Switzerland: National Council does not want discrimination in blood donation criteria —

Today, the National Council unanimously decided that the criteria for who may donate blood must not discriminate against anyone. If the Council of States also agrees, the de facto ban on men who have sex with men donating blood must finally be lifted. Pink Cross, Network and the Swiss AIDS Federation welcome this clear statement by the National Council against discrimination against gay, bisexual and queer men. Within the framework of the parliamentary initiative “Securing the blood supply and free blood donation”, the National Council commission had proposed an amendment to the law that would not allow discrimination in the blood donation criteria if they are based on risk behaviour. In future, individual risk behaviour should be the decisive factor in determining whether someone is admitted to donate blood, and the criteria must be scientifically justified. The National Council has approved the proposal, which now goes to the Council of States.

Nationalrat will keine Diskriminierung bei den Blutspende-Kriterien Medienmitteilung von Pink Cross, Network und der Aids-Hilfe Schweiz Mittwoch, 03. Mai 2023 Einstimmig hat der Nationalrat heute entschieden, dass die Kriterien, wer Blut spenden darf, niemanden diskriminieren dürfen. Falls auch der Ständerat dem zustimmt, muss das faktische Blutspendeverbot von Männern, die Sex mit Männer haben, endlich aufgehoben […]

Nationalrat will keine Diskriminierung bei den Blutspende-Kriterien — LGBTI Recht in der Schweiz – Droit LGBTI en Suisse – by Professor Andreas R Ziegler

Application online is still possible for the sixth edition of Leiden University’s
Summer School on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity in International Law
(The Hague, Leiden & Amsterdam, 25 July to 4 August 2023)

The draft programme for the 2023 edition of this unique summer school is online and includes expert speakers (from many continents, universities and organisations) who will discuss global and regional human rights, international criminal law, international economic law, international refugee law, and more. Some sessions will focus on legal aspects of intersex issues, of gender identity/expression, of sexual orientation, or on themes common to these forms of sex/gender diversity.

Participants learn about the history of the rights of LGBTQI+ persons in the international sphere, about current developments around the world and about the potential for future progress on equality. Several speakers have been involved in important precedent-setting court cases that helped to achieve some international protection against homophobia, transphobia and interphobia. Academic coordinator is Kees Waaldijk, professor of comparative sexual orientation law at Leiden Law School. 

Leiden University’s Grotius Centre has been offering this successful summer school since 2016, with very good evaluations. Each year participants have included lawyers, researchers, activists, officials and students from all over the world.  

Requirements for admission: Completion of at least one year of university education including several law courses, plus some knowledge of human rights law and SOGI issues. For participants and potential participants, a list of online video/audio/reading materials has been put together: the Leiden Overview on SOGIESC in International Law. These materials (some of which are by former and future speakers of this summer school) offer a good preparation for taking part. 

The summer school takes place in The Hague (the International City of Peace and Justice, and host to a growing campus of Leiden University), and for the last few days in Leiden (the main seat of Leiden University), and Amsterdam (where the annual Queer & Pride events are taking place around the dates of this summer school).

More information and online application form at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/summer-schools/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-in-international-law-human-rights-and-beyond. The deadline for application has been extended to 15 June, but will be closed earlier if the maximum number of participants is reached.

Please share this announcement widely!

And/or share any of these recent posts – each featuring an eminent speaker at this summer school:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=639090834913652&set=a.476303247859079  (Lisa Davis, CUNY, New York)

https://twitter.com/GrotiusCentre/status/1652967724836962304  (Paula Gerber, Monash University, Melbourne)

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7058735554787434498 (Paula Gerber, Monash University, Melbourne)

https://sogiesc.law.blog/2023/04/30/looking-forward-to-teaching-on-3-august-again-in-person-in-the-summer-school-on-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-in-international-law-the-hague-and-amsterdam-25-july-4-august-2  (Andreas Ziegler, University of Lausanne)

Nouvelle publication: Jacqueline Pousson-Petit, La vie privée et familiale des LGBTIQ – Un défi juridique

Détails sur le livre

Auteur: Jacqueline Pousson-Petit

Éditeur: PUTC

Publication: 30 mai 2023

Langue: français

ISBN-13: 9782361702663

Format: Broché

Pages: 291

Taille: 240 x 160 mm

Poids: 474 g

Voir: https://www.lireka.com/fr/pp/9782361702663-la-vie-privee-et-familiale-des-lgbtiq-un-defi-juridique

USA: Kansas’ new anti-trans bill is so extreme some cis women could be banned from toilets

Looking forward to teaching on 3 August again in person in the Summer School on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in International Law (The Hague and Amsterdam, 25 July – 4 August 2023) – you can still register! More information here: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/summer-schools/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-in-international-law-human-rights-and-beyond

Looking forward to teaching on 3 August again in person in the Summer School on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in International Law (The Hague and Amsterdam, 25 July – 4 August 2023) – you can still register! — Andreas R. Ziegler

Cook Islands repeals decades-old law criminalizing sex between men

The Cook Islands has decriminalized homosexuality and strengthened its law against rape in a sign of progress for sexual minorities and women in socially conservative Pacific island countries.

More: https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/pacific/cook-islands-homosexuality-decriminalized-04182023000741.html

European Parliament adopts first ever standalone resolution on universal decriminalisation of homosexuality and trans identities

On 19 April, the European Parliament debated the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality and trans identities; the accompanying resolution on the matter was adopted today. The topic was elicited by the recent developments in Uganda concerning the ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’, which criminalises homosexuality and consensual same-sex relations[1].

The adoption of the resolution is a landmark moment for universal decriminalisation of homosexuality as outlined in the Articles 24-26[2]. It reinforces the EU’s promotion of universal human rights in foreign policy and ensures that external actions shall be taken to consolidate and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law, as outlined in Article 21 TEU. Equally, it unequivocally opposes the use of death penalty or criminalisation based on sexual orientation or gender identity globally.

More: https://lgbti-ep.eu/2023/04/20/press-release-european-parliament-adopts-first-ever-standalone-resolution-on-universal-decriminalisation-of-homosexuality-and-trans-identities/

Uganda’s president rejects horrific anti-gay bill as it’s not extreme enough

15 EU countries, including Germany and France, join legal case against Hungary’s anti-LGBT law

More: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/04/07/15-countries-including-germany-and-france-join-legal-case-against-hungarys-anti-lgbt-law

Webinar series on the EU’s role in promoting family law for LGBTI families