Working Group

Who are we?

The Amnesty International Ireland LGBT anti-discrimination working group was set up in November 2009 in response to growing interest among our membership on LGBT rights.

This was sparked by the controversy over Civil Marriage in Ireland, as well as regressive legislation targeting gays being introduced in a variety of States including Lithuania, Uganda and Burundi.

The group includes individual activists as well as representatives from LGBT organisations, meeting regularly to discuss issues of concern.

What do we do?

Working collaboratively the group has developed specific objectives to promote the rights of LGBT people both overseas and in Ireland. LGBT rights holders have led this work and this participation and empowerment are hallmarks of the human-rights based approach.

1. For the coming year the group will be working to achieve the following objectives:The Irish Government takes positive steps to reaffirm its opposition to the execution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
2. Amnesty International activists display international support and solidarity with the Baltic LGBT activists at Baltic Pride 2010 in Vilnius.
3. Through training in human rights and activism, Amnesty International develops a strong constituency of LGBT activists across the country who are able to stand up and demand their rights.

At a European level, Amnesty International is also engaged in fighting discrimination against LGBT people as part of its broader discrimination work

To find out more or to get involved in the group email lgbt@amnesty.ie