Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 20:05:47 +0200 From: "Steffen Jensen" Subject: [euroletter] Message from ILGA-Europe Dear friends, ILGA-Europe would like to draw your attention to an EU funded project in which ILGA-Europe is a partner (see details below). We are now looking for people from ILGA-Europe member groups in EU countries who would be interested in participating in the seminars organised by Mobility international in April and by United for Intercultural Action in May. We know that this is on very short notice but hope that some people may be interested in attending. Please, find in the attached files all relevant information concerning the Mobility seminar. Information on the project and the United seminar is also available on the United homepage in the internet: http://www.united.non-profit.nl We are especially looking for participants who have either been involved in activities relevant for our project "Stepping Stones and Roadblocks" and, therefore, could pro-actively contribute to the discussions/workshops at the two seminars or who are interested in the subjects and want to become involved. ILGA-Europe can offer three places in each of the two seminars. Participation will be fully paid from the project budget (including a personal assistant if necessary). If you are interested, please contact the ILGA-Europe board at ieboard@egroups.com and send us a few lines about your background, how you could contribute to the discussions and/or why you are interested in participating in the seminar. Best regards Kurt Krickler ILGA-Europe co-chair Tel. +43-1-545 13 10 STEPPING STONES AND ROADBLOCKS A partnership project against discrimination MOBILITY Internationaal - ILGA-Europe - UNITED for Intercultural Action "Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Treaty and within the limits of the powers conferred by it upon the Community, the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, may take appropriate ACTION TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation˛. Article 13, Treaty establishing the European Community This leaflet introduces to you an exciting new partnership project of UNITED for Intercultural Action, the European region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe) and MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL. This initiative brings together the experience and know-how of three important European NGO networks and their respective local, regional and national organisations. WHY? We want equal rights, in all spheres of life. We all have our ways of changing the world, at least a little bit. All partners in the project feel that anti-discrimination work will benefit from exploring both similarities and differences between the anti-racism movement, the movement for equal rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people and the movement for the equal rights of people with disabilities. What works in one movement, may work as well in another where it has never been tried out. WHEN? The project will take place from December 1999 until December 2000, but we are sure that the partnership will last after the project has ended. We hope that local and national organisations will take over the idea and develop cooperations with different groups working for equal rights. WHAT? The co-operation will bring together activists from three different backgrounds to combine and share their experience on a very practical level. The project includes three seminars, each led by one of the movements. The seminars will take place in the first half of 2000. Their results will be published in conference reports and spread throughout Europe. The second half of 2000 will be dedicated to research into good practice. You will be informed of the results, as soon as they become available. SEMINARS 12 - 16 April 2000 "Equal Rights for People with Disabilities" - in Bruxelles led by MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL 3 - 7 May 2000 "The Struggle Against Racism" - near Paris led by UNITED for Intercultural Action 21 - 25 June 2000 "Combating sexual orientation discrimination" - in Vienna led by ILGA-Europe ARTICLE 13 In Article 13 of the EC Treaty, a possibility has been created for the European Union to take action against discrimination on six grounds. This is a great step forward. But the key issue remains; will the Council - i.e. the fifteen Member States - agree to adopt substantial measures against discrimination? (full text on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg5/fundamri/news/article13_en.htm) WHAT ABOUT ME? If you are interested in co-operating in this common project, contact UNITED, ILGA-Europe or MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL to express your interest. You could work in this project at one of the seminars, or contribute to the good practice research in the second half of the project. INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN AND GAY ASSOCIATION ­ EUROPE ILGA was founded in 1978. It is a world-wide federation of national, regional and local organisations and groups dedicated to working for equal rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and/or transgendered people. During the 22 years of its existence, ILGA has called for and carried out numerous campaigns for law reform in many countries and against individual cases of discrimination, highlighting many cases of human rights violations. ILGA has also given impetus and support to many gay and lesbian groups in, for example Latin America and South Africa, and played a crucial role in the emergence and development of the first gay and lesbian organisations in the former "East Bloc˛. In December 1996 ILGA-Europe became the first independent regional structure of ILGA. ILGA has undertaken sustained lobbying of many international organisations, such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE. ILGA-Europe enjoys consultative status with the Council of Europe. In 1997 ILGA-Europe adopted an Action Plan aiming at the European Commission which emphasises a horizontalš and mainstreamingš approach in seeking the inclusion of lesbian and gay concerns in all appropriate activities and programmes of the European Union. ILGA-Europe is also working to develop and strengthen its links to other organisations which are committed to the achievement and respect of human rights. It is for example a member of the Platform of European Social NGOs. MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL was formally established in 1982, as a non-governmental, non-profitmaking international organisation of disabled people. Its main aims include: promoting freedom of choice and equal opportunities for people with disabilities in all spheres of life; providing people with disabilities the opportunity to meet, understand and make friends with others from different countries on international seminars, exchanges, activity weeks and other projects; assisting in the setting up of networks based on common interests and concerns; empowering people to reach these goals through training in self-assertiveness, independence and leadership; giving information to individuals and organisations on European schemes and projects. Since its establishment MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL has organised over 500 international projects aimed at all people with a disability, regardless of their nationality, age or type of disability as well as training courses for those for or living with them. MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL has status with the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Union. MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL is a member of the European Youth Forum, the European Anti-Poverty Network, the Platform of European Social NGOs and the European Dissability Forum. MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL advises the institutions of the EU on matters relating to the advancement of people with disabilities and take an active lobbying role on disability issues. UNITED FOR INTERCULTURAL ACTION European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees Racism, nationalism, fascism, discrimination, asylum policies... all of these have a European dimension even though they often look like purely national issues. Reports from all over Europe demonstrate the increasing dangers facing migrants, refugees and minorities. We need to fight against this mentality of a "Fortress Europe" on all levels, it cannot be fought on local, regional and national level alone. Linked through UNITED more than 500 organisations from a wide variety of backgrounds and from all European countries work together on a voluntary basis. They build their co-operation on common actions and shared activities on a mutual respect. Since its start in 1992 the network has been orientated towards concrete actions and practical, effective work. The activities of the network consist of European co-ordination. This means: bringing together organisations from all over Europe during conferences, co-ordinating the several European cam-paigns and activities in which up to 30 countries and up to 200.000 people take part, raising public awareness about the issues involved, keeping an up-to-date archive and database of organisations active in the anti-racism field and the pro-duction of information tools to be used by organi-sations in their struggle against intolerance. UNITED is and will remain independent from all political parties, organisations or states. UNITED has consultative status with the Council of Europe and special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. ADDRESSES International Lesbian and Gay Association - Europe Kolenmarkt 81, B-1000 Brussels phone +32-2-5022471, fax+32-2-5022471 e-mail ieboard@egroups.com http://www.steff.suite.dk/ilgaeur.htm MOBILITY International 18 boulevard Baudouin, B-1000 Brussels phone+32-2-2015608, fax +32-2-2015763 e-mail mobint@arcadis.be http://www.mobility-international.org UNITED for Intercultural Action Postbus 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582 e-mail united@united.non-profit.nl http://www.united.non-profit.nl