Date: Wed, 2 Oct 1996 19:00:10 +0100 From: ilga Subject: 3 ILGA NEWS ITEMS ILGA Information Service: 2 October 1996 *Euro-Parliament repeats its commitment to LG Rights* On September 15, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on human rights in the European Union that includes a call to banish discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The resolution includes the following statement: "In accordance with the terms of the February 8 1994 Resolution on the Equality of Rights for Homosexuals and Lesbians in the Community, the Parliament asks that all discrimination and/or inequality of treatment must be abolished concerning homosexuals, especially referring to differences that persist on the age of consent for homosexuals, and discrimination concerning the right to work, and in penal, civil, contractual, social and economic law." (freely translated) Resolution A4-0223/96 is an eight page resolution covering issues as diverse as prisoners, torture, respect of the family, and more. The resolution on homosexuality refers to the motion of the commune of Verone of 14 July 1995 (which condemned the European Parliament's earlier resolution) and replies to some other petitions from Germany, Spain and Italy. *ILGA Membership Grows* Since the ILGA World Conference in July 1995 in Rio de Janeiro, ILGA has welcomed 44 group members and 63 individuals. New groups come from countries such as India, Rusia, Turkey, Austria, China and Bolivia. ILGA's new individual membership campaign, initiated less than a year ago, dropped the price of membership from $90USD to $50USD and allowed members to pay by Mastercard, VISA, and American Express. This has nearly doubled the number of ILGA's individual members. Thanks to promotion by an ILGA member in Switzerland, the Swiss are in the lead in terms of new members, while there have also been numerous new members from Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States. *Swedish LG Amnesty group started* A lesbian and gay Amnesty support group has been formed in Stockholm to help homosexual prisoners adopted by Amnesty International and to gather information on prisoners and human rights abuses. They also aim to work with Amnesty to keep them informed of cases and circumstances in countries around the world. They request contact with individuals and groups working with homosexual prisoners and human rights issues for homosexuals and with other lesbian and gay Amnesty International groups. They would also like to receive current information on cases involving homosexual prisoners and instances where the human rights of homosexuals have been abused. Contact: D. Murphy, Folkungagaten 59 (4 tr.t.v.), S-11622 Stockhom, SWEDEN (post) or by e-mail G Wirshubski (M9799@abc.se) or B Skolander (actions@ilga.org) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association 81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org A federation of over 300 groups from 75 countries fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We also have over 100 supportive associate and individual members. Will you join us? Contact us for more info!