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EGALE Representative Allison Brewer in Tiananmen Square, Beijing

Press Release

September 14, 1995

Lesbians at the FWCW Continue the Fight Against Discrimination

BEIJING, CHINA—As the Fourth World Conference on Women draws to a close, lesbians from around the globe continue lesbians from around the globe announced today they have made solid progress in their struggle to eradicate discrimination, intolerance and human rights violations against women based on their sexual orientation.In addition, members of the lesbian caucus say they have been deeply moved by the increasing number of government delegates who have been arguing for the inclusion of sexual orientation in the Platform for Action.

At a press briefing today in Beijing, a panel of women from Algeria, Peru, Canada and the U.S.A. urged governments and the UN to implement protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The FWCW represents the highest level yet at UN meetings where sexual orientation issues have been visible, deliberated and widely supported.

Many government delegates have recognised that lesbians continue to face diverse forms of repression including violence, job discrimination, loss of child custody, prejudice in emigration and other laws.

Canadians Allison Brewer and Shelagh Day of Equality for Gays and Lesbians and Everywhere, say lesbians were active in record numbers in all caucuses and events at both the NGO Forum in Huairou and the FWCW as they worked to advance human rights for all women. They said that, for the first time at an NGO Forum there was an official lesbian tent. It was visited by women from all around the world, and workshops and information were provided for thousands of participants. A two-hour long march swelled to over 500. Alesbian caucus member, Palesa Beverley Ditsie from South Africa addressed the UN Plenary at the FWCW on lesbian issues.

At the urging of NGOs from all continents, governments at the Prep Com in New York had agreed to the inclusion of lesbian issues in the Draft Platform for Action. The struggle in Beijing has been to ensure that human rights of lesbians are explicitly protected in the final document.

The work done by lesbians and their supporters at the NGO Forum and the FWCW has strengthened international organising to advance rights of lesbians at both the community and governmental levels.

Egale Canada ©2011

Égale Canada est l'organisme national de défense des droits des personnes LGBT, voué à la promotion de l'égalité, de la diversité, de l'éducation et de la justice.