Description
This project reacts to public discourse about gender equality issues in the last year. Some political parties on the basis of this negative discourse started to enforce discriminatory legislation supporting only one form of the family and trying to exclude from support other forms (especially same-sex couples). The project aim is to create an argumentation base and platform for evidence-based advocacy in favor of discriminated types of families and balancing the negative discourse and raising awareness about gender equality and the status of same-sex couples in the Slovak online environment. The project also aims to strengthen active citizenship and to promote gender equality and coexistence of all types of families, including same-sex couples and families of transgender people through the creation of a platform of NGOs, legal analysis and litigation, research, policy papers, fact sheets and information and mobilization campaign. The target group are NGOs, public officials and LGBTI people.
Summary of project results
The project reacted to the situation after the adoption of the constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of only a man and a woman and the campaign preceding the referendum on the restriction of the rights of same sex couples. The aim was to create a base of argument and platforms for advocacy based on evidence in favor of discriminated types of families and counterbalance the negative discourse and raising awareness of gender equality regarding the status of same-sex couples in the Slovak internet environment. The aim of the project was the strengthening of active citizenship in the promotion of gender equality and coexistence of all types of families, including same-sex couples and transgender people's families through research, policy papers, fact sheets and campaign. The actual target was aimed at creating a base for advocacy in the future, thus ensuring sustainability in the future. It was created campaign platform "lifetime parntership" (which still last beyond the end of the project), and carried out research and on the basis of its reasults we created policy and legislative solutions in the future. We began the process of strategic litigation that will continue beyond the project and will be alternative strategy to achieve legislative changes in favor of same-sex couples.The campaign aim was to raise awareness of the public and particularly the involvement of the target groups of same-sex couples. The campaign was based on their personal stories, which have been shown in other countries as the most effective tool to change public opinion. They will also serve as a model for other couples who may be hesitant with their coming out. Youth involvement was achieved mainly throug photo campaigne at the Pohoda festival 2015. The round table under the auspices of the Ombudsman Jane Dubovcová helped in shaping strategy and strategic litigation and increasing awareness of constitutional experts and women experts. Some of the project outcomes such as final roundatble discussion and press conference, and publication issuing have not been achieved due to delays in delivering publishing/issuing services and due to long-term taking decisions taking into consideration the political (elections) and societal situation (anti LGBTI sentiments and campaining, referendum on same sex couple rights concerning marriages and child adoption etc.).
Summary of bilateral results