In early July, AEGEE-Madrid organised an event about two important pillars in many, if not all, countries in Europe; these being ‘democracy’ and ‘equality’. The event got a special dimension by also including LGBT rights in the discussion. This further underlined the idea that there should be equality between both majority and minority groups. To know more, please continue our interview with Maria Ballesteros Melero from AEGEE-Madrid.

The AEGEEan: Who, within AEGEE-Madrid, organised this event?

Maria: Vicent Torres (secretary of the antenna) and María de la Torre (vice president) were the main organisers and the ones who decided to organise this event. We also had other board and active members of the antenna involved in the organisation of the event and the logistics during the event.

What was the event about?

Democracy: Where Are You Going was an event focused on debate about topics related to democracy and equality. We addressed subjects like how democracy works or the fight for equal LGBT rights in Spain.

Where and for whom did you organise it?

It was open for all AEGEE members and it took place at a youth hostel in the south of Madrid.

When did you organise it?

It took place during the first weekend of July (1-3 July), during the big weekend of the Gay Pride in Madrid. On Saturday, we had sessions on how democracy works in society, with practical games and with the collaboration of Óliver Soto, president of JEF Spain. We also had a very interesting debate with Miguel Ángel Sánchez, honorary president of Fundación Triángulo, who told us a lot about the fight for equal LGBT rights in Spain and how it evolved to become what it is today. On Sunday, we had a workshop about the history of democracy and e-democracy with Antonis Triantafyllakis, who is involved in the Euroland Agora project.

The evening program was focused on the Gay Pride activities in the city. We attended the Gay Pride Parade on Saturday evening, the major highlight of the whole celebration.

Why did you organise the event?

We wanted our participants to get a better grasp on how democracy works in Europe. We have noticed that we barely have events with content in AEGEE anymore and we wanted to change that. We also wanted to encourage the collaboration with experts and bodies that are not AEGEE in our events.

How did the event go?

I think it went great! We were a bit disappointed that the number of participants wasn’t higher, but after all we prefer quality over quantity. The contribution of members from other associations was very enriching for both participants and organisers and the debates were really interesting.

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

At the upcoming Spring Agora Bergamo, beside plenaries, prytania and workoshops, twelve Progress Meetings (PM) will take place. Excluding a Progress Meeting which will be on Friday afternoon, they will all be on Thursday and Saturday, divided in a morning slot and an afternoon one. Progress Meetings are a very important moment in AEGEE since we all can receive information about the current status of certain issues and our members can present new ideas they want to develop in the medium-long term. So go there and discuss about the future of our organisation!

On the second last session of the Progress Meetings, which will be on Saturday 21st of May from 11:45 – 13:15, two interesting PM will take place: “LGBTQ topics in Europe: what can we do?” and “My AEGEE development & White Paper in IT service”. As the titles of them are announcing, the first will be a thematic one, the second will discuss the progresses about an implementation AEGEE is carrying out for some years now.

LGBTQ topics in Europe: what can we do?

Ander Guerrero Ruiz on behalf of the Comité Directeur is the moderator of this interesting debate which will be on the 21st of May, starting from 11.45 in the “S. Lorenzo” room. The main discussions will be regarding the current situation on LGBTQ rights across Europe, analysing which are the countries recognizing and reducing them. But it is not over, during the debate we have the opportunity to take a look at the current situation within AEGEE and homophobia problems people may have noticed within it. The purpose of this Progress Meeting? Launch a huge European project for our locals about this topic!

My AEGEE development & White Paper in IT service

Pablo Hernandez Rodriguez for the Comité Directeur and Fabrizio Bellicano on behalf of the Information Technology Committee are the hosts of this meeting. It will take place on the 21st of May, starting at 11.45 in the “S. Alessandro” room. The topic is a very important one since it regards the implementation of our new online system which will be updated from a system of the 90s to a system of today. At this Progress Meeting, the implementation results of this issue, which AEGEEans really care about, are going to be shown. What is the aim of the meeting? Gather the most possible inputs to finalise the work and shape the system as AEGEEans would like to see it. For more information about this topic you can also read this interview the AEGEEan took with Fabrizio Bellicano who is the IT person developing the system and our Member of the Month of February 2016.

For more information you can download the Agora Agenda and the Workshops and Progress Meetings booklet.

Written by Mattia Abis, AEGEE-Cagliari

As Ireland’s citizens were voting to legalize gay marriages in a what has been called a historic referendum by international media, a group of students from AEGEE-Frankfurt flew over to Dublin to show their support of LGTB rights on this politically significant day for Ireland. “It was definitely a highlight to be in Dublin at the time of the referendum. We could basically feel the enthusiasm and the positive atmosphere of the city, as we saw supporting flags and posters on every corner as well as students distributing stickers” says Carolin Eißler, member of AEGEE-Passau who joined Frankfurt especially for this occasion.

The vote took place on Friday, May 22nd with the results being published the next day, showing a strong 62,07% majority in favour of gay marriage. Despite the positive response from the Irish population, a significant part of voters held on to their rejection of homosexual marriage by promoting the importance of traditional family structures. In between slogans such as This is about love and Equality and nothing else, contra posters with Nothing can replace the love of a mother covered the streets of Dublin.

Therefore, the main focus of the trip, in which half of the board of AEGEE-Frankfurt participated, was to promote sensibility for the importance of equality and human rights within the network and the world, especially because laws affecting LGTB rights vary a great deal internationally, ranging from death penalty to laws recognizing same-sex marriage. “Educational trips like this are a helpful way to bring a certain message across. In this case, it is the fact that homophobia and gay stereotyping are still existing, be it within AEGEE or internationally”, explains Alexander Sieber, who is Special Affairs Officer in the board of AEGEE-Frankfurt.

Julia R. Moniri, president of AEGEE-Frankfurt, who is very passionate about this topic, initiated the four day tour. She thinks that the referendum will fuel a big debate about LGTB rights. “Only 20 countries worldwide offer marriage equality. That’s why I think it’s good that a new debate started and people get the opportunity to reflect and rethink their positions. I can only hope that through new discussions and by spreading emotions, homophobia will get reduced. Anyway, I feel that at the end it is really all about love and equality and nothing else.“

Apart from the excitement of the referendum the local engaged in team building activities by exploring the pub culture in Dublin and the vast nature of Ireland.  “After an adventurous driving experience on the left side of the road, we stopped at a keltic settlement and then walked through a forest to see the upper lake of Glendalough – a breathtaking scenery and a good occasion to rest and calm down after the busy city life”, Caroline fondly remembers.

Frederic Renisch, former member of AEGEE-Mannheim, was exited about visiting the European branch of Facebook in Dublin, where around 1000 Europeans are working at this time. “Thanks to my friend, who works at Facebook for a little over a year now, we were able to enjoy a free lunch and later a guided tour through the offices.”

According to Julia the trip was a big success because everyone flew home with a positive feeling. After the completion of the Dublin trip, the board of AEGEE-Frankfurt is planning to continue their LGTB advocacy work by incorporating their experiences in local debates and events. They are hoping to create more tolerance and understanding within the AEGEE network.

Written by Alev Özdemir, AEGEE Frankfurt

On the 4th of February the European Parliament adopted (with a clear majority of 394 in favour versus 176 against) a recommendation for a future road-map against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. This seems to be a step in the direction AEGEE is pushing with the Policy Paper on Homophobia. But what does this road-map really mean? And how big can this ‘step’ be called? The AEGEEan decided to look at this subject with E.G. (AEGEE-Leiden) the previous Policy Officer on Homophobia. 

The recommendation is a non-binding way for the Parliament (which does not have the ability to initiate regulations) to push the European Commission to start developing regulations on a subject. This initiative was based on the fact that the European Union already stated that it disapproves of discrimination based on sexual orientation, becomes clear from international treaties[1] condemning discrimination as well as recommendations, resolutions and guidelines the European Commission and parliament previously developed on the matter.

Ulrike lunacek © EU

However as the recommendation stated, the 2013 EU LGBT survey showed that across the EU “one in two LGBT respondents felt discriminated against or harassed on grounds of sexual orientation, one in three were discriminated against when accessing goods or services, one in four were physically attacked, and one in five were discriminated against in employment or occupation”.

As Ulrike Lunacek (Austrian Member of the EP, author of the recommendation and Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup) states: “LGBTI people face serious problems in Europe today. Despite progress made in some countries, discrimination, violence and harassment continue to occur in all 28 Member States.”

Based on these numbers the European Parliament stated that it “believes that the European Union currently lacks a comprehensive policy to protect the fundamental rights of LGBTI people”.  So they decided to call upon the European Commission and Member states  “to work jointly on a comprehensive multi-annual policy to protect the fundamental rights of LGBTI people, i.e. a road-map”. Such strategies already exist in the field of Roma integration, discrimination on the basis of disability and gender equality.

Gay Pride Brussels 2011

The recommendation specifically looks at several specific places of discimination like employment, education (sharing of good practice throughout Member States’ youth), citizenship, families (all forms of families should be legally recognised), freedom of movement and freedom of assembly and expression (like pride events). So this recommendation is meant to get the European Commission to act.

E.G. (AEGEE-Leiden)

Something also E.G. (AEGEE-Leiden) would like to see: “The EU needs to do more than simply state that discrimination against LGBTI persons is unacceptable and must be addressed. It should, instead, come up with specific and practical solutions to overcome this practice.”

But the question remains whether this ‘road-map’ is a real practical solution. According to Eline “The proposed EU road-map is one more political step in the right direction when it comes to making an end to homophobia and discrimination based on one’s sexual preference. It is questionable, however, to what extent this ‘initiative from above’ will make an actual difference within EU societies.”

So although the Parliament is pushing the European Commission and Member States in the right direction with this road-map, a very long road remains ahead of us before we reach a European society free of discrimination based upon sexual orientation. The problem of discrimination calls for a more bottom-up approach from society. This also means that we as AEGEEans have a chance and maybe even an obligation to try and positively influence society around us, so it becomes more tolerant towards people with all sexual orientations.