In the year since Liberal International launched its Human Rights Bulletin, the final edition of the publication for 2015 – which has attracted contributions from senior ministers, UN diplomats, and prominent activists – has been released, with a focus in this edition on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights.
Contributors from Africa, Asia, and Latin America have written and been interviewed about their experiences in fighting for a cause at the heart of all liberals – equality. In this fourth edition of the Bulletin, politicians, activists, and advisors offered insights and practical advice for overcoming the challenges of standing up for minority groups in countries and across continents.
Writing about the landmark human rights manifesto for Africa, adopted in 2014 by member parties of LI cooperating organisation, Africa Liberal Network (ALN), ALN vice-president Rosemary Machua, of the Kenyan liberals, ODM (LI member), emphasised the importance of having a “human rights framework for Africa, by Africans”.
The fact that sexual orientation is included in the Declaration is a tremendous achievement for African liberals. It firmly entrenches our view that LGBTI rights are important, recognized, and above all that they are human rights
added Mrs. Machua.
Addressing the political challenges associated with supporting minority groups in conservative societies, the Director of the Department for Women’s Rights in the DPP (LI full member), Taiwan, Dr. Ching-yi Lin, spoke of her party’s unwavering commitment to LGBTI communities, changing social attitudes and, eventually, being able to bring about tangible changes in government.
Chair of the LI LGBTI Working Group, Frank van Dalen, conducts an exclusive interview with government LGBTI rights adviser, activist and journalist, Enrique Torre Molina, who shares his views on what more politicians can do to promote the respect and advancement of the LGBTI community.
Speaking in Mexico City, Enrique describes the situation for LGBTI people in Mexico and across Latin America more broadly and the role of young people in creating spaces to advance LGBTI rights adding that liberal values are the “essence” of the equality movement.
With no end in sight for the conflict in Syria and stagnation in eastern Ukraine, Liberal International will bring together an inter-continental delegation to hold strategic discussions on whether the responsibility to protect principle has a future in international relations.
Keep up with the debate or share your views with us online using the hashtag #LIHRC
Coinciding with International Human Rights Day on Thursday 10th December 2015, parliamentarians, NGOs, civil society actors, diplomats and journalists will meet in the European Parliament 10 years after the international community unanimously adopted the principle by world leaders.
The responsibility to protect is one of the LI human rights project’s core pillars of work. This important and timely meeting is made possible due to the kind support of our partners the Freidrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament (ALDE Group), and Mr. Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP.
As the LI human rights project concludes one of its most productive years on record, the pace of activity is set to continue throughout 2016. Take a look below at some of the prospective events and activities that we are planning and let us know if you would like to be involved.
In addition to four new editions of the LI Human Rights Bulletin and the awarding of the 2016 LI Prize for Freedom, the Liberal International Human Rights Committee will be engaged in the following events and meetings:
February:
March:
May
June
August
September
October
December
For more information please contact the Head of LI’s Human Rights Programme, Tamara Dancheva: tamara@liberal-international.org
