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11 - 14 March 2009, Los Angeles, California, USA This conference hosted by The Williams Institute at the University of Los Angeles’ School of Law, the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association (ILGLaw) and the City of West Hollywood. The focus of the conference was the development of legal rights of  LGBTI people around the world. A total of 70 speakers from 38 different countries spoke about the advances and setbacks experienced in gaining rights for the LGBTI community in their respective countries. In excess of 200 delegates attended.
The first day and a half consisted of 2 workshops on (1.) The Yogyakarta Principles (2.)The advancement of the rights of same sex couples. In the Yogyakarta Principles workshop various people shared about how advances had been made in the struggle for the rights of LGBTI people through the use of the Principles in advocacy and legal implementation. Task groups were given the responsibility to brainstorm the following areas.
- Yogyakarta version 2.0 – Ways to improve the next version.
- Academics – Research proposals around the implementation of the principles.
- Country Level Activism – How can activists promote the use and implementation of the principles in legislation?
- Strategies for attorneys and lawyers.
The task groups reported back and the results will be consolidated and distributed to participants. A feedback session was also held to inform the rest of the conference participants about the history and progress the implementation of the principles and some of the limitations.
A plenary was also held on Wednesday 11 March about LGBT Rights in Latin America and the advancements and hurdles experienced by lawyers and activists in that region.
A concurrent workshop was held on Strategies for Advancing the Rights of Same-Sex Couples. I was not able to attend these sessions as I was in the Yogyakarta Principles workshop. However we did have a report back on the last day about some of the outcomes of the workshop. It was reported that many countries around the world are considering civil unions or some kind of legislation around same-sex unions and that a number already have legislation in place. It was agreed that were possible the judiciary from around the world should be available to assist countries in the legislative processes in getting these laws approved and enacted in ways that guarantee the rights of LGBTI people.
I, Caroline Bowley of Gender DynamiX, had the privilege of presenting a paper on Act 49 of 2003 in which transgender and intersex persons in South Africa are able to apply to the Department of Home Affairs to have their gender marker on their birth certificates altered to show their new gender. A full copy of the presentation is attached. I was however only given 10 minutes and therefore had to condense the full presentation and only highlight the key facts. I also took the opportunity to call on all international community represented at the conference to please support Gender DynamiX when we proceed with court actions against the Department of Home Affairs to compel them to comply with the act in its broadest sense. I have had very positive feedback from many of those present.
This was a very constructive conference and I was able to make very good contacts with a number of people from the legal and NGO sectors. I also learned a great deal about how to use the Yogyakarta Principles to lobby for the rights of LGBTI people in South Africa. Please click here for the full Presentation. |
