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France. Every year, Civil Society coalition invests the Parliament : good way to get officials to attend IN 2006, the then PM Villepin declares willingness to recognize. BUT : elections, new government, tense political situation,.... Starting all over again: Presidency, PM office, ...
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France Every year, Civil Society coalition invests the Parliament : good way to get officials to attend IN 2006, the then PM Villepin declares willingness to recognize
BUT : elections, new government, tense political situation,.... Starting all over again: Presidency, PM office, ... New perspectives : Secretary of State for HR
One week before IDAHO 2008, the government writes back saying it is not a priority : provocation A group of organisations decides to provoke back and to stage a protest a couples of days before IDAHO
Success : all are arrested Media communication around good story At the police station, activists are invited to discuss with authorities but too late.
On the Day, Rama Yade announces the official recognition AND the initiative to carry a declaration at the UN
Why such a change of heart ? Pressure, no doubt Meeting an interest of the Government to do sthg positive, as Sarkozy was breaking his promises on LGBT internal issues Meeting an interest of MoFA, who was looking for a new commitment at international level
Which explains that the MoFA has pionnered IDAHO and has been an ally in lobbying other ministries First year : international conference on HR, SO and GI Second year : International LGBT fund
other ministries Many have understood the positive potential for them to be visible on SOGI issues Civil Society challenges them to present activity report IDAHO-meter
It has been suggested to have an inter-ministerial reporting time around the Day, backed by a national conference. Disputed for fear of pinkwashing and collision with dialogues around Pride.
Local level Recognition by government is being used a lot at local level by LGBT organisations organise policy dialogue pitch the media by LGBT individuals at the workplace by teachers/students
Yet, there seems to be no strategy to take the recognition 'down' to local level. Might be due to French 'centralisation'. But construction of network of LGBT-friendly constituencies around IDAHO is discussed
BELGIUM Recognition by Federal Parliament first (in 2005-the first recognition ever) Commits to get implementation by regional entities Federal Parliament commits to get the Day recognized by international bodies
Brazil Recognition by local authorities 9 States Dozens of cities Blocked at Parliament level, like every LGBT issue : Marches on Parliament each year on IDAHO Lula signs governmental recognition just before leaving office.
MEXICO 2005, first IDAHO celebrations In 2006, Parliament votes on resolution to request recognition from government 2007, DF Parliament recognizes 2008, 13 States have IDAHO celebrations 17th global AIDS conf : Calderòn creates a task force
2009,Parliament of the State of Tabasco recognizes April 2010, a decree is presented to institute a 'Day against homophobia' with only a declarative ambition : no obligation, no budget
May 2010, the actual decree presents a 'Day for Tolerance and the Respect of Preferences': The whole initiative got highjacked
SPAIN Objective : use the IDAHO to lobby the right wing Analysis that the right wing needed sthg to compensate Strategy : make the right wing believe the Day was not ideological, not concrete
SPAIN FELGT wanted this objective to be common to all Spanish LGBT organisations Briefing note to all 50 members At national level : Task force of 4 people Achieved in ONE year
First step : create alliances : increase awareness of other HR organisations of the Day. Each organisation was made to sign a document of support to the recognition of the Day and to commit to promote the objective Same thing with progressive Councils (Ayuntamientos)
Second Step : ALL communications, press releases, media briefs, etc... during the whole phase of the campaign mention this objective
Result : UNANIMOUS decision in Parliament in May 2009. Inclusion of Transphobia Request to the Government to also recognize it Request to the Government to take it to the UN
Government recognizes and announces advocacy for depsychatrisation of Trans identity at WHO
Unanimity was the added value : beyond ideology Helped put the marriage debate back into HR framework Strong impact with the media increased policy attention
Perspective to get IDAHO into citizenship education in school programs, esp with unanimity argument Lesson : the symbolic is important. It goes further than it seems Tipping point when opposition becomes difficult
Britain Nothing official but Government makes it an annual landmark Foreign Office Minister, Jeremy Browne http://youtu.be/tn9eC1dm_W0 Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone http://youtu.be/paqX4-owdhY Specific for diplomacy
Similar to Bolivia Ministry http://youtu.be/9bryEWtfHYs
Croatia Gender Equality Strategy deals with SO. Has in the past included many 'EU-friendly' recommendations but no implementation Strat to get official recognition so as to create a tool for policy lobbying
Strat 2011-2015 process started in 2010 Inclusion or tokenism ? 'Outside' contribution : 4 proposals, including recognition All 4 accepted by Parliament
Impact : Gives the issue a lot of authority with the public Will be useful in confronting opponents Will be useful in winning over 'neutral' stakeholders
opportunities brought by recognition The process provides easy and consensual campaigning ground (good for building alliances, educate the media, the public,...)
Once achieved Increases Media attention Helps open difficult doors Facilitates 'touchy' projects (schools) Forces government action (e.g.Buenos Aires) Makes the issue mainstream, esp if celebrated at high level (beyond community event)
Facilitates involvement from corporations, esp State-run (e.g. bank of Brazil) Increases global authority and this helps LGBT groups in other contexts helps target regional levels
- Tokenism (no action behind, only communication) Can be celebrated with very little Can divert from other national dates or events Is being used to mark political battlegrounds (then identified with one political context)