy

Amal Mohamed
Amita Weerasinghe
Ameena Hussein
Anberiya Hanifa
Ann Jabbar
Ainslie Joseph
Annie Kurian
Anoma Alankara
Anoma Manoranjani
Aparna Gurusinghe
Aasha
A.H.H.Aqila
Asma Jabir
Arafa Jaleel Khan
Azra Abdul Cader
Balachandran Gowthaman
Balasingham Skanthakumar
Bhavani Fonseka
Bhoomi Harendran
Britto Fernando
Camena Gunaratne
Chandani K.A Malagammana
Chandralal Colombage
Cayathri. D
Caryll Tozer
Chandrika Gadiewasam
Christine Perera
Chulani Kodikara
D.R.Jayathilake
David Gunaratnam
Damaris Wickremesekera
Deeptha Bandara
Dhammika Karunaratne
Dharmasiri Bandaranayake
Dinushika Dissanayake
Elanda Delwala
Faizun Zackariya
Fahrun Muthalif
Farzana Jaleel Khan
Florine Marzook
G.W.Padmaseeli
Gamini Ruberu
Gamini Viyangoda
Gehan Gunatilleke
Geethika Rupasinghe
Gratian A. Peiris
H.M. Subharatne Menike
Harini Amarasuriya
Hans Billimoria
Hilmy Ahamed
Hishama Matheen
Hemalatha
H.Nuwaiza
Hyshyama Hamin
Iman Mohamed
Indra Swarnaseeli
Inshira Laffir
Irina Jabir
Jagath Siriwardena
Dr. Jameel,
Jezima Ismail
Jailabdeen Shiam
Prof. Jayantha Seneviratne
K.A.Jayasinghe Perera
J. Madanaruby
Kalani Subasinghe
Kumudini Samuel
K.Nishanthini
K.Wijeyluxmy
K. Vinoja
K.L.M.Azeez
Fr Kirubairajah
Kusum Siriwardena
Lesley Sirimane
Leila Udayar
Lallani Kalupahans
Linus Jayathilaka
Dr L Solomons
Dinoo Mumthahana J.
M. Indrawathi
Mahendran Thiruvarangan
Maithree Wickramasinghe
Marisa de Silva
Mahinda Jayawardena
Mala Dissanayake
Mary Heather White
Menaha Kandasamy
Menike Wannisooriya
Melisha Yapa
Mirak Raheem
Mohamed Nuhman
Mujeebur Rahman
M.M.Jenita
M.S.Thevagowry
Nayagara Jinadasa
Nadira Salih
Neil Priyantha Fernando

Nimalka Fernando
Noorul Zaniha Jainulabdeen
N. Zairina Ariff
Nishani Punchihewa
Nirmalani Perera
Nimnaz Jabir
Padma Pushpakanthi
Paba Deshapriya
Pavithra Sajeevani
Philip Setunga
Piyumi Tharaka
Priyadarshanie Ariyaratne
Prabha Gurusinghe
P.Selvaratnam
Preethika Weerawansa
Premapala Hewabatage
Prema Gamage
Paul Hogan
Ranga Bandaranayake
Rajee Clerk
Ralston Weinman
Ramzeen Azeez
Rani Jayasinghe
Ranjani Mallika
Ratna Sandaseeli
Rajany. C.
Rev. Jason J. Selvaraja, Assembly of God, Chavakachcheri
Rev. M. V. E. Ravichandran, Jaffna Diocesan Catholic Youth Federation
Riyani
Rikaza Laffir
Rohini Dep Weerasinghe
Rohini Hensman
Roshani Fernandopulle
Ruki Fernando
Rushdi Zackariya
Ruwendi Wakwella
R.Logitha
S. Ananthi
S.G.Nishanthini
Sathyavani
Sandya Salgado
Savithri Wijesekera
Sepali Kottegoda
Selvi Sachithanandam
Shafinaz Hassendeen
Shreen Saroor
Sampath Samarakoon
S.A.M.Jabir
S. R. H. Hoole
S.Unesh Kunalan
Sheila Richards
Shirani Rathnaweera
Shiromi Pathirana
Sithy Nabeesa Deen
Shyamala Gomez
Shyamala Sivagurunathan
Shamini
Shafnaaz Harees
Silma Mohideen Ahamed
Sriyani Pathirage
Sriyanie Wijesundara
Sudarshana Gunawardene
Sunil Ranasinghe
Sumi Kerison
Supipi Jayawardena
Smriti Daniel
Shiranee Dissanayake
S. Rubiya
Tanuja Thurairajah
T. Chandramohan
Thiagi Piyadasa
Thilaka Liyanage
Thissanthini
U.P.M Pathirana
U.L.Hafeela
U.L.Sameena
U.L.Hassen
Udeni Thewarapperuma
Yasmin Azeez
Vasuki Jeyasankar
Vasanthagowri
Visaka Dharmadasa
Viola Perera
Visaka Bandaranayake
W.A. Dayani
Wasantha Dissanayake
Zuhri Zackariya
Zulfika Ismail

Reposted from: Colombo Telegraph

CSBR Featured, News on Sexual & Bodily Rights, Resources & Tools

GISWATCH 2015: Sexual Rights and the Internet

GISWatch 2015 is out, with a focus on Sexual Rights & the Internet. This edition brings together 57 country reports on a wide array of sexual rights issues, including: GISWatch2015-SexualRights-Internet

– Restrictions for Sexual Rights Activists in Sudan

– Internet rights, culture, and religion in Ethiopia

– Stopping FGM in the Gambia

– Sexual harassment in cyberspace in Morocco and Yemen

– Censorship of sexual expression online in Turkey

– Third gender rights in Bangladesh

– Teenage sexual health education in Indonesia

and much, much, more. Read more details below and find the reports online at GISWatch.org.

* * *

12 November 2015

The Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) 2015 presents stories from around the world on how the politics of sex and sexual rights activism takes place online. Since 2007, the GISWatch provides a space for collaborative monitoring of implementation of governments commitments towards the creation of an inclusive information society.

The topics of the 57 country reports gathered in this year’s GISWatch are diverse, ranging from the challenges and possibilities that the internet offers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LBGTQ) communities, to female genital mutilation, the suppression of sexual rights such as same-sex marriage and the right to legal abortions, to the rights of sex workers, violence against women online, and sex education in schools. Each country report includes a list of action steps for future advocacy.

The eight thematic reports introduce the theme from different perspectives, including the global policy landscape for sexual rights and the internet, the privatisation of spaces for free expression and engagement, the need to create a feminist internet, how to think about children and their vulnerabilities online, and consent and pornography online.

The timing of this publication is critical: many across the globe are denied their sexual rights, some facing direct persecution for their sexuality (in several countries, homosexuality is a crime). While these reports seem to indicate that the internet does help in the expression and defence of sexual rights, they also show that in some contexts this potential is under threat – whether through the active use of the internet by conservative and reactionary groups, or through threats of harassment and violence. The reports suggest that a radical revisiting of policy, legislation and practice is needed in many contexts to ensure that the possibilities of the internet for guaranteeing sexual rights are realised all over the world.

Reposted from: GenderIT.org

IFJ Vol.4 No.1, March 2016

Fine Arts:

Scenic Arts:

Graphic Arts:

Photography:

Music:

Cinema:

We call for action for Justice for Kemal and for all trans people and sex workers in Turkey!

1. Please kindly send your letters of protest to the Presidency, Prime Ministry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Family and SocialPolicies.

2. Please kindly send letters to the politicians in your countries, requesting their support for Kemal Ördek, especially in their communication with their Turkish counterparts.

3. Inform your friends, colleagues or other contacts who work for the media in your countries in regard to Kemal Ördek’s case.

4. Please kindly inform your contacts at relevant international committees

5. Think of other ways to support Kemal

Short information on what happened:

Editorial

Opinion Piece

Testimony

Openings

Articles

Commentary

Resource