From: NGLTF@aol.com Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 14:02:41 -0400 Subject: IGLHRC on Women's Conference The following press release is being distributed by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) on behalf of the organization named in the release. For further information, please contact the original author, and not NGLTF. Thank you. ************************** INTERNATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 1360 Mission Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, California 94103 USA Tel. +1-415.255.8680 Fax +1-415.255.8662 e-mail: IGLHRC@igc.apc.org LESBIANS SEE RESULTS AT WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN For Immediate Release September 15, 1995 Contact: Rachel Rosenbloom 9/16-9/25 212-479-7892 after 9/25 415-255-8680 Julie Dorf 415-255-8680 A concerted effort by lesbian activists has led to unprecedented recognition of lesbian concerns at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. The "Platform For Action" adopted at the Conference includes strong language recognizing women's right to have control over and decide freely on matters relating their sexuality "free of coercion, discrimination or violence," and tireless lobbying by over 30 members of the Lesbian Caucus resulted in significant support for the inclusion of language specifically recognizing the existence of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Early Friday morning, in the final hours of negotiations, the 185 governments present at the Conference debated the inclusion of the term "sexual orientation" in four actions of the Platform. After a heated debate in which many countries spoke for and against the language, Chair Patricia Licuanan noted that although sexual orientation was an issue that was sure to be raised again in the future, without consensus she had no choice but to strike it from the document. Among the countries speaking in favor of retaining the language on sexual orientation were South Africa, Jamaica, Barbados, Canada, the United States, Cuba, Brazil, Slovenia, Colombia, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and the countries of the European Union. The countries opposing the language included Libya, Sudan, Uganda, and Syria. --more-- Page 2 IGLHRC "This Conference represents a significant victory for lesbians," commented Rachel Rosenbloom, Lesbian Project Coordinator at the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLRHRC). "At the last World Conference on Women ten years ago, only one country -- the Netherlands -- spoke out in support of lesbians, and at this conference over 30 countries have done so. The debate that occurred gives some indication of the battles that lesbians must keep fighting all over the world to gain recognition of their rights, but this conference lays a firm groundwork for future action at the local, national, and international level." One of the paragraphs in question states in its final form that "many women face particular barriers because of such factors as "their race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, disability or other status or because they are indigenous people." While sexual orientation was removed from this list, several countries went on record as saying that they interpreted "other status" to include sexual orientation. IGLHRC was one of eleven lesbian and gay groups accredited to attend the World Conference on Women, and was a central organizer of lesbian activities at both the Conference and the parallel Non-Governmental Forum on Women. At the Conference, IGLHRC released a report entitled Unspoken Rules: Sexual Orientation and Women's Human Rights which details human rights violations against lesbians in 31 countries around the world. At both the Conference and the Forum, lesbians from every region of the world were active in unprecedented numbers and brought a broad range of issues to the attention of conference participants. On September 10, Human Rights Day at the Conference, lesbian activists hung a large purple banner proclaiming "Lesbian Rights are Human Rights!" during the afternoon plenary session, and on September 13, South African lesbian activist Palesa Beverley Ditsie received a standing ovation when she addressed the assembled delegates at another plenary session on behalf of IGLHRC and over 50 other non-governmental organizations. ###