TGEU offers grants to encourage advocacy work of trans groups.

In this call, TGEU will give out five grants at 3.000EUR each (one per country) supporting the drafting of national or thematic shadow reports and accompanying advocacy activities. Shadow reports should be based on the LGBT Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers 2010(5). Grants will run from 20 March – 30 October 2018 with groups submitting shadow reports 30 July 2018.

We invite applications until 15 March 2018 to tgeu@tgeu.org.

We warmly welcome applications from trans-led groups, and particularly those that focus on trans communities facing greater levels of marginalization (e.g. racism, classism, ageism, ableism, misogyny and so on).

 

What are the Recommendations? Why do they matter?

The review of the LGBT Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers 2010(5) takes place in 2018/2019.

In 2010, the Recommendations became the “gold standard” for LGBT rights in Europe. They were the first and only agreement between governments to combat discrimination against transgender, and bisexual, lesbian and gay people in Europe. It defines a set of concrete measures member states should implement to improve the human rights situation for LGBT people in their country. The areas covered are very wide, reaching from hate crime/ hate speech, legal gender recognition, health, prison, asylum, sport, housing, employment and much more. Read more here on how the Recommendation matters for trans people: https://tgeu.org/trans-in-the-spotlight-tgeu-publication-on-the-committee-of-ministers-recommendations/

While the text of the Recommendation has become partly outdated, it is still the highest-level agreement on LGBT rights that states have signed up for in Europe.

 

The Review process 2018/2019

A first rather poor review took place in 2013. In 2018, all European states and civil society are invited to report how the Recommendations have been implemented in their country. The Council of Europe will draft a report based on these inputs. All member states will discuss these findings and potentially recommend updating the text of the Recommendations. This is particularly needed in view of new case law of the European Court of Human Rights, but also to include the perspectives of intersex people. In contrast to the first review process, this time civil society is actually invited to contribute directly to the process. This is a great chance to highlight where implementation has been lacking and which new rights need to be included, for ex relating to intersex people.

Member states are asked to self-report on how they have implemented the Recommendation until 30 June. This is also a great chance for civil society to engage with their national authorities.

 

Aims of the call:

  • Make the review process more meaningful and relevant for trans groups in Europe.
  • Improve the quality and quantity of submissions on trans issues to the review process.

 

TGEU commits to:

  • Giving out 5 grants at 3.000EUR each (one per country) to trans groups that drafting national /thematic shadow reports on the Recommendations (March – July 2018) and related advocacy activities (until October 2018)
  • Assisting trans groups in the drafting process
  • Providing methodology, templates, helpful materials and regular updates for the review process
  • Holding 2-3 online meetings at 1-1,5hrs each for interested activists (tentatively March, April, June, November) – not limited to grant recipients
  • Organising 1-2 study visits to the Council of Europe (tentatively November 2018, June 2019)

 

Priorities

TGEU will give priority to applications demonstrating:

  • The group is trans-led (at least 75% of decision making bodies are trans-identified or other ways of how trans people contribute meaningfully to budget and strategic decision making)
  • The group works with and for marginalised communities
  • both written submission and advocacy activities
  • Feasibility of planned activities
  • Realistic budget
  • Ability to cover a wide range of areas of the recommendations covered

 

Procedure:

If you are interested to participate in the review process and would like to apply for a grant, please a send complete application form until 15 March to tgeu@tgeu.org. Questions can be directed to the same address.