22/10/2012 | Writer: Hayriye Kara
Kaos GL made a call for ‘Lawyers’ Network Against Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity’. To join the network, all you need to do is write a letter of interest.
Kaos GL made a call for “Lawyers’ Network Against Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”. To join the network, all you need to do is write a letter of interest.
Emphasizing its attempts to monitor the legal processes while monitoring and reporting violations of LGBT people’s human rights, Kaos GL made a call for a network to expand the field.
The call from Kaos GL is as follows:
Kaos GL’s Lawyers’ Network Against Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
As Kaos GL, we have been working since 2007 on monitoring and reporting the violations of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) individuals’ human rights. While monitoring torture, ill-treatment and the violations of basic rights such as right to live and right of privacy, we aim at monitoring the legal processes of these violations at the same time.
During our monitoring and reporting the violations of LGBT people’s human rights, we often question the definition of “justice” as human rights violations against LGBT people mostly remain unpunished.
LGBTs are not taking legal actions due to their concerns regarding privacy and the lack of efficacy of the legal processes. Those who take legal actions feel almost obliged to keep in mind that they would be double-discriminated or that the justice would never take place due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Indeed, they are starting the legal process with taking the risk of being victim at the end.
One of the problems LGBTs face is that there are not many lawyers sensitive about homophobia and transphobia and that there is not a network for lawyers working in this field so that there could be a canal to share knowledge and experience.
All these processes make it difficult for LGBTs to access justice.
As Kaos GL, we want to make up an Anti-Homophobia/Transphobia Lawyers’ Network for lawyers who want to work in this field so that they can share their own knowledges.
Under the umbrella of this network, workshops with lawyers willing and interested to work in LGBT field in Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Diyarbakır and Adana-Mersin will be organized. Participants from other cities will be directed to those six cities.
During the workshops, exchange of knowledge and experience between lawyers on implications of International Conventions in domestic law, the ECHR precedents, sample cases from Turkey and the problems being faced and case analysis will take place.
Lawyers who will take the distance learning program will be informed about human rights violations of LGBT people and the works done in this field.
Meeting dates and places in 2013:
16-17 February in İzmir
2-3 March in Diyarbakır
23 March in Adana
24 March in Mersin
4-5 May in Ankara
* The Lawyers’ Network Against Discrimination is being co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and Dutch Embassy in Ankara
You can joint the network by sending a letter of interest to hukuk@kaosgl.org
Tags: human rights
