Strengthening International Connections

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Jan 29, 2018
by Louise Hallman
Strengthening International Connections

Salzburg Global LGBT Forum brings together country ambassadors to strengthen international efforts to advance LGBT rights

In October 2016, the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum was held in partnership between Salzburg Global Seminar and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its Being LGBTI in Asia program in Chiang Rai, Thailand. As part of the session, a dedicated “Ambassadors Panel” was convened with the ambassadors to Thailand from Canada, Sweden and the UK, and two lawmakers from Bhutan and Venezuela. Together they discussed how activists can build coalitions, improve communications and solve issues with donors, agencies and governments.

Salzburg Global LGBT Forum invites its Fellows as individuals, not just as institutional representatives, and encourages them to share both their expertise and life experiences. Moderating a panel of ambassadors and legislators, Sir Michael Kirby, former Justice of the High Court of Australia invited the eminent speakers to open the panel by sharing their personal reasons why LGBT issues are of importance to them. Aside from their role as representatives of states or governments, each spoke movingly as parents of LGBT children, as open members of the LGBT community or as individuals that support equality.

Moving back into their professional roles, the panelists agreed that despite the growing momentum for LGBT issues in recent years, there is always a possibility of retreat despite accelerated progress. “We need to keep aware and prepared because progress is not linear,” recommended one ambassador.
With the recent examples of third-gender recognition, it was discussed how some embassies manage third-gender passports in visa applications. There were calls to bring attention to often-marginalized LGBT communities in post-conflict environments. For one panelist, the work of embassies centers often on urban centers, with more effort needed to reach rural LGBT communities.

“It is imperative that the international community recognize that inclusive development has to address the barriers to equality faced by LGBTI communities,” said Donica Pottie, Canada’s ambassador to Thailand. “This requires strong partnerships between government, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders.”

Panelists warned that in recent years there is less money and more competition for civil society projects. It was discussed how groups can draft realistic plans that might be successful in applying for support from specific government and agencies.

Panelists encouraged Fellows that indeed it is often civil society activism and lobbying that has triggered policy reform, with the example of grassroots work that led to global treaties on land-mines.

“An active civil society will likely further necessary progressive social and legal change that will advance LGBT peoples’ rights, health and wellbeing,” said Staffan Herrström, Sweden’s ambassador to Thailand.

Although topics such as homosexuality, sex workers or gender might be unfamiliar or uncomfortable for policymakers, it is crucial to inform politicians of LGBT issues in ways and a language they understand.

Often government officials perceive LGBT issues as a distant topic because they lack accurate information or statistics.

Many questions were addressed: Where are the potential entry points that civil society can use to further engage with governments and donors? How can they improve access to policymaking processes? How can we facilitate LGBT participation in human rights reporting mechanisms? The discussion also highlighted how some governments currently address LGBT issues within their development and social protection priorities and identified where further opportunities exist.

“It was great to have such a wide ranging discussion from such a diversity of perspectives. Engagement across the three pillars of civil society, government and the donor community is essential to developing effective agendas for economic and social inclusion,” said Brian Davidson, Salzburg Global Fellow and the UK’s Ambassador to Thailand. “I will be taking back the lessons from today to inform the approach of my own Embassy in supporting the work of LGBTI groups in Thailand.”

“This conversation builds on a series of meetings and engagements of the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum with numerous foreign offices and other government ministries and agencies,” commented Klaus Mueller. “Continuously bringing LGBT human rights groups and government agencies together is vital for a better understanding of how both can collaboratively and independently advance equality and inclusion of LGBT people and communities.”

With the diplomatic participants coming from Western governments, it was acknowledged that ensuring the presence of ambassadorial Global South representatives is at times difficult. The mixture of cultural sensitivities, adherence to governmental policies, or reservations about public support for LGBT issues still cause reluctance to express open support. But this is gradually changing. At the UN level, more countries are joining coalitions or voting in favor of UN decisions supporting LGBT rights.

“Today’s conversation between ambassadors, lawmakers and civil society highlighted that governments remain key partners in promoting and protecting the inclusion of LGBTI people,” said Edmund Settle, Policy Advisor for UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub. He echoed the sentiments of the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum by saying: “We look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that marginalized groups, including LGBTI people are not left behind.”