CSBR is a co-sponsor of the side event, “Using Faith and Tradition to support an inclusive understanding of Gender and Sexuality“, taking place on 8 July 2021, at the upcoming 47th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Register here, and see details below.
2021 Rights at Risk: Time for Action!
In collaboration with the members of the Observatory on the Universality of Rights, we are proud to launch the new 2021 Rights at Risk: Time for Action report! Each day anti-rights actors have more money and more power, but feminists are fighting back.Get the latest information on the people & organizations attacking our human rights, where they’re getting their money, and their latest strategies. Discover tools to debunk their arguments and take inspiration from feminist wins and resistance stories, all in the latest report. |
Download the Report |
Many of our human rights spaces and processes have already been undermined, but we still have a chance to stop this. Join us in calling for UN officials to take urgent action to counter ultraconservative mobilisation against human rights. We can no longer afford to wait! Sign and share the Call to Action |
CSBR Statement of Solidarity for Freedom of Assembly & Association, and the Rights of LGBTIQ+ Peoples in Turkey
Read the full statement below, and download the PDF to share here:
4 February 2021
The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) expresses our solidarity with the people of Turkey who are fighting to ensure that freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and the broader human rights of LGBTIQ+ peoples are respected. We are deeply alarmed by the repression of academic freedoms and escalating violence at Boğaziçi University in recent days. This includes the shutting down of the LGBTIQ+ Club on campus,[1] the arrests of hundreds of students and activists, targeting specifically LGBTIQ+ students and all LGBTIQ+ community, and the increasing militarization of campus through continued police presence.
Commitments to freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly and association are cornerstones of democratic societies, ensuring exchange of ideas, pluralism, and dialogue across the diversity of peoples of any given nation. Under a false pretext of shoring up “national security”, the AKP government has increasingly acted to silence public debate and critique across universities, beginning with mass evacuations, taking administrative or judicial action against professors voicing critical views, and the continued incarceration of academics, students and intellectuals over the last few years.[2]
This escalating violence in the sphere of higher education over the years, has also had a deeply chilling effect on freedom of expression, freedom of association, and human rights across wider social spheres in Turkey. The most recent events at Boğaziçi University, and the statements from those in power–including the government appointed University Rector, the Minister of Interior Affairs, and the President as well–are deeply disturbing, considering they attempt to justify the restrictions of academic freedoms, and the rights of LGBTIQ+ people specifically, in the name of Islamic values.[3]
In a public statement President Erdogan targeted LGBTIQ+’s for the protests and denied LGBTIQ+ existence in Turkey, saying that LGBTIQ+ existence is not in accordance with Turkish national and religious values. We as feminists and LGBTIQ+ people living in Muslim societies affirm and restate unequivocally that LGBTIQ+ peoples have always existed within Muslim societies and across the world, and will continue to exist. The manipulation of religious ideology to deny fundamental human rights, either by state or non-state actors, cannot ever be condoned.
The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies is deeply concerned for the security and safety of our friends and allies, who are organizing and living within a climate of fear and insecurity, with no protection or recourse from the judicial or legal systems in place.
We call upon the Turkish government to ensure the exercise of independent thought and freedom of expression and association in the country, in line with its human rights obligations and constitution.
We affirm sexual and bodily integrity, freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief are fundamental rights of all people, regardless of their gender, citizenship, class, age, mental and physical ability, religion, marital status, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, and sex characteristics. We stand in unequivocal support of LGBTIQ+ people in Turkey, and their fundamental rights to live with dignity and free from persecution and violence.
We amplify the call from the people of Turkey, for the international community to raise awareness, issue statements of solidarity, and spread the news of what is happening globally.
#LGBTİHaklarıİnsanHaklarıdır #AsagiBakmayacagiz #WeWillNotLookDown
Signed,
Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR)
_________________________________
Notes:
1. Melih Bulu shut off the Boğaziçi LGBTI+ Studies Club!
2. Middle East Studies Association
3. Slander, investigations, and hate campaigns against LGBTI+’s at Boğaziçi University
The Signs in Ourselves: Exploring Queer Muslim Courage

In February 2019, 22 queer (LGBTIQ+) Muslim activists from across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Timor Leste gathered together in Kathmandu, for the very first cross-regional convening that would explore lived experiences, organizing strategies, needs across contexts, and networking support for queer Muslim communities across Asia.
Through rich discussions and sharing, one of the key learnings over the five days was that in order to support the growth of a new generation of queer Muslim leaders that could advance holistic and affirming approaches to faith and sexuality, activists needed to start documenting queer Muslim stories that were grounded and rooted in local contexts.

Such stories would provide a much needed community resource, to allow queer Muslims to see themselves reflected, visible and vocal in public life and discourse–despite conservative and fundamentalist forces’ attempts at erasure. Such stories would reflect as well, the many ways queer Muslims have navigated and reconciled seeming contradictions in sacred texts, and in deeply-held belief systems amongst families, communities of all kinds, and national ideologies. Perhaps most striking, such stories would also serve as a living testimony and reference to the power, beauty and wisdom of LGBTIQ+ Muslims defining their own lived realities, and claiming themselves as the authority of their personal and public lives. In many ways, queer Muslim’s lived realities offer us a simple reminder that there is no need to go to the “experts”, the “religious leaders”, and “the authorities”, in order to ensure that queer Muslims are accepted, included, supported and that their universal human rights respected. Another starting point for strengthening queer Muslim courage, then, lies in creating resources and spaces for self-acceptance and affirmation, building and reclaiming access to spiritual knowledge as a community, and honouring the truth that all queers of faith are themselves, like everyone else, a reflection of Divine Love.
To that end, since the gathering in Nepal, CSBR has supported a plethora of knowledge building and storytelling projects by and for queer Muslim activists across Asia, while also strengthening and building a community of allies to amplify the calls for solidarity and support.
On the occasion of international human rights day 2020, we are proud to launch our newest publication, “The Signs in Ourselves: Exploring Queer Muslim Courage“, which documents in depth lived experiences of 12 queer Muslims from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, while also sharing snapshots of experiences from queer Muslims across the world.

Intended as a well-being resource and accessible workbook, the publication also includes questions for personal reflection and exercises for collective discussions, inviting readers use this publication to explore their own stories with community, in workshops, and other spaces of organizing and activism. Additionally, the publication shares references to scholarly frameworks that articulate the expansiveness and inclusivity of sacred texts and Islamic values, that require respect for all human beings, however diverse in their sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics.
In the words of the author, Liy Yusof, The Signs in Ourselves is “a love letter to God, to all the queer Muslims who changed my life in years of navigating human rights spaces, and to the ones I haven’t met but know are out there”. While created as a resource primarily for queers of faith, this is also a text that will benefit allies and those seeking to expand their knowledge and awareness of queer Muslims’ struggles and experiences.
Download your copy here: https://bit.ly/SignsInOurselves
We encourage you to share the text through the link above, to use it in workshops, and to let it inform your ideas and practices around community-building, allyship and solidarity. We hope you ask critical questions, and let yourself be challenged by what you read. We also encourage you to share your questions and ideas with us.
Email: coordinator@csbronline.org with any feedback you may have.
Together We Must Protect and Support WHRDs in Middle East and North Africa: Urgent Call to Action
To mark international Human Rights Day, and the close of the 16 Days Of Activism 2020, we share this urgent call to action, for the protection and support of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in the Middle East and North Africa.
Read the statement below, and download the statement in English here, and in Arabic here. To learn more about about WHRDs under threat across the region in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, watch the #SupportWHRDs playlist here.
Together We Must Protect and Support WHRDs in Middle East and North Africa
URGENT CALL TO ACTION
Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) are crucial actors in the struggle to ensure human rights are enjoyed by all, moving their societies toward more inclusive and equal ones. In the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, where most countries lag behind in gender equality, WHRDs play an even more critical role, but also face greater challenges. Over the last few years we have witnessed a rise in violence against WHRDs in the MENA region. 2020 was an especially violent year, where in some instances, WHRDs received death threats and tragically, in several cases, such as in Iraq and Libya, WHRDs were killed.
The spike in violence[1] directed at WHRDs in MENA, and the increasing criminalization of rights advocacy, are appalling and unacceptable. WHRDs in the region are the target of government-sponsored smear campaigns, regularly threatened, arrested, in some cases abducted and forcibly disappeared, subjected to torture and other ill treatment in detention, face serious violation of their due process rights, and some are facing lengthy pretrial detention[2] and prison sentences[3]. They are experiencing the violations of their rights, simply because they dared to hold their governments accountable and advocate so that the most vulnerable and marginalized groups can enjoy equality, inclusion and justice.
WHRDs in conflict zones such as Libya, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, are at risk of persecution and attacks by non-State actors for exposing crimes and abuses committed by warring militias and armed groups. Kurdish WHRDs in Turkey are subject to arbitrary detention and prosecution on terrorism charges. Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia too stand out because of their consistent persecution and targeting of WHRDs. Also, WHRDs in Western Sahara are subject to threats and targeting from Moroccan authorities in addition to judicial harassment.
Governments are carrying out these attacks in violation of their international obligations, but in some contexts the attacks against rights defenders are also in direct violation of national laws that guarantee due process. In a thinly veiled attempt to give legitimacy to their actions, some States[4] are using existing laws to persecute rights defenders while others have adopted laws that specifically criminalize human rights advocacy. Some States, have creatively resorted to labeling rights advocacy as actions undermining national security or even worse support for terrorism.
However, the backlash of States against WHRDs, has done little to ensure their security in a region where we are witness to increasingly deafening public outcries and demands for social justice, including
in the form of mass protests in which citizens are objecting to decades of repressive policies, insecurity, mismanagement and political and economic corruption. The systematic attack on human rights defenders and the criminalization of rights advocacy follow years of repressive policies in the MENA region targeting civil society and civic space, including through restrictions on and closure of NGOs and the press and through attacks on academic freedoms.
The closure of civic space and increased rights violations are taking place in a context of emboldened fascisms, fundamentalisms, nationalisms, and authoritarianisms globally. Part of this picture is the pushback on the international human rights mechanisms and guarantees, as well as bodies charged with holding States accountable on rights violations. For years now, State and non-State actors have advocated an anti-rights agenda, aimed at weakening rights language and guarantees, as well as dismantling and defunding UN human rights systems. These anti-rights actors have worked steadfastly to weaken the ability of human rights systems and in particular the UN special procedures processes, to demand State accountability on violation of human rights. In the context of the MENA region, we see State and non-State anti-rights actors engaging in international human rights spaces using tactics of infiltration, surveillance, co-optation of rights language, and reprisals against WHRDs, all intended to consolidate national efforts to shut down civic space, and in addition, create a parallel human rights framework that denies rights and undermines State accountability.
Alarmingly, the deterioration of rights in MENA has happened with little condemnation from the international community, with many governments choosing to prioritize other policy objectives, such as security of their corporate, economic or military interests in the region and profits from arms sales. Some have turned a blind eye to rights violations in the hopes that they can stop the flow of migration to Europe by refugees who are fleeing the very failed regional policies that have contributed to war, instability, economic crisis and repression. More egregious has been the embrace of authoritarian policies and regimes in the region, by the US, UK and some European States.
Recommendations:
- We strongly urge governments in the MENA region to heed the call of their public and adopt socially just policies, centered on human rights. State security rests first and foremost on the ability and willingness of States to meet the needs of citizens. In doing so, States can and should rely on and be accountable to WHRDs and their organizations, who are well positioned to reflect the concerns and demands of communities.
- We remind MENA States too of their obligation to guarantee and protect the rights of women to participate in civic life, including their freedom of association, expression and assembly, contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as asserted in various international treaties, foremost among them the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and regional treaties including the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol). These rights, among others, are reiterated in the Declaration on the Rights and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, also known as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 March 1999. The Declaration applies to everyone acting to promote and protect human rights as long as they accept and apply the principles of universality of rights and non-violence. Further, the Declaration on Women Human Rights Defenders, obliges States to recognize the risks, discrimination and violence women human rights defenders face, and put into place concrete gender-sensitive policies and programs for their protection.
- We call on governments around the world to rethink their policies and approach to the region. Policies toward the MENA region need to prioritize human security and be centered on human rights principles that promote and uphold social justice.
- All UN Member States, given their human rights commitments, need to uphold and strengthen the roles of UN rights mechanisms, including ensuring sufficient funding for UN Special Procedures, to carry out critical work.
- We urge donors to prioritize and fund the work of WHRDs, establish and support mechanisms that help to ensure the safety of those under the greatest threats, including facilitation of visa requests for quick evacuation in cases where lives are threatened. We further encourage donors to support psychosocial wellness programs as well as integrated security and self-care training in an effort to help WHRDs who are suffering as a result of pressures at multiple levels.
[1] This includes a rise in assassination threats and killing of WHRDs in Iraq, Libya, increased detentions in Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arbia and Turkey and increased administrative detentions in Palestine as well as violent defamation and smearing campaigns in Morocco, Lebanon and Yemen.
[2] See for example: https://www.ishr.ch/news/hrc44-egypt-release-solafa-magdy-esraa-abdelfattah-sanaa-seif-and-all-defenders-now
[3] See for example: https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/02/19/iran-environmentalists-unjust-sentences-upheld
[4] Some examples of countries that have used existing laws or have adopted new laws to restrict civic engagement and target or persecute rights defenders include: Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Turkey. Additionally, mass protests in countries such as Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq and Sudan, were used as a pretext for judicial harassment and targeting of rights defenders.
Inclusive Bangladesh joins CSBR!
“At Inclusive Bangladesh, we envision to create an inclusive Bangladeshi society where every citizen will be a resource for safe-guarding each-other’s human rights and peaceful living. Our work and effort circulate in promoting gender equality, religious literacy, global citizenship, diversity and equality.”

Inclusive Bangladesh joined CSBR in October 2020. Inclusive Bangladesh is a non-registered, local non-profit and volunteer-based community youth organization from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 2013, Inclusive Bangladesh is now working with diverse local and international organizations, multilateral and multi-layered development partners and active youth change makers. Its mission is to construct an inclusive culture through ensuring quality education, addressing hate speech and violent extremism, promoting interfaith dialogue and gender diversity with the active participation of youths across Bangladesh.
As part of CSBR’s One Day One Struggle campaign in 2020, Inclusive Bangladesh organized a month-long campaign to raise awareness on the rights of intersex people in Bangladesh. Check out their zine, which captures experiences and struggles through visual arts and literary pieces: https://bit.ly/IntersexZineBangla

#SupportWHRDs for #16Days 2020
Government crackdown against women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has consistently intensified during 2020. Governments have systematically restricted civic space & shut down organizations, and they’re increasingly targeting the few remaining activists with terrorism & security charges. As such, WHRDs have systematically faced government harassment, smear campaigns, detention, arrest, lengthy prison sentences, torture and even assassinations.
For the 16 Days of Activism to violence against women, CSBR joins FEMENA, WHRD-MENA Coalition, DAWN-Mena, AWID, Human Rights Watch, and the International Service for Human Rights, to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the situation of women human rights defenders across Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Follow us along on social media and help amplify our call. Together we can #SupportWHRDs!
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!

Open letter to WHO: Including LGBTIQ Communities in World Health Organization’s Covid-19 Response
“Rest assured that we have heard your important message, and as we update our guidance and approach to COVID-19, we will ensure that the specific challenges of LGBTQI communities will be recognized and addressed“. – Dr. Ghebreyesus
On 24 September 2020, twenty networks and organizations across Asia–including APCOM, Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR), ILGA Asia, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, Youth Voices Count, Intersex Asia, and International Women’s Rights Action Watch–wrote a letter to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), to advocate for inclusion of LGBTIQ communities in global responses to COVID-19.

On 8 October 2020, Dr. Ghebreyesus responded, affiriming that:
“WHO is committed to strengthening collaboration with the broad spectrum of civil society and community organizations, including those representing LGBTQI populations….We need to ensure all voices on how to best respond to the pandemic and deliver needed services are heard…Rest assured that we have heard your important message, and as we update our guidance and approach to COVID-19, we will ensure that the specific challenges of LGBTQI communities will be recognized and addressed“.
Read the original open letter and download the PDF here:
Read the response from Dr. Ghebreyesus here:
24 August 2020
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director General
World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 201202 Geneva, Switzerland
Re: An Open Letter to World Health Organization to integrate effects of COVID-19 on the LGBTQI communities and for SOGIESC Inclusive strategies and response to COVID-19
Dear Dr. Ghebreyesus,
We, the undersigned, represent civil society organizations working to advance the rights of LGBTQI communities in Asia and the Pacific. And we write to urge you to include aspects of sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) into your polices, programs and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has highlighted, and in many instances exacerbated the discrimination and lack of legal protections faced by LGBTQI people, communities and their families.
While the COVID-19 pandemic affects the general population, it disproportionately affects vulnerable sectors, including LGBTQI communities, due to SOGIESC-related stigma and discrimination.
In a joint statement issued by human rights experts on May 14, 2020, this disproportionate effect was highlighted as: “In all latitudes, LGBT persons are disproportionately represented in the ranks of the poor, people experiencing homelessness, and those without healthcare, meaning that they may be particularly affected as a result of the pandemic[..]” The statement also highlighted how COVID-19 and the responses to address it have contributed to existing inequalities and discrimination. In relation to the LGBTQI communities, the statement outlined that criminal laws add to the vulnerability of LGBTQI because of police abuse and arbitrary arrest and detention in relation to the restriction of movements. Also, LGBTQI people who are required to stay at home experience prolonged exposure to unaccepting family members, and this exacerbates rates of domestic violence and physical and emotional abuse. Without a doubt, this affects their physical and mental health.[1]
The UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights also outlined the effects of COVID-19 to LGBTQI people and communities in its guidance document on COVID-19 and the human rights of LGBTQI people. The document highlighted that the existing stigma and discrimination based on SOGIESC while seeking health services, laws which criminalize same-sex relationships and those which target transgender and gender diverse persons due to their gender identities and expression “can elevate the risk for LGBTI people from COVID-19.” The same document also highlighted the possibility of interruption and de-prioritization of health services in the context of overload on healthcare systems as a result of COVID-19.[2]
These scenarios, together with present and possible effects of COVID-19 on LGBTQI people and communities, have been identified in various surveys conducted by organizations working on LGBTQI rights and health issues. For example, a survey conducted by APCOM[3], a regional organization based in Bangkok representing and working with a network of individuals and community-based organizations across Asia-Pacific, indicated that organizations and communities were concerned about the effects of COVID-19 on the delivery of health services, including HIV-related services. Access of LGBTQI people to mental health services, for those who need them, has been affected by the pandemic. These issues are in addition to the stigma and discrimination experienced by service users during normal times.
The effect of COVID-19 to the livelihood of LGBTQI people has also been identified in an OutRight Action International paper, which stated that LGBTIQ people are predominantly engaged in the informal sector, reliant on daily wages and without the safety nets of protections in many countries, they are especially susceptible to the effects of economic slowdowns and limitations on movement.[4]
There are also narratives where LGBTQI couples and families are not able to access programs and responses which aim to alleviate the effects of the pandemic as these programs and responses are designed with heteronormative assumptions about what constitutes families. A survey conducted by Marriage For All Japan [5] suggested fear of same sex-couples about not being able to participate in making medical decisions in cases related to COVID-19 due to the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships. This illustrates worries among LGBTQI couples where they will be denied the ability to care for and make decisions for each other in times of emergencies. Trans and gender diverse people can also experience exclusion in state-sponsored health programs due to requirements of legal identification documents.[6]
We are also cognizant that LGBTQI communities and organizations bring with them a wealth of knowledge about their situations and experiences which can be instrumental in crafting inclusive responses to the pandemic.
It is in this context, we, the undersigned individual activists; organizations; and networks working on LGBTQI and health issues, ask the World Health Organization to:
• Ensure that the challenges being faced by LGBTQI, MSM and people and communities of diverse SOGIESC during the COVID-19 pandemic will be given due attention, and policies, programs, and responses are inclusive and do not add to the exclusion and discrimination experienced by LGBTQI people, communities and families.
• Integrate a SOGIESC-inclusive approach in their COVID-19 related guidance documents, situation reports, briefs, strategies and response.
• Work closely with LGBTQI organizations and communities towards a more inclusive responses to the pandemic.
Integrating a SOGIESC framework will contribute to our collective goal of addressing impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations and take us closer towards the goal of “leaving no one behind” as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Sincerely,
Name | Position | Organization | Territory |
Midnight Poonkasetwattana | Executive Director | APCOM | Asia Pacific |
Ryan Silverio | Regional Coordinator | ASEAN SOGIE Caucus | Southeast Asia |
Joe Wong | Executive Director | Asia Pacific Transgender Network | Asia and the Pacific |
Shale Ahmed | Executive Director | Bandhu Social Welfare Society | Bangladesh |
Suben Dhakal (Manisha) | Executive Director | Blue Diamond Society | Nepal |
Esan Regmi | Executive Director | Campaign for Change | Nepal |
Rima Athar | Coordinator | Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies | Asia and North Africa |
Lieu Anh Vu | Executive Director | ILGA Asia | Asia |
Ishita Dutta | Program Manager | International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
Prashant Singh | Coordinator | Intersex Asia | Asia |
Gopi Shankar Madurai | Coordinator | Intersex India ForumSrishti Madurai LGBTQIA Student Volunteer Movement | India |
Jeff Cagandahan | Officer in Charge | Intersex Philippines | Philippines |
Hiker Chiu | Founder | OII Chinese | Taiwan |
Isabelita B. Solamo | Executive Director | PILIPINA Legal Resources Center | Philippines |
Jerome Yau | Chief Executive | Pink Alliance | Hong Kong |
Evelynne Gomez | Program Officer | The Asia Pacific Resource & Research Center for Women (ARROW) | Asia Pacific |
Rafiul Alom Rahman | Founder | The Queer Muslim Project | India |
Tahir Khilji | Board Member | VISION | Pakistan |
Naila Awwad | General Director | Women Against Violence | Palestine |
Justin Francis Bionat | Executive Director | Youth Voices Count, Inc. | Asia Pacific |
[1] COVID-19: The suffering and resilience of LGBT persons must be visible and inform the actions of States. Statement by human rights experts on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Accessed from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25884&LangID=E
[2] COVID-19 and the human rights of LGBTI people. UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. Accessed from https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/LGBT/LGBTIpeople.pdf
[3] The COVID-19 Effects Series, APCOM. Accessed from https://www.apcom.org/the-covid-19-effect-series-part-1/
[4] Vulnerability Amplified: The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on LGBTIQ Persons. OutRight International. Accessed from https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/COVIDsReportDesign_FINAL_LR_0.pdf
[5] ‘I want them to be treated as the same family: The difficulty that LGBT faces with the new Corona. Accessed from https://www.buzzfeed.com/jp/saoriibuki/marriage-for-all-corona
[6] Recognize the need of trans and gender diverse communities during Covid-19 pandemic. Asia Pacific Transgender Network. Accessed from https://www.weareaptn.org/2020/03/31/see-us-support-us-recognise-the-needs-of-trans-and-gender-diverse-communities-during-covid-19-pandemic
Istanbul Convention Is Ours!
In solidarity with the women’s movement in Turkey, and feminist efforts all over to prevent, address and end violence against women and girls.
Watch this animated video from Women for Women’s Human Rights — New Ways to learn more on how the Istanbul Convention saves lives!
Resource: Hadith & Queer and Trans Identities
In 2019, Meem Muslim Initiative and Bedaaya collaborated on a project on Islam and queer identities. We share some of the fact sheets and resources they produced below in Arabic and English, which explore the common Hadith and Islamic textual references used against LGBTIQ people.
HADITH and QUEER IDENTITIES
Arabic:
English:
Trans Identity
Arabic:
English:
Click on the images above to access the full briefs as PDFs. For more information and resources, get in touch with Bedaaya or Meem Muslim.
CSBR Rights & Resilience Seed Grants: Apply now!


The CSBR Rights and Resilience seed grants aim to support small scale projects that experiment with alternative ways to organize and advance rights amidst the impacts of COVID-19. We are inviting proposals for projects to be carried out between 1 July – 15 December 2020. Apply using the forms below, by 8 June 2020.
Why this Mechanism?
As a community-led international solidarity network, we wanted to explore how we could co-create a peer-to-peer resourcing mechanism at this moment of unprecedented collective crisis. As CSBR, we could no longer hold our in-person convenings for the year. Yet recognizing the privilege of having these funds, we opted to re-route and focus on providing small pipelines of resources that could support a wider circle of activists to stay connected across contexts, even as national borders close. Through developing a peer-to-peer mechanism, we also want to explore best practices in resource distribution within movements.
We recognized the need to create space to reflect on what these global shifts mean for our movements, not only during the current pandemic, but also once it has been contained. How can we collectively pause, re-route, exchange experiences, and respond in ways that allow us to maintain and even expand the precious space for our organizing? How can we ensure that our actions now continue to strengthen and center collective care within our organizing?
As we engage with the limits of in-person organizing now, what can we learn from each other’s creativity about how to shift certain practices to create more accessible and inclusive methods to organize and mobilize communities? The CSBR Rights & Resilience Program is therefore not intended simply as a means to distribute funds, but rather a mechanism to strengthen collective capacity, solidarity and movement building support, by and for community. Through the mechanism, we will also have a series of Linking & Learning Events for recipients to come together in virtual forums. These events will support us to learn from each others’ work, build relationships and collectively share in the monitoring, evaluation and learnings (MELs) for the program.
Strategic Focus:
Project proposals must demonstrate how they meet the following criteria:
- Address & challenge the root causes of religious fundamentalisms, and their intersections with rights restrictions for LGBTIQ peoples
- Strengthen community-led organizing
- Maintain & expand civic space across Muslim societies, including continuing existing programs and campaigns through new methods that can function during movement restriction.
- Strengthen & amplify progressive expression and discourses. This includes advancing affirming approaches to freedom of religion or belief, premised on gender equality and respect for SOGIESC diversity.
- Support innovative/holistic approaches to advancing rights and resilience, including an attention to community and collective care.
Who can Apply?
We accept proposals from both registered and unregistered groups, with an annual operating budget below 50,000 EUR, who meet the following criteria:
- Collectives or organizations led by queer (LGBTIQ) Muslims, based in one of the priority or focal countries
- Queer-led groups, based in one of the priority or focal countries. Priority will be given to LBQ women, trans and intersex led groups.
- Feminist, women’s rights and girl’s rights groups inclusive of LGBTIQ peoples, based in one of the priority or focal countries
What kinds of grants can we apply for?
We are inviting project proposals for either Organizational Grants, or Regional/Collaborative Grants, to be carried out between 1 July – 15 December 2020. Grants can be for a total amount of either 2500 EUR, 6000 EUR, or 10,000 EUR. We are able to provide project funding that will cover the essential costs of designing, implementing and evaluating the small projects. This includes costs as needed for human resources and technology.
Organizational Grants. These proposals can be submitted by organizations or collectives working in one of the priority countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, and Yemen.
Regional/Collaborative Grants: These proposals should demonstrate how they can inform regional strategies, and can be submitted as a partnership with CSBR. They can be submitted by organizations, collectives or networks working in one of the priority countries (above), and/or the focal countries: Algeria, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Turkey.
What Kinds of Activities Can We Propose?
Below are examples of activities that could be supported under these grants, which align with the strategic criteria and are based on needs we’ve heard from our peers and programs that are already being developed by network members and allies. These are not intended to limit your proposals, but simply examples of work that we know are needed. Activities could fall under the following broad categories: Knowledge Production; Virtual Networking & Workshops; Strengthening Campaigning & Advocacy; Mutual Aid & Community Care.
Knowledge Production. Activities could include:
- Research & Analysis on how fundamentalist forces are converging across our contexts. For example, what is the link between religious and economic fundamentalisms, and the impacts of this on government policies to address COVID-19?
- Research and analysis on how conservative religious forces are undermining community efforts to uphold rights and stop violations (including rising domestic violence, hate crimes, spread of COVID, limited access to essential health services including SRHR)?
- Publications that challenge traditional assumptions and prejudices against marginalized concepts of gender and sexuality in Muslim societies
- Documentation of rights-based initiatives that support/advance affirmative and inclusive approaches to faith, sexuality and human rights.
Virtual Networking & Workshops
- Engaging communities through virtual platforms to come together & stay connected around particular themes. These could be for example, online festivals, online forums for experience exchanges, a lectures series, online workshops–which address the strategic criteria.
- Experimenting with transferring participatory methodologies from in-person to the virtual sphere. How can we hold what used to be a 5-day in person training, online? Is it possible to create workshops online that still support people to engage in self-reflexive activities, hold space for intimacy, and build relationships?
- Engaging holistic practitioners to offer a series of virtual psycho-social and body-based support sessions to marginalized communities
- Creating and producing a 10-episode thematic podcast
Strengthening Campaigning and Advocacy on laws and policies
- Organizing virtual workshop series on how to engage with UN mechanisms and high level political processes, even amidst COVID-19 related restrictions
- Documentation, webinars and social campaigning advocating against the stigmatization of patients and increased risks for marginalized communities due to COVID-19, including LGBTIQ peoples, sex workers, street youth, people living with disabilities, people living with HIV, migrants, etc.
- Creating common platforms for women, girls and LGBTI defenders to learn from each others’ successful campaigns to ensure governments provide essential services, safeguard human rights & ensure environmental protections during COVID-19 and beyond.
- Writing a series of op-eds and articles to be published in the mainstream media on a particular campaign issues
- Arts-based campaigning through online mediums
Mutual Aid and Community Care
- Developing Resource Guides to support communities in building mutual aid circles. E.g. how can we build community responses that lessen the trend towards surveillance and policing in response to COVID-19 and beyond?
- Designing community support systems to break isolation, address mental health challenges, keep people socially connected, and accessing essential needs (food, medicines, health services)
- Operating hotlines for information and resource support, to address GBV, CSE, SRHR and access to other essential health services
- Outreach to communities you’ve not previously reached, in order to strengthen cross-movement organizing. For e.g. building networks and engaging with professionals from a variety of sectors (e.g. social workers, lawyers, teachers, doctors, etc.), who can bring the learnings, experiences and information back to a wider audience
Timeline for Submissions & Review:
Please submit your project proposals by 8 June 2020, by filling out the Proposal Form below, and email the completed form to: coordinator@csbronline.org.
If you have any security concerns about submitting the proposal form over email, please get in touch with us so we can discuss alternate ways to receive your proposal.
Review by CSBR’s Selection Committee will be completed by 26 June 2020. Expected start dates should therefore not be before 1 July 2020.
We expect grants to be distributed by the end of July 2020.
Download the Proposal Form – English
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Languages for Submission
We are accepting proposals in English, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, and Turkish.
Read the call in Bahasa Indonesia, and download the Bahasa Indonesia Proposal Form
Read the call in Arabic, and download the Arabic Proposal Form
Read the call in Turkish, and download the Turkish Proposal Form
Call for a Feminist COVID-19 Policy: Statement of Feminists and Women’s Rights Organizations from the Global South and marginalized communities in the Global North
CSBR joined the Feminist Alliance for Rights, and organizations the world over to endorse the call for a Feminist COVID-19 Policy, which was delivered to UN Member States. Read the full statement below.
Key Focus Areas for a Feminist Policy on COVID-19
Food security. In countries that depend on food imports, there are fears of closing borders and markets and the inability to access food. This concern is exacerbated for people experiencing poverty and in rural communities, especially women, who do not have easy access to city centers and major grocery stores and markets. This leads to people with the means purchasing large quantities of goods which limits availability for those with lower incomes who are not able to do the same and are likely to face shortages when they attempt to replenish their food supplies. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Increase — or introduce — food stamps and subsidies, both in quantity for those already receiving them and in expansion of access to include those who become more vulnerable due to current circumstances
- Direct businesses to ration nonperishable food supply to control inventory and increase access for those who, due to their income levels, must purchase over a longer period of time
- Send food supply to rural communities to be stored and distributed as needed to eliminate the delay in accessing supply in city centers and safeguard against shortages due to delays in shipping
- Send food supply to people unable to leave their homes (e.g. disabled people living alone or in remote areas)
Healthcare. All countries expect a massive strain on their public health systems due to the spread of the virus, and this can lead to decreased maternal health and increased infant mortality rates. There is often lack of access to healthcare services and medical supplies in rural communities. The elderly, people with disabilities, and people with compromised or suppressed immune systems are at high risk, and may not have live-in support systems. The change in routine and spread of the virus can create or exacerbate mental health issues. This crisis has a disproportionate impact on women who form, according to the World Health Organization’s March 2019 Gender equity in the health workforce working paper, 70% of workers in the health and social sector, according to the World Health Organization. It also disproportionately affects those who provide care for others.
In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Ensure the availability of sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis, including differentiated infection and mortality rates.
- Increase availability and delivery of healthcare services and responders, medical supplies, and medications
- Ensure women’s timely access to necessary sexual and reproductive health services during the crisis, such as emergency contraception and safe abortion
- Maintain an adequate stock of menstrual hygiene products at healthcare and community facilities
- Train medical staff and frontline social workers to recognize signs of domestic violence and provide appropriate resources and services
- Develop a database of high-risk people who live alone and establish a system and a network to maintain regular contact with and deliver supplies to them
- Provide for the continued provision of health care services based on non-biased medical research and tests — unrelated to the virus — for women and girls
- Implement systems to effectively meet mental health needs including accessible (e.g. sign language, captions) telephone/videocall hotlines, virtual support groups, emergency services, and delivery of medication
- Support rehabilitation centers to remain open for people with disabilities and chronic illness
- Direct all healthcare institutions to provide adequate health care services to people regardless of health insurance status, immigration status and affirm the rights of migrant people and stateless people — with regular and irregular migration status — and unhoused people to seek medical attention to be free from discrimination, detention, and deportation
- Ensure health service providers and all frontline staff receive adequate training and have access to equipment to protect their own health and offer mental health support
- Assess and meet the specific needs of women health service providers
Education. The closure of schools is necessary for the protection of children, families, and communities and will help to flatten the curve so that the peak infection rate stays manageable. It, however, presents a major disruption in education and the routine to which children are accustomed. In many cases, children who depend on the school lunch program will face food insecurity. They also become more vulnerable to violence in their homes and communities which can go undetected due to no contact. School closures also have a disproportionate burden on women who traditionally undertake a role as caregivers. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Direct educational institutions to prepare review and assignment packages for children to keep them academically engaged and prevent setbacks and provide guidance for parents on the use of the material
- Create educational radio programming appropriate for school-age children
- Subsidize childcare for families unable to make alternate arrangements for their children
- Expand free internet access to increase access to online educational platforms and material and enable children to participate in virtual and disability-accessible classroom sessions where available
- Provide laptops for children who need them in order to participate in on-line education
- Adopt measures to ensure they continue receiving food by making sure it can be delivered or collected
- Provide extra financial and mental health support for families caring for children with disabilities
Social inequality. These exist between men and women, citizens and migrants, people with regular and irregular migration status, people with and without disabilities, neurotypical and neuroatypical people, and other perceived dichotomies or non-binary differences as well as racial, ethnic, and religious groups. Existing vulnerabilities are further complicated by loss of income, increased stress, and unequal domestic responsibilities. Women and girls will likely have increased burdens of caregiving which will compete with (and possibly replace) their paid work or education. Vulnerable communities are put at further risk when laws are enacted, or other measures are introduced, that restrict their movement and assembly, particularly when they have less access to information or ability to process it. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Encourage the equitable sharing of domestic tasks in explicit terms and through allowances for time off and compensation for all workers
- Provide increased access to sanitation and emergency shelter spaces for homeless people.
- Implement protocol and train authorities on recognizing and engaging vulnerable populations, particularly where new laws are being enforced
- Consult with civil society organizations the process of implementing legislation and policy
- Ensure equal access to information, public health education and resources in multiple languages, including sign and indigenous peoples languages, accessible formats, and easy-to-read and plain languages
Water and sanitation. Everyone does not have access to clean running water. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Ensure infrastructure is in place for clean, potable water to be piped into homes and delivered to underserved areas
- Cease all disconnections and waive all reconnection fees to provide everyone with clean, potable water
- Bring immediate remedy to issues of unclean water
- Build public handwashing stations in communities
Economic inequality. People are experiencing unemployment, underemployment, and loss of income due to the temporary closure of businesses, reduced hours, and limited sick leave, vacation, personal time off and stigmatization. This negatively impacts their ability to meet financial obligations, generates bigger debts, and makes it difficult for them to acquire necessary supplies. Due to closures and the need for social distancing, there is also lack of care options and ability to pay for care for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. This produces a labor shift from the paid or gig economy to unpaid economy as family care providers. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Implement moratoriums on evictions due to rental and mortgage arrears and deferrals of rental and mortgage payments for those affected, directly or indirectly, by the virus and for people belonging to vulnerable groups
- Provide Universal Basic Income for those with lost income
- Provide financial support to unhoused people, refugees, and women’s shelters
- Provide additional financial aid to elderly people and people with disabilities
- Expedite the distribution of benefits
- Modify sick leave, parental and care leave, and personal time off policies
- Direct businesses to invite employees to work remotely on the same financial conditions as agreed prior to pandemic
- Distribute packages with necessities including soap, disinfectants, and hand sanitizer
Violence against women, domestic violence/Intimate partner violence (DV/IPV). Rates and severity of domestic violence/intimate partner violence against women, including sexual and reproductive violence, will likely surge as tension rises. Mobility restrictions (social distance, self-isolation, extreme lockdown, or quarantine) will also increase survivors’ vulnerability to abuse and need for protection services. (See Economic inequality.) Escape will be more difficult as the abusive partner will be at home all the time. Children face particular protection risks, including increased risks of abuse and/or being separated from their caregivers. Accessibility of protection services will decline if extreme lockdown is imposed as public resources are diverted. Women and girls fleeing violence and persecution will not be able to leave their countries of origin or enter asylum countries because of the closure of borders and travel restrictions.
In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Establish separate units within police departments and telephone hotlines to report domestic violence
- Increase resourcing for nongovernmental organizations that respond to domestic violence and provide assistance — including shelter, counselling, and legal aid — to survivors, and promote those that remain open are available
- Disseminate information about gender-based violence and publicize resources and services available
- Direct designated public services, including shelters, to remain open and accessible
- Ensure protection services implement programs that have emergency plans that include protocols to ensure safety for residents and clients
- Develop protocol for the care of women who may not be admitted due to exposure to the virus which includes safe quarantine and access to testing
- Make provisions for domestic violence survivors to attend court proceedings via accessible teleconference
- Direct police departments to respond to all domestic violence reports and connect survivors with appropriate resources
- Ensure women and girls and other people in vulnerable positions are not rejected at the border, have access to the territory and to asylum legal procedures. If needed, they will be given access to testing
Access to information. There is unequal access to reliable information, especially for those structurally discriminated against and belonging to marginalized communities. People will need to receive regular updates from national health authorities for the duration of this crisis. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Launch public campaigns to prevent and contain the spread of the virus
- Consult and work with civil society in all initiatives to provide information to the public
- Make information available to the public in plain language and accessible means, modes and formats, including internet, radio and text messages
- Ensure people with disabilities have access to information through sign language, closed captions, and other appropriate means
- Increase subsidies to nongovernmental organizations that will ensure messages translated and delivered through appropriate means to those who speak different languages or have specific needs
- Build and deploy a task force to share information and resources with vulnerable people with specific focus on unhoused, people with disabilities, migrant, refugees, and neuroatypical people
Abuse of power. People in prisons, administrative migration centers, refugee camps, and people with disabilities in institutions and psychiatric facilities are at higher risk of contagion due to the confinement conditions. They can also become more vulnerable to abuse or neglect as a result of limited external oversight and restriction of visits. It is not uncommon for authorities to become overzealous in their practices related to enforcement of the law and introduction of new laws. During this crisis, vulnerable people, especially dissidents, are at a higher risk of having negative, potentially dangerous interactions with authorities. In response to this challenge, we call on governments to:
- Adopt human rights-oriented protocols to reduce spreading of the virus in detention and confinement facilities
- Strengthen external oversight and facilitate safe contact with relatives i.e. free telephone calls
- Encourage law enforcement officers to focus on increasing safety rather than arrests
- Train law enforcement officers, care workers, and social workers to recognize vulnerabilities and make necessary adjustments in their approach and engagement
- Support civil society organizations and country Ombudsmen/Human Rights Defenders in monitoring the developments within those institutions on a regular basis
- Consult any changes in existing laws with civil rights societies and Ombudsmen/Human Rights Defenders
- Commit to discontinuing emergency laws and powers once pandemic subsides and restore the check and balances mechanism
Sign onto the statement here either as an individual or representative of an organization: tiny.cc/endorsenow
Women’s Rights Caucus Issues Feminist Declaration Marking 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
CSBR joined over 200 organizations globally in adopting the Feminist Declaration on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Read the Feminist Declaration here.
New York, March 9, 2020
Twenty five years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the foundational global document on gender equality, governments at an abbreviated session of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) have reaffirmed a commitment to gender equality but, according to leading feminist groups and activists, fell short of committing to the transformative steps necessary to achieve this vision.
To address the gaps in the political declaration adopted at the CSW by governments, the Women’s Rights Caucus—a global coalition of more than 200 feminist organizations, networks and collectives that advocates for gender equality at the United Nations—has published an alternative, feminist declaration. The Feminist Declaration outlines a bold and urgent agenda for gender equality and the human rights of all women and girls, and centers the critical role of civil society organizations advocating for accountability in policy and programs meant to promote, protect, and fulfill human rights for all.
“The stalled progress on gender equality is profoundly disappointing and threatens the lives and well-being of girls, women, and non-binary people worldwide,” said the Women’s Rights Caucus. “It is not enough for governments to simply reaffirm past commitments. To achieve gender equality, we need to commit to supporting feminist movements and to adopt a bold and forward-looking agenda that addresses the multiple and intersecting challenges faced by all women and girls. The Feminist Declaration launched today reflects the priorities of the feminist movement and provides governments and other stakeholders with a path toward true equality.”
The feminist declaration includes critical issues that governments must tackle to achieve gender equality, including: sexual and reproductive rights and bodily autonomy; women, peace, and security; the intersections between the climate crisis and gender equality; and the role of women’s human rights defenders and feminist movements, who are the key to driving long-term change.
Due to ongoing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, CSW was suspended after the adoption of the political declaration. The Women’s Rights Caucus welcomes the decision to prioritize the health and safety of participants, but will hold the Commission’s leadership accountable for reconvening the full CSW later this year and ensuring robust discussion between feminist organizations and governments.
The political declaration marks the anniversary of the revolutionary agreement made at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. With this declaration, governments had the opportunity to identify and address new challenges, and set the stage for a new international agenda for gender equality. However, 25 years later, the limited scope of the political declaration demonstrates that this opportunity was not seized.
Despite the limitations of CSW’s political declaration, there remains hope that 2020 will deliver significant gains for gender equality. The feminist movement will continue to work alongside those who share our vision as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of Beijing—and other key landmarks including the 5th year of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security—and seize the opportunity of the Generation Equality Forums. These events provide the opportunity to focus resources and political will into a progressive and just agenda for gender equality that truly leaves no one behind. But to achieve our goal, we in the feminist movement must have our priorities and organizations supported.
The Feminist Declaration launched today provides governments with a roadmap to achieve not only the vision outlined in Beijing, but the transformative change necessary to deliver Generation Equality.
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The Women’s Rights Caucus is a self-organized feminist advocacy group, comprised of more than 200 organizations, dedicated to advancing gender equality and the United Nations.
Reposted from OutRight Action International
Reflections from CSBR Members on organizing for diverse sexual rights in ARROW for Change
In this edition of ARROW for Change, read diverse perspectives and voices on the right to choose freely on matters of sexuality across the Asia Pacific region, from a number of CSBR Members, including:
- an interview with our Coordinator, Rima Athar, “On Invisibility & Erasure within LGBTIQ organizing”;
- Reflections on “Queer Muslims Movement Building through Storytelling”, from Rafiul Rahman of The Queer Muslim Project; and
- “Making Space for Sexual Rights within the Religious Spheres”, by Rozana Isa of SIS.

Sexuality is one of the most central and defining aspects of being human. The WHO working definition of sexual rights states that all persons should have the right to the highest standard of health in relation to sexuality which includes access to SRH services; to seek, receive and impart information in relation to sexuality; sexuality education; respect for bodily integrity; choice of partner; to decide to be sexually active or not; consensual sexual relations; consensual marriage; to decide whether or not and when to have children; and to pursue a satisfying, safe and pleasurable sexual life. However, the right to sexuality also remains one of the most hotly contested topics globally, moving it from the realm of personal to political, alongside an ever-growing movement for social and legal acceptance of SOGIESC.
This edition analyses the links between the right to sexuality and bodily autonomy and integrity, and discusses current perspectives on the right to sexuality in the region, drawing attention to the intersectionalities between the right to sexuality and issues such as class, age, ethnicity, and disability. Read about the diverse stories from the ground from countries such as India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Uruguay, Fiji, Malaysia, and others.
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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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.

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!