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| » Previous Events in this conference cycle: | |||||||||
| » Identities in Transition: The Enkidu Summer Conference 2007 in Teatro Arlequin | |||||||||
| » Testimonial Texts, Stories, Lives and Memories: The Enkidu Summer Conference 2006 in Universidad Pedagógica Nacional (UPN) | |||||||||
| » Competing
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| » Masculinities and Male Sexualities: New Perspectives: The Enkidu Summer Conference, 2004 | |||||||||
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The Enkidu Summer Conference 2008: Storytelling, Memories and Identity Constructions México City, 3 - 7 July, 2008
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Projecting Our Voices, Asserting a Global Presence: From Repression to Recognition and Legitimization of the Gender and Sexually Diverse at the United Nations (UN) Nick J. Mulé School of Social Work York University Toronto, Canada The socio-political status of gender and sexually diverse populations (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, queer and questioning) vary throughout the world. These populations have a history of oppression and persecution in numerous countries which persists to this day. The United Nations (UN) represents a global organizational means with which to address the oppressions these communities face. Yet, even at this international human rights level, organized gender and sexually diverse communities face serious barriers in achieving recognition and legitimization. The ‘helpful’ interventions of Western queer activists need to proceed with great care, so as not to re-colonize via their neoliberal agendas. Principles are beginning to emerge to assist with a cautioned approach towards legal justice of which social work ethics can contribute to a further sensitized approach towards social justice. Cultural implications, traditional and developing, are at stake for both mainstream and gender and sexually diverse populations. This new area of international social work and human rights development is a sensitive terrain that calls for mindful, critical, ethical, principled discourse and practice in order to equitably be inclusive of the gender and sexually diverse on the global human rights scene. This paper will review the current socio-political status of gender and sexually diverse populations (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, queer and questioning) internationally, including their continued persecution in numerous countries. This paper will examine the degree to which gender and sexually diverse populations are recognized and legitimized at the United Nations (UN). It will explore barriers faced by gender and sexually diverse people on the global human rights scene at the UN inclusive of a collision of cultural rights. Proposed will be a dialogical mechanism that allows for the creation of a forum in which gender and sexually diverse populations can access, be included and actively participate in international development/relations human rights work carried out at the UN. About Nick J. Mulé Nick J. Mulé, PhD, is assistant professor in the School of Social Work at York University, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and a psychotherapist in private practice serving sexually diverse communities in Toronto. As a gay activist he is chairperson of the Rainbow Health Network, director and spokesperson for the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario, a founding board member of the Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition and a founding member of Amnesty International LGBT Action Circle. |
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