Friday, September 17, 2004

International Dialogue on Gender, Sexuality and Human Rights: Strategies for Change

Dear all,

We are excited to announce a conference entitled "International Dialogue on Gender, Sexuality and Human Rights:  Strategies for Change". ARC International is working in collaboration with with the Liu Institute for Global Issues to present this conference that will take place from December 9th to the 13th, 2004 in Geneva, Switzerland. (A brief description of both sponsoring organizations is below.)

We hope to be able to accommodate approximately 50 participants comprised of stakeholders in the international arena from all geographic regions, particularly those with experience at the CHR or similar UN fora. We invite you to apply by September 30th, 2004 using the form below.

Building on a smaller consultation held in Rio de Janeiro last year, and taking into consideration feedback from participants at the 60th session of the UNCHR, the goals of this Dialogue are to:

* Develop agreed-upon principles for working together (based upon CHRevaluation) and some basic structure, e.g. working groups;
* Carry out some CHR-specific training;
* Engage with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights;
* Identify strategies and concrete follow-up re: Brazilian resolution; some engagement with Brazil and key missions;
* Raise awareness of other CHR resolutions & identify lobbying priorities;
* Some engagement with Special Rapporteurs;
* Raise awareness of other international entry-points, e.g. International Criminal Court, UN Committees, Human Rights Committee, etc;
* Explore faith-based responses to human right issues;
* Identify regional priorities, and some engagement with key funders to assist in advancing those priorities.

In terms of funding, we are hoping to assist all selected delegates from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America to attend this conference. "Assisting" might mean direct funding through us, for which we have received monies from the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), or facilitating individual delegates to approach their own regional funding sources. We are still in the process of fundraising for conference activities and interpretation/translation,
and any assistance that individuals and organizations can provide, including letters of support, would be most appreciated.

As we confirm participants, speakers and venues we will send out more comprehensive information.

Sincerely,

Kim Vance, ARC International
John Fisher, ARC International
Robert Adamson, Liu Institute for Global Issue, Global Justice Program

APPLICATION FORM

1. What is your name and city/country of residence?

2. What is your organisational affiliation(s)?

3. What is the primary focus of your or your organisation's work (e.g. human rights, women's rights, sexual and reproductive rights, lgbt, faith-based, labour, youth, etc.)?

4. We are seeking funding to enable the Dialogue to take place, as much as possible, in both English and Spanish.  Please indicate whether you will be able to participate in either of these languages.  If so, which do you prefer?  If not, what other language(s) can you communicate in?

5. Why do you wish to participate?  What do you feel you would bring to the Dialogue?  What do you feel you would get out of it?

6. What international knowledge or experience do you possess (e.g. World Conferences, CHR attendance, regional conferences etc)? Please explain.

7. What regional/domestic knowledge or experience do you have (e.g. mobilising national networks, influencing governments, local activism or regional networking)? Please explain.

8. Please describe any ways in which your participation will help ensure a diverse and representative consultation (e.g. are you a member of a racialised/indigenous group, person with a disability, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intersex person, etc)?

9. Do you have experience working on sexual orientation or gender identity issues? Please summarise.

10. There will be a registration fee of US$200/Euros 175 to help cover the costs of the Dialogue.  Do you require funding assistance to attend? If so, please indicate whether you need support in paying for airfare, accommodation, a registration fee reduction or waiver and/or per diem meal allowance, and briefly explain why you or your organisation need financial support to attend.

11. Do you have any special or accessibility needs (e.g. dietary restrictions, wheelchair access, assistance with childcare etc) that you would like us to consider when planning this conference?

12. Is there any other information you would like to include?

Please apply by September 30 to arc@arc-international.net For more information, contact above e-mail address or phone Kim at 1-416-238-7981.

This conference opportunity is being facilitated by ARC International and the Liu Institute for Global Issues.  ARC International (www.arc-international.net) is a project-driven organization designed to make a contribution to the development of a strategic international LGBT human rights agenda.  ARC works cooperatively with existing domestic and
international organizations active on LGBT and related issues to foster the development of networks, positive communications and access to international human rights mechanisms through the development of resources.

The Liu Institute for Global Issues (www.ligi.ubc.ca), based at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, pursues interdisciplinary and policy-related research and advocacy on global public policy issues related to
human security. Its research agenda embraces international relations, human security, peace and disarmament, global public opinion and democratization, the environment, conflict and development, and global health and international justice issues.

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