Category — International LGBT News

2000 feminists from 144 countries around the world gathered at the AWID Forum “The Power of Movements” to discuss the global women’s movement from all angles and perspectives. Meem was invited by the organizers to give a speech at the Opening Plenary “Woman Organizing and Transforming the World.” The Meem speech received a standing ovation from the participants who described it as provoking, bold, and honest. You can listen to the speech here.

Meem participated in a workshop that reached out to young people in schools and youth centers in Belgium to talk about the challenges of LGBT rights around the world. The experience gained in working with youth was important in helping us formulate a strategy to combat school homophobia in Lebanon in the future.

Austrian Member of Parliament, Ulrike Lunacek, presented Meem with a special award recognizing Meem’s courage, creativity, and commitment in the struggle for equal rights (i.e. for our awesomeness!) A Meem member was presented with the €500 award in Vienna to the standing ovation of over 200 LGBT activists from around the world. Lesbian group Labrys from Kyrgyzstan also received an award for their outstanding work, as did Aswat, Palestinian Gay Women, who won the Go Visible award.

Meem received a scholarship from the ILGA World Conference to attend and give a panel on feminism. Our panel consisted of a 7-point presentation on how to incorporate feminism into the LGBTI movement. Meem also participated in the women’s pre-conference, networked with different LGBTI organizations from around the world, and joined ILGA Asia taking on the responsibility to empower LGBT groups in West Asia.

A Meem member visited Belgium for 5 days in October as part of a team preparing a youth awareness project in schools and youth centers in the Flanders. She also visited the offices of ILGA Europe (the International Lesbian & Gay Association) and met with Patricia Cruzi, Women’s Program Coordinator.