2013_Report - SRSG on Violence Against Children

If standing up for equal rights is an endless ocean,
then the year 2013 was an emotion-laden journey of ICS
LGBT COMMUNITY
EMPOWERMENT
Campaigning for the Amendment of the
Law of Marriage and Family unlocked an
opportunity for ICS to promote
networking activities for LGBT people
in provinces besides Ho Chi Minh City
(HCMC) and Hanoi, whereby the message
about equal rights of LGBT was conveyed.
More LGBT people took cognizant of their
own human rights, and standed by ICS in
the Law advocacy campaign. More and
more individuals and couples freely shared
their own stories through the media,
helping society gain accurate
understanding of LGBT people.
The event "Awakening of Rainbow" took
place in 04 cities and provinces in Vietnam.
In HCMC, more than 2,000 LGBT people and
allies partook. Upon admiring the rainbow flag
drawn up, many LGBTs burst into tears out of
happiness, courage and inspiration.
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Viet Pride 2013 marked the joint forces
of LGBT people in 12 cities and provinces
throughout Vietnam. About 10,000 LGBT
people and allies partook in this landmark and
action-packed event. It also drew the interest of
media and society.
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MAIN ACTIVITIES
Organising public events, making the community's
presence felt and boosting their confidence
Connecting LGBT people in provinces and technically
supporting their groups
"I came out as homosexual with my parents last
month. They found it no mean feat to accept, but
now everything is getting better. My mom started
joining PFLAG on November 23rd, 2013. ICS has
changed my whole life."
A letter from a gay child to ICS
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Collaborating with UNDP to organise the National
LGBT Conference
Connecting transgender people with the community;
promoting their voice to society and law makers
Organising monthly sharing sessions on LGBT
issues concerned
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MOBILIZING SOCIAL
SUPPORT VIA THE
CAMPAIGN FOR THE
AMENDMENT OF THE
LAW OF MARRIAGE
AND FAMILY
As opposed to 2012, when LGBT allies
had been primarily PFLAG, journalists and
students, this year 2013, more celebrities,
influencers, CSOs and the public voiced
their support for the LGBT community.
"I DO" is an online campain appealed for equal
marriage. Many people of all ages and
professions partook. After only one month afer
launching, the Facebook fan page of "I DO"
reached over 70,000 followers.
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PFLAG joined hands with ICS in the Law
advocacy campaign. Moreover, PFLAG had
been on standby for many LGBT children
and allies.
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"I support and go by your side for each one
deserves happiness."
Duong Trung Quoc, Member of Parliament
"Same-sex marriage is a social reality and
international issue that we can't avoid. It needs to be
dicussed and adjusted carefully in the amendment of
the Law of Family and Marriage."
"The Law of Family and Marriage directly
involves human rights. The amended Institution
focuses on human rights. It's time to remove the ban
of same-sex marriage and we can't interfere with their
rights of cohabition."
Hoang The Lien, Deputy Minister of Justice
Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister
"Homosexual people are the same as others. They all
deserve equal rights of every human."
Trinh Thanh Binh, Member of Parliament
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MAIN ACTIVITIES
Partaking and appealing to the LGBT community
for dialogues with law makers through consultation
workshops on the amendment of the Law of Marriage
and Family
Updating the LGBT community on the Law
advocacy campaign
Consulting LGBT community about the draft
of the Law
THE SHIP NAMED ICS
After five-year growth with movements,
experiences and lessons from LGBT
advocacy campaigns, we have become an
independent organisation and all geared up
for forthcoming journeys. We are credited
by national and international partners.
On top of that, ICS is clearly of the opinion
that only by inner strength can positive
and long-term changes be initiated,
by virtue of which, from 2014, one of our
core strategies is to empower
LGBT community.
Working with the media enhancing the voice of
LGBT community
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The Embassador of Sweden to Vietnam
participated in Viet Pride 2013 hosted by ICS
in HCMC.
Representatives from the USAID International
and ICS exchanged experiences in working
with LGBT people.
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ICS in the spin-off event in Hanoi, December
2013. Full of hope and enthusiasm though we
knew that the road ahead would not be easy.
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2013
MORE THAN WORDS
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events, conferences, training workshops, talk
shows, etc. have been (co-) organised by
ICS to change society's attitude,
disseminate knowledge/information on
LGBT, campaign and communicate with
policy, connect and inspire
LGBT community.
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TV programmes, broadcasts, articles on
LGBT and same-sex marriage have
initiated multilateral and prolific viewpoints
open to society's discussion. "LGBT" has
increasingly become a demotic phrase
instead of "pê dê", "bóng", "ô môi" which
were previously used by media.
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2,000
youngsters attended 14 talk shows at
universities, youth clubs and peer groups.
Our secret, openness, respect and relish,
it is that stimulates students and
changes their attitude towards LGBT
after the events.
5,000
documentary publications, books, leaflets,
posters of knowledge about diverse
sexuality, LGBT rights and booklets for
PFLAG are at LGBT community's
fingertips, such as is for those who want to
understand LGBT.
100,000
views and downloads of publications and
video clips on LGBT knowledge produced
by ICS.
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