Uganda is just the beginning of the LGBTQI resistance's mobilization

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has approved a law making it illegal to be gay. But what is happening in Uganda is not happening by chance. It is a result of the ongoing mobilization of the so-called anti-gender movement, writes Levi Karvonen, international communicator at RFSL. Photo: Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office/Anete Lusina. Source: Flickr/Pexels.

Of: Levi Karvonen

One of the harshest anti-LGBTQ bills the world has seen in a long time has now passed in Uganda. This is part of a global anti-gender movement, which is growing stronger across the African continent. At the same time that the anti-gender movement mobilizes politicians and legislators against human rights, they receive publicly funded aid from countries in the global north. This is written by Levi Karvonen, international communicator at RFSL.

June 1, 2023, Debate

What is required for a world where everyone is free to decide about their body and sexuality?

A new UN commission has tried to point out a path towards a world where everyone has the opportunity to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. This is written by Hans Linde, union chairman at RFSU and member of the UN commission. Pictured: Demonstration for the right to abortion in Argentina. Photo: ProtoplasmaKid. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Hans Linde

Large parts of the world's population have little opportunity to make decisions about their own body and sexuality, despite the fact that the world's countries have time and again set ambitious goals. It is not difficult to see challenges, while a series of advances show that change is possible. A new UN commission has tried to point out a path towards a world where everyone has the opportunity to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. It writes Hans Linde, union chairman at RFSU and member of the UN commission. 

December 21, 2022, Guest chronicle

Living as a LGBTQ + person in Zambia has reminded me why Pride is needed

In some parts of the world, LGBTQ + people still have to hide who we are. It writes FUF correspondent Sofia Karlsson, who is currently in Zambia - a country where homosexuality is illegal. Photo: Ajay Mahato. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Sofia Karlsson

During the month of June, Pride is celebrated in several parts of the world. Many people see it mostly as an opportunity to dance in the street and wear a huge amount of glitter, but the first Pridethe parade was a political protest against harassment that LGBTQ + people were forced to endure daily. I'm bisexual myself, and after living in Zambia for the past six months, I've been reminded why Pride is still needed.

July 3, 2022, Chronicle

Week 19: debaters question new gender affiliation law and Swedish NATO membership

During the past week, debaters have, among other things, discussed the proposal for a new gender affiliation law. Pictured: Pride parade in Stockholm, 2018. Photo: Sparrow. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Hanne Karlsson

During the past week, several actors have debated whether a new gender equality law in Sweden would mean a necessary modernization or whether it would do more harm than good. The NATO issue has also remained on the agenda.  

May 18, 2022, Current debate

Chile legalizes same-sex marriage - more countries are next

The LGBT legal organization Movilh launched the campaign that would eventually result in Chile's new legislation on same-sex marriage. Photo: Javier Ignacio Acuña Ditzel. Source: Flickr.

Of: Tilda Janbrink

On December 31, LGBTQ people cheered as the Chilean parliament, after a four-year process, finally voted in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. Thus, Chile joined the now XNUMX countries where people of the same sex are allowed to marry each other.

December 16, 2021, Report

Week 24: Debate on flight and migration on International Refugee Day

Of: The Chancellery

New figures from the UNHCR show that more than 80 million people are currently on the run and that the number has more than doubled in the last ten years. This week, the debate has revolved around several aspects of flight and migration and several debaters believe that the rich countries in the world must take joint responsibility for the situation. Democracy and climate linked to the Chinese regime have also been debated and Swedish companies should stop assisting dictatorships in oppressing LGBTQI people.

June 21, 2021, Current debate

Aid actors have stopped turning a blind eye to trans and intersex issues

A person with eye shadow in the colors of the trans flag. Photo: Kyle, Unsplash

Of: Sofia Karlsson

Trans and intersex groups are particularly vulnerable to abuse, intimidation and discrimination. At the same time, they are underfunded by aid actors globally, despite the fact that the issue has now received more attention and the movement has made great progress. Swedish assistance to trans and intersex organization is a world leader, but many challenges remain.

May 18, 2021, Report

The EU takes up the fight against Poland's LGBTQ-free zones

In 2020, discrimination against LGBTQ people continued to increase in Poland. Photo: Unsplash

Of: Erica Frank

As in many other parts of the world, right-wing populism and discrimination against LGBTQ people have grown in Poland. For the past two years, the Polish government has declared a third of Poland's cities as LGBTQ - free zones. Reports from 2020 describe how the zones can both be seen as examples of how democratic institutions weakened during the pandemic, but also as part of a longer process of democratic degradation.

April 1, 2021, News

Can civil society reclaim space?

But when is disobedience legitimate? How can the conflict between the civil and the state be analyzed? writes Vsevolod Lukashenok. Photo: Takner, Flickr

Of: Vsevolod Lukashenok

Civil society operates in an increasingly shrinking space, state reports from CIVICUS, Forum Syd and Concord. In Russia, Turkey, Israel, Uganda and China, among others, freedom of expression, assembly and organization has been restricted. In order to conduct business in cases where the state monopoly of violence also becomes a monopoly of opinion, activists are forced to use civil disobedience - […]

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March 21, 2019, Chronicle