General News

Call for Submissions "Rising Through the Challenge: Documenting and Analysing Best Practices for Advancing Human Rights based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression".

ARC International and Mulabi are working in collaboration to present this conference from October 9thโ12th, 2009 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (A brief description of the sponsoring organisations is below.) By hosting this conference in Latin America, we acknowledge the recent constitutional, political and legal victories that have been achieved in this region, as well as the advancements made in terms of social awareness of gender/sexual diversity as an element that makes societies richer, and encourage organizations from around the globe to share and offer analysis about best practices that advance human rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mulabi ( http://www.mulabi.org ) is a non-profit, non-governmental, non-hierarchical organization bringing together activists from the Global South with different sexual, gender, ethnic, national (and other) identities. Mulabiโs mission is to work on issues related to sexualities and rights from critical and celebratory perspectives - including the promotion of autonomy and empowerment among those most excluded using their sexuality as excuse- as well as to circulate Latin American perspectives on these issues. In order to fulfil its mission, Mulabi uses the shared building of transformative knowledge as its main strategy.

This is only a call for submissions of 10-15 best practice case studies to be presented and analysed at the conference, and published in an on-line resource manual. A general call for applications to attend the conference will be circulated at a later date.

Organizations are requested to submit brief proposals (using the form below) regarding their particular best practice experience, no later than July 24th, 2009 to submissions@arc-international.net.

A selection committee will review the proposals and select 10-15 organizations to produce a narrative of 7-10 pages in length.

The criteria for selection includes:

A strong representation of best practices from various regions.
A diversity of organizations, for instance, general human rights groups, LGBTI groups, womenโs organizations, etc.
A variety of best practice experiences. Best practice can be broadly defined but some examples include initiatives such as campaigns, leadership development, specific advocacy, development of tools and resources, research, use of media and art to raise awareness/advance rights, community and/or movement development through cultural activities, etc
The ability to produce a strong written narrative in either English, French, Spanish or Portuguese and a short reflection piece, within the project timelines
The availability to present this narrative, preferably with supplemental visual, audio-visual or other material at an International Dialogue to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October 2009. Selected organizations will receive a honourarium of $750 USD to participate in this research. As well, all costs to attend the conference will be covered by the organizers. Some of the research is being conducted in conjunction with St. Francis Xavier University in Canada (pending approval). We look forward to hearing about your successful experiences!

SUBMISSION FORM

What is your name, city & country of residence, and contact information?
What is your organisational affiliation?
In 150 words, please describe your โbest practiceโ experience and why

you consider it to be an example of โbest practiceโ.

Please submit by July 24th, 2009 to submissions@arc-international.net