Documentation and Advocacy
Work on supporting organisations in documenting and reporting human rights violations is an important part of our strategy. Properly collected and analysed evidence of LGBTI human rights violations is one of the key elements of successful advocacy work.
With this in mind, we provide organisations with funding and learning opportunities to start or continue their documentation work on the national level and to strengthen LGBTI advocacy capabilities.
At ILGA-Europe, we build our European-level advocacy work partially on reports from our member organisations and partners. These reports entail documented cases and first-hand information β valuable evidence that supports and helps guide our strategic approaches in advocacy work. Also, systematic documentation of LGBTI human rights violations helps to monitor developments in the country and the region, while evidence-based reports become an important tool in supporting advocacy work of organisations-members on the national level.
Overview of the calls under the Fund
In the first 10 years since the targeted work on Documentation and Advocacy was launched in 2006, 14 calls for proposals were held. Under each call ILGA-Europe supported from 3 to 11 organisations depending on the subject of the call, funds availability, and quality of the grant applications totalling to 82 projects with budgets from EUR2.000 up to EUR10.000 throughout the period. The subjects documented under each call varied and covered issues like Hate Crime and Hate Speech, Transphobia and violations of the human rights of transgender people, social exclusion of the LGBTI people, discrimination in the fields of Education, Employment, Health in many countries across the Europe. Each supported project resulted into an advocacy report that was used by the grantees on the national and international levels as well as by ILGA-Europe to feed in and shape our advocacy work on the EU level.
Most recent calls
Here you can find more details about the calls since 2016:
XVI call for proposals: LGBTI Hate Crime
The Hate Crime call was implemented in 2017 with the goal to support documentation of incidence of homophobic and transphobic violence in European countries where there is still lack of collected evidence of LGBTI Hate Crimes.
The Hate Crime call was implemented in 2017 with the goal to support documentation of incidence of homophobic and transphobic violence in European countries where there is still lack of collected evidence of LGBTI Hate Crimes. This data collection call has been devised to feed in ILGA-Europeβs evidence based advocacy strategy in favour of hate crime legislation and policy measures to tackle hate crime. The funding offered under this call enabled the grantees to:
- develop the skills to produce good quality and comparable evidence of incidence of violence experienced by LGBTI people;
- produce a report on homophobic and transphobic hate crimes in their country, which will in turn allow ILGA-Europe to compile data at European level at the end of 2017;
- increase the visibility of the issue of homophobic and transphobic violence at national and European levels.
The projects were implemented from February 2017 to February 2018 and the following organisations implement projects under this call:
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β rightsidengo@gmail.com
Contact person: Lilit Martirosyan
Grant amount: 6795 EUR
Period of implementation: February 2017 β February 2018
The project was aimed at enhancing transgender individualsβ human rights protection in Armenia through fact-finding and evidence based advocacy. Through this project the organisation collected first ever data exclusively focused on hate crimes, violence and discrimination faced by transgender community in Armenia, creating a comprehensive and consistent data collection mechanism in Armenian on hate crime cases and incidents documentation. The collected evidence and facts will be used for LGBTI rights advocacy purposes on national, regional, and international levels with the aim to create state accountability towards LGBTI rights protection in the country.
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β info@deystvie.org
Contact person: Veneta Limberova
Grant amount: 7282 EUR
Period of implementation: February 2017 β February 2018
The project collected data on LGBTI-phobic hate crimes in Bulgaria with the scope of producing and distributing a report. The report aims at showing officials in and outside the country the necessity for including LGBTI-phobic based hate crimes in the criminal law of Bulgaria. It also demonstrates the necessity for close and constant work with police and law enforcement authorities in their work in recognizing hate crimes. The project helped to mobilize the LGBTI community in Bulgaria to report such crimes and start requesting their human rights. This work lays foundations of the further work of the organization after implementing this project β the report and the findings of the project will be used in the advocacy work for amending the criminal law in the State, close and continues cooperation with police and law enforcement authorities.
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β simeon@glasfoundation.bg
Contact person: Simeon Vasilev
Grant amount: 7220 EUR
Period of implementation: February 2017 β February 2018
The project aim was to improve the data collection, classification, and analysis of LGBTI-phobic hate crimes in Bulgaria. The project helped to upgrade and promote the online collecting tool at the websiteΒ www.wearetolerant.comΒ developed by GLAS Foundation in 2015 through mix media campaign in two major Bulgarian cities. It allowed the timely documentation of new evidence, sustain in long term the monitoring process, and increase the visibility of the issue at national level. The report featuring the data collection in 2017 will be disseminated to all public institutions dealing with hate crimes and used to advocate for criminalizing LGBTI-phobic hate crimes in the Bulgarian Penal Code.
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Grant amount: 6655 EUR
Period of implementation: February 2017 β February 2018
The project improved the recording and reporting of anti- LGBT hate crimes for the purpose of evidence-based advocacy. The objectives are to increase the number of reporting centres by building capacity of Lambda team members, to encourage victims to report to Lambda, to gather evidence for advocacy; to raise awareness around hate crimes.
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E-mail:Β Β dasezna@dasezna.lgbt
Contact person: Dragoslava Barzut
Grant amount: 7418 EUR
Period of implementation: February 2017 β February 2018
The project collected and recorded LGBTI-phobic hate crimes on the portalΒ www.dasezna.lgbtΒ with utilization of an open-source software for secure collection of human rights abuses dubbed Martus. The recorded cases will be used by Da Se Zna! and other LGBTI and human rights organizations in their work with the community and advocacy efforts.
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E-mail:Β Β vnmts@ptt.rs
Contact person: NataΕ‘a Ε ajin
Grant amount: 6777 EUR
Period of implementation: February 2017 β February 2018
The project dealt with documenting and promoting evidence of cases of hate crimes of LGBT Roma people on the territory of seven rural municipalities in the AP Vojvodina in Serbia. (Cities included: Novi BeΔej, Novi KneΕΎevac, Ada, Δoka, Senta, BeΔej, KanjiΕΎa.)
XV call for proposals: Data-collection on the Situation of Rainbow Families in Europe
The call was implemented in 2016-2017 and specifically focuses on data-collection regarding the situations of rainbow families, including same-sex couples, families with trans parents and single LGBTI parents, across Europe.
It focuses on the lack of recognition and on discriminatory practices when it comes to the partnership and parenting rights of rainbow families. More specifically, selected projects aim to document:
- The non-recognition of co-parents of children born to rainbow families or adopted by them.
- The lack of access of rainbow families to adoption and to foster parenting.
- The lack of recognition of the rights of trans parents, in particular when they have gone through a change of legal gender, regarding guardianship, school activities, social benefits, etc.
- The lack of access to reproductive health and rights for rainbow families.
- Forced sterilisation of trans people, disabling them from having children.
- The lack of access to social rights as a partner.
- The lack of access to goods and services accessible to different-sex couples (housing, consumption goods, hotels, etc.).
- How cases of discrimination have a cross-border aspect (e.g. recognised couples in one country that are discriminated against in another country).
The following organisations implemented projects under this call:
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β bilitis@bilitis.org
Phone: +359 884 503 298
Web-site:Β http://www.bilitis.org
Contact person: Monika Pisankaneva
Grant amount: 7000 EUR
Period of implementation: March 2016 β April 2017
The project was aimed at conducting a qualitative research on the situation of rainbow families in Bulgaria and publishing a report in the form of a book for non-commercial use to fill in an important information gap. The research highlights typical challenges and human rights violations that the rainbow families are facing, and their expectations towards changes of the legal framework, which will improve their status.
Download:
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β hatter@hatter.hu
Phone: +36 70 530 3844
Web-site:Β http://hatter.hu
Contact person: Bea Sander
Grant amount: 6920 EUR
Period of implementation: March 2016 β March 2017
The project mapped the legal and social situation of same-sex parents and their children in Hungary via an online survey and interviews. The research explores various forms ofΒ de jureΒ andΒ de factoΒ discrimination in accessing fertility treatments and adoption, as well as everyday discrimination in various fields of life. Special attention is given to experiences with educational institutions: interviews with parents are complemented by interviews with teachers to better understand their attitudes.
Download:
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β orbank@transvanilla.hu
Phone: +3630406-66-33
Web-site:Β http://transvanilla.hu
Contact person: Krisztina Orban
Grant amount: 7230 EUR
Period of implementation: March 2016 β April 2017
The aim of the project was to map the parenting situation of trans persons in Hungary.Β The project is set up on two pillars: data collection and advocacy. Data collection was implemented through a questionnaire, personal interviews and group discussions. The objective of the fact-based advocacy is to increase awareness of organisations already working on family issues and to engage with policy/decision makers to identify potential allies among them.
Download:
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β centro@risorselgbti.eu
Phone: +393492301084
Web page:Β http://www.risorselgbti.eu
Contact person: Dafne Spirlì
Grant amount: 6756 EUR
Period of implementation: March 2016 β February 2017
The project is aimed at conducting census rainbow families in Italy with the scope to produce a report to advocate for the rights of rainbow families in Italy.
Download:
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β izabela.jaderek@transfuzja.org
Phone: +48 22 658 18 02
Web-site:Β http://transfuzja.org
Contact person: Izabela Jaderek
Grant amount: 6900 EUR
Period of implementation: March 2016 β February 2017
The aim of the project was to map issues (both legal and social) related to family life of trans people in a comprehensive way, specifically in the context of postponing legal transition due to existing or planned family matters. This mapping will be achieved through a qualitative study of 8β10 trans people who have already started a family or a planning to do so. Complementary to the study, a legal analysis will follow to determine how many of obstacles reported by trans people are within the actual law or legal proceedings.
Download:
- Final product
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Contact information:
E-mail:Β Β accept@acceptromania.ro
Phone: +4021 252 56 20
Web-site:Β http://www.acceptromania.ro
Contact person: Carolina Marin
Grant amount: 6505 EUR
Period of implementation: March 2016 β May 2017
Project aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the legal framework in place, with a view to highlight the lack of recognition/discriminatory practices. It provides tools for evidence based advocacy by documenting the situations of rainbow families, breaches in their rights, and recommendations for improvement of policy/practice. Additionally, the project is aimed at supporting ACCEPT in developing its network of partners promoting equality for rainbow families (through one public event) and by encouraging the sharing of best practices and case law examples from the region.
Download:
XIV call for proposals: data-collection of LGBTI discrimination in employment
In 2015-2016 ILGA-Europe implemented the XIV call for proposals within its Documentation and Advocacy Fund. This call was focused specifically on data-collection of discriminatory practices in the field of employment. The total number of grants awarded under this call is 8. The fund is supported by the government of the Netherlands and an anonymous donor.
The specific goal of this call is to allocate grants to document existing discrimination in access to and in employment for LGBTI people in selected countries across Europe. More specifically, selected projects aim to:
- Allow for a better analysis of the importance of anti-discrimination legislation in employment, but also the effectiveness of accompanying measures that help reduce day to day discriminatory actions in the workplace
- Explore the specific barriers faced by trans and/or intersex persons, LGBTI people from a minority ethnic background, older LGBTI people, LGBTI people with disabilities, in the employment field and identifying needs in this area (e.g. data collection to explore specific barriers faced by LGBTI persons or their specific needs in employment field based on structured interviews with them)
- Analyse LGBTI inclusive or/and discriminatory policies adopted and implemented by employers / state institutions and what impact they have in different countries (e.g. analysis of relevant existing policies and comparisons with other regions/countries, interviews with policy makers in charge of employment policies contents, exploring the level of βheteronormativityβ in employment policies)
- Collect and analyse data on different employersβ (state, business, private) competence and attitudes in the field of LGBTI issues (quantitative surveys to be filled to self-assess their level of knowledge & know-how and surveys to assess awareness and attitudes of relevant personnel in different institutions)
- Encourage cross-border projects, to facilitate the sharing of a methodology for documenting LGBTI discrimination in employment and allowing exchange of good practices and cooperation on developing non-discrimination legislation and measures.
The following organisations implemented projects under this call:
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Name of the implementing organisation: Hatter Society
Contact information: e-mail:Β hatter@hatter.hu, Tel: +36 1 238 0046
Contact person: Bea Sandor
Grant amount: EUR 7485
Period of implementation: July 2015β June 2016
The project was aimed at complementing HΓ‘ttΓ©rβs already existing quantitative research in the field of employment with a qualitative component. The project used surveys as well as semi-structured interviews and focus groups to gather testimonies and detailed descriptions of discriminatory practices and on how these influence LGBTQI and heterosexual peopleβs lives and options. It shed light on the situation of trans people in the field of employment, best practices, survey and enhancement the knowledge of HR personnel. It also provided new data, more visibility, and more evidence-based arguments to be used in advocacy activities and informing more LGBTQI people on their rights and options.
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Name of the implementing organisation: Avvocatura per i Diritti LGBTI
Contact information: e-mail:Β erc@retelenford.it
Contact person: Giacomo Viggiani
Grant amount: EUR 7500
Period of implementation: July 2015β June 2016
The project intended to fill the gap in the previous Italian research, by explaining the quantitative data available through semi-structured qualitative interviews to LGBTI people and lawyers. By implementing the project the grantee envisioned to understand why the protection provided by the Directive 78/2000 is legally but not socially effective in Italy or pursued by LGBTI people. The project also helped to update the overview of the old report on the Italian legal framework, which had deeply changed after the legislative decree 150/2011 was enacted. Special attention was given to transsexual and intersex people and to lawyersβ experiences with LGBTI clients discriminated in the field of labour and their legal aid requests (if any) in relation to their βoutβ or βnon-outβ condition.
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Name of the implementing organisation: Centro Risorse LGBTI
Contact information: e-mail:Β centro@risorselgbti.eu; Tel: +3492301084
Contact person: Dafne Spirli
Grant amount: EUR 7156
Period of implementation: July 2015β June 2016
The project aimed at contributing to tackle discrimination in the field of employment in Piedmont through promoting cooperation and creating alliance between workers, employers and relevant stakeholders as well as increasing capacities of NGOs and Trade Union referents in documenting cases and giving support to victims through a help-desk; raising awareness of civil society through a communication campaign called βRAC-CONTA! lavoroβ. The advocacy strategy under this project aims at influencing policy makers in order to gain the approval and further implementation of a Regional law against discrimination. The project will help as well to further contribute in a positive way in the future political strategies about the issue of employment for the LGBTI people.
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Name of the implementing organisation: Lithuanian Gay League (LGL)
Contact information: e-mail:Β office@gay.lt; Phone: +370 5 261 0314
Contact person: Tomas Vytautas RaskeviΔius
Grant amount: EUR 6999
Period of implementation: July 2015β June 2016
The project aimed at collecting qualitative data on discrimination faced by the transgender community of Lithuania within the sphere of employment, the first such national assessment of its kind. The collected data intended to be used for developing evidence-based advocacy tools in order to demonstrate the importance of amending the Labor Code to include gender identity as a ground of discrimination to policy and decision makers. The collected data is planned to be also used in sensitising private and public employers about the challenges faced by trans* individuals in applying for employment and during their actual period of employment. Based on the project results, LGL started cooperation with the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung to develop a comprehensive training module for business representatives encouraging them to address the issue LGBT* diversity in the workplace. It will be sought to integrate the findings of the implemented project activities within the framework of the developed training module with the view of addressing the issues of gender identity and/or gender expression in the course of both the recruitment practices, as well as the internal policies on harassment and discrimination. It is foreseen to implement the trainings for the core business representatives in the second half of 2017.
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Name of implementing organisation: Association ACCEPT
Contact information: e-mail:Β carolina@acceptromania.ro; Tel: +40 745 666 788; +40 21 2525620
Contact person: Carolina Marin
Grant amount: EUR 6480
Period of implementation: July 2015β June 2016
The project aimed to document existing discrimination in access to and in employment for LGBTI people in Romania. To this end, a comprehensive analysis was developed, focusing on the current anti-discrimination legislation in employment, but also the existence and effectiveness of any policy or practical measures that prevent or reduce discrimination of LGBTI persons in the workplace. The recommendations of the Report, the Factsheet, the Toolkit are available and to be distributed in print and electronically to institutions responsible for enforcing labour law, collective bargainers, such as trade union leaders as well as to private employers who have a significant amount of power to set the standard in their particular industry. The outcomes of the report will be used to further develop advocacy actions related to the amendment of the Anti-discrimination Law in order to eliminate existing issues with regard to the Directive 2004/113/EC and Directive 2006/54/EC, when it comes to the restrictive understanding of gender identity and limited to no protection against discrimination on the ground of gender identity.
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Name of the implementing organisation: FELGTB
Contact information: e-mail:Β gerencia@felgtb.org
Contact person: Jenifer Rebollo Norberto
Grant amount: EUR 7500
Period of implementation: July 2015β June 2016
The project aimed at measuring actual sexual diversity and equal treatment policies performed by companies, as well as to identify good practices in fighting indirect discrimination at workplace. The project results provide serious and sound evidence for advocacy purposes with policymakers and business administration. The report is to be presented to the Secretary of State for Equality after the project completion. The proposal has already been accepted. Locally the report serves to support the work that entities made with the municipality and autonomous communities in relation to laws against LGTBfobia. The organisation met the parliamentary group of the PSOE in the city of Madrid, to present the project results and discuss what are the social clauses that the Madrid City Council is proposing companies to access to public procurement and also included those related to respect for sexual and gender diversity.
- Final Product
- Report
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Name of the implementing organisation: Social Policies Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD)
Contact information: e-mail:Β info@spod.org.tr; Phone: +90212 292 48 02 / +90 5549420693
Contact person: Serhat Kacan
Grant amount: EUR 5252
Period of implementation: July 2015β June 2016
The project was focused at collecting work experiences and alternative job opportunities through conducting interviews with trans women in work life, except sex-workers. The study was conducted in the cities of Δ°stanbul and Mersin with 15 interviewees using qualitative approach. As a result of this study a report was drafted and will be shared with the ministries, parliamentarians, and various institutions. The results of this study will be used as an advocacy strategy for employment of transsexual women. The report is accessible on the websiteΒ www.transkadinlarinistihdami.orgΒ and will be used with the advocacy purposes amongst LGBTI organisations, human resources of firms and companies in the private sector, unions, and authorities in the public sector, employment agencies, law makers, and parliamentarians.
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Name of the implementing organisation: Kaos GL
Contact information: e-mail:Β bilgi@kaosgldernegi.org
Contact person: Murat KΓΆylΓΌ
Grant amount: EUR 6030
Period of implementation: July 2015β June 2016
The aimed to monitor, document and based on the results to report discrimination in Turkey on the grounds of SOGI in public and private sector employment. The data were collected via on-line reporting and face-to-face interviews to utilise the outputs in clear-cut strategic “legislative advocacy” activities. Due to the current situation in the country the impact of the report on legislative and decision making levels is expected in more long-term perspective. Besides, the report will serve as an efficient tool for advocacy work towards/within trade unions. English version of the report can be efficiently used in international advocacy work.
To find out more about how ILGA-Europe can help with Documentation and Advocacy, contact our Programmes Director Anastasia, here.
