Regional Events in dedication to Human Rights Day, December 10

Serbia, Albania, Armenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina were among the countries in the region with most in influencing human rights events.

 

In dedication to the International Human Rights Day, December 10, a number of regional countries have hosted events in their local cities.

 

LGBT organizations and feminist groups from Serbia, Albania, Armenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina were among the countries with most in influencing human rights programs.

Below, more details can be found regarding the events hosted in these countries:

 

 

Novi Sad Lesbian Organization and organization for lesbian human rights LABRIS / Belgrade hosted a promotion and public readings of a book “DISSENT LIFE” / Collection of lesbian short stories from ex Yugoslavian region.

The event hosted lesbian guests from Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia. Discussion about art ad activism started after readings. This event was open and public for those who want to be involved in building the piece and support of human rights.

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, on 10th of December, a protest march and an exhibition “Turn of the Dark” took place.

The event started with gathering on Plato across Andricev Venac, on Monday, 10th of December 2012 at 6 PM. The protest march followed a route from Kralja Milana Street to “Dom Omladine” building where various works made by the users of the programme was exhibited, that is, where the activities of the organisations working in the area of discrimination and minority rights were presented.

The slogans were:

WE BELIEVE that nationalism, racism, homophobia, sexism and all other forms of oppression have a common pattern!

WE ARE SURE that discrimination cannot be fought through individual, single actions!

WE SUPPORT indivisibility and equal status of human rights!

WE ARE DETERMINED in our intent to say that only through solidarity and joint strengths, we can fight discrimination and all forms of human rights violations in Serbia and therefore we are organizing this march and invite you

The meeting and the exhibition „Turn of the dark“ on the occasion of December 10th, International Human Rights Day, were organized by NGOs: Atina, The Center for Youth Integration, Labris – Lesbian human rights organization, Regional Centre for Minorities, Association of  Students with disabilities, Association “Space“ and Women in Black.

Related videos:

 

 

PINK Embassy and LGBT Pro Albania in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MoLSAEO), the People’s Advocate, the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination with the support of the MATRA Program, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Netherlands, organized a round table meeting “The respect of LGBT rights: Achievements and challenges”.

This meeting was held in the context of the International Human Rights Day. During this event the following presentations and discussions took place; the action plan of the working group raised by the MoLSAEO, the Special Recommendations of the People’s Advocate, the situation with discrimination in Albania from the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, the situation with the LGBT community in Albania and the challenges which public institutions and LGBT organizations face for the protection and promotion of human rights.

 

 

“Do you believe that artworks may change worldviews? Do you want to use your own brainchild, innovation, ingenuity and capacities to overcome social barriers and to create decent life? And you already imagine how to do that? Hurry up in becoming the part of “Act!” exhibition which creates opportunities right for you.”

This was the call of the Armenian organization Pink Embassy fort he “Act!” exhibition which is a forum of young artists, which intends to present the issues of HIV/AIDS and human rights by visual means. The aim was to present creations (painting, photography, graphics, caricature, miniature etc) and short descriptions accompanying those creations through which the issue of HIV/AIDS, its effect on human rights and on routine were highlighted.

The organization continued asking: “How does HIV/AIDS shape our view toward individuals that are affected by it and how does it affect our worldview? How does the existence of HIV/AIDS influence on sexuality and in sexual experiences in general, and how can artworks express this all visually?”

Related links: http://www.pinkarmenia.org/en/ 

 

 

December 9th 2012

Gathering with the community and distribution and presentation of new

Publications started at 5pm in Art kino Kriterion in Sarajevo. Through this association was presented new publications for and about the LGBT people and which have been

published recently in Sarajevo Open Centre. Film Paragraph 175, directors: Rob

Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, Great Britain/Germany/USA, 2000., 81. Minute, was

shown after the gathering, at 6pm, also in Art kino Kriterion. The film had Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian subtitles.

 

December 10th 2012

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day and in support of “LGBT

Rights are Human Rights”, the Office of the Council of Europe in B&H organized a

reception in Hotel Bosnia at 6.30pm.