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This edition is dedicated to Colombia because of the different reports it has presented on human rights and the strategies that activists have designed to carry out political actions to include the subject of GLBT at a national and international level, which in turn help other countries reflects. Report presented to the United Nations spokesperson |
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Report presented to the United Nations
spokesperson for freedom of speech and opinion
Bogotá, (Human Rights Spanish Network).- The United Nation's spokesperson for freedom of speech and opinion visited Colombia and wrote an analysis about the country's situation. To do this he met with different organizations and thanks to the support of “Planeta Paz Sectores Sociales Populares por la Paz de Colombia” (Peace Planet Popular Social Areas for Colombian Peace), he met with “Mujeres al Borde” (Women on the Edge), who reported the inconveniences related to lesbian women, homosexual men, bisexuals and transgendered people. They spoke about comments made to the FARC (a leftist armed group) by President Alvaro Uribe about “homosexuality”, the negativism of a TV network that is managed by Catholics when they aired a show with a “gay” theme, stereotypes, mockery, morbid used by the written press, radio, TV, statements or releases made by State and private organisms, advertising campaigns and news reports that relate to the GLBT community and which generate exclusion and physical as well as symbolic violence. They finished with the case about a homosexual couple that lived in San Andres, who having filed a legal action, requested that their names be kept secret and the court agreed. When the sentenced was handed down, the media reported their names, facts and circumstances.
At the end of the meeting the spokesperson congratulated the women group for the report, for being the most organized and for how clearly the group understands the UN's command.
For more information write: alborde2001@hotmail.com / Back to top
Report for Amnesty International
Bogotá, (Human Rights Spanish Network)- Amnesty International has been doing research about gender violence in Colombia's armed conflict and reporting cases about the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgendered population, taking into consideration the fact that war aggravates “masculine”, “feminine”, and role playing stereotypes. Several cases were reported during the meeting, among them the deaths of homosexual men in several cities, including a Catholic priest. The threats under which people have had to flee areas under armed groups' dominance, the mandatory tests implemented by the FARC guerrillas in several municipalities in the so determined “safe zone” and people threatened who are currently missing. Also reported were the restrictions relating to apparel, not using earrings or hair color. (In areas run by the paramilitary as well as the guerrillas)
Marcela Sánchez, Alvaro Miguel Rivera y Germán Humberto Rincón Perfetti, presented the report. / Back to top
Bogotá, (Human Rights Spanish Network).- Colombia 's Ombudsman resigned. On October 2003, the Colombian Government sent its House a short list of candidates for the Ombudsman position to be filled by August.
A work group made up of lesbian women, bisexuals and transgendered (Lesbian Mothers Support Group, Women on the Edge, Duo Labrys and Independent Women) considered it an interesting idea to summon the three candidates to a session where they could present their general proposals and those that favor the social sector.
The Peace Planet Popular Social Areas for Colombian Peace Project were these women are members, was responsible for summoning the candidates and indigenous, Afro-Colombians, women, union members, youth, community movement, farmers, the media, environmentalists, the cultural sector and the GLBT sector. The meeting took place in Bogotá on Friday March 12, and Mario Gómez was the only one to accept the invitation. He presented his proposal, made references to aspects of each sector and answered questions from the panel at the end the session. In regards to the GLBT sector, he considers sexual orientation to be a free personality development, making it thus necessary to qualify the debate and to get familiar with all the requests and needs from this specific sector. Regarding hate crimes due to homophobia, he stated that there was not only police inaction, but that in addition it was necessary to train and educate the Police force.
The House of Representatives elected Vólmar Antonio Pérez, who is currently working as an Intern.
This proposal shows the spaces that the social sectors are seeking to impact public politics, develop power and citizen participation./ Back to top
Lesbian woman presents a speech to commemorate Women's Day
Bogotá, (Human Rights Spanish Network).- The following are the words spoken by Marcela Sánchez during the Women's Polyphonic Meeting that took place in Bogotá in March 1, 2004 , as part of the commemoration for International Women's Day.
“This commemoration on March 8th, starts by remembering all the years we, lesbian women, transgendered and bisexual, have remained in ostracism despite the fact that we have been around ever since the world was the world.
Although the different activities that commemorate March 8 th remind us of our fight for our human rights as women, we want to show that there is still a long way to go for the full recognition of the rights of lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered Colombian women. We haven't even been able to move forward from a supposed right to freedom of personality development, that when speaking about sexuality, in practice comes up short.
Women who dare defy heterosexual norms, those of us who love other women, those that dare break the strict gender norms, we seem to have a right to be but not to practice, just as we are reminded by several laws, biblical words and even constitutional sentences.
The right to freedom speaks about the possibility of opting to live sexuality according to our preferences and tastes; however, a lesbian woman can't sign up her permanent partner to social security. A transgendered woman might be able to but she might lose her rights over her children. A bisexual woman might be able to while risking be classifying as a pervert and not qualifying for certain jobs.
Therefore having a option other than a heterosexual one which is socially and culturally elevated, goes further than sharing erotic and emotional options with people of the same sex.
The State therefore doesn't give us any options; our democratic State doesn't do everything that it is within its reach to allow us to choose the way of life that we prefer. Our State chooses for us. Our State breaks it democratic promises of equality.
The bet for a modern and sexually democratic society isn't the fight of homosexuals, it doesn't report gains for us, and it is a bet for the entire society. A respectful society that promotes sexual diversity is a society with social justice.
The fights for our bodies, for decisions about them, defeating myths and taboos about the female sexuality, have been the fundamental demands of women and feminists. However, many of us remain with limited bodies, many others have not been able to acknowledge that they are lesbian, bisexual or transgendered due to fear.
One more time. Women: We have been with you throughout the years in the demands we have found ourselves, in others we have been there for solidarity, we invite you to be with us now in ours.”
Marcela Sánchez belalcazar1970@hotmail.com. / Back to top
