Transbalkanska solidarnost i Trans Mreža Balkan pozivaju vas da sudjelujete u 48-satnoj protestnoj akciji podizanja zastava usmjerenoj ka donosiocima odluka Europske unije i UN organizacijama koje finansira EU. Podizanjem zastave duginih boja “Nijedna osoba nije ilegalna” izražavamo podršku LGBTIQ osobama u pokretu koje su bez zaštite na Balkanskoj ruti.

Zašto trebamo poduzeti mjere?

Dobro je dokumentovano da su LGBTIQ osobe prisiljene na izgnanstvo zbog svoje seksualne orijentacije, rodnog identiteta, rodnog izražavanja i polnih karakteristika i opasnosti s kojom se suočavaju. Stoga je izuzetno iznenađujuće da njihova iskustva s opasne Balkanske rute nisu dokumentirana niti se djeluje u pravcu uspostave zaštitnih mehanizama.

Stoga, ovom akcijom želimo učiniti vidljivim:

• tešku situaciju LGBTIQ osoba u pokretu Balkanskom rutom,
• potpuni nedostatak zaštite za LGBTIQ osobe,
• nedostatak podrške mladim LGBTIQ osobama u pokretu, posebice maloljetnim osobama,
• odbijanje onih koji su zaduženi za zaštitu (UN-a organizacije kao što su IOM i UNHCR i njihovi partneri, kao što je DRC) da pruže zaštitu koja je u njihovom mandatu,
• rasističku i anti-LGBTIQ politiku Europske unije.

Zbog represivnog europskog graničnog režima i institucionalnog rasizma duboko ukorijenjenog u evropskoj historiji i sadašnjosti, dehumanizacija, ilegalizacija i kriminalizacija ljudi u pokretu postala je raširena sistemska praksa koju provode vlade duž Balkanske rute i Europske unije.

LGBTIQ osobe u pokretu izložene su istom nasilju kao i sve druge osobe u pokretu na Balkanskoj ruti: zločinima mržnje, nasilnim pušbekovima, nasilju policije i privatnih zaštitara. Štaviše, LGBTIQ osobe su, zbog svoje seksualne orijentacije, rodnog identiteta, rodnog izražavanja i polnih karakteristika, izložene dodatnim (psihološkim i fizičkim) oblicima nasilja unutar službenih logora koje protiv njih čine druge osobe u pokretu. Osobe koje žive i spavaju izvan logora, na ulici ili napuštenim kućama, dodatno su izložene, ne samo nasilju uzrokovanom ksenofobijom, islamofobijom i rasizmom, već i anti-LGBTIQ mržnjom.

Stoga Transbalkanska solidarnost i Trans Mreža Balkan zahtijevaju od Europske unije i organizacija UN-a koje finansira EU (prvenstveno IOM-a i UNHCR-a) i njihovih partnera (poput DRC-a) da:

• Organiziraju funkcionirajuće mehanizme zaštite i adekvatna skloništa za LGBTIQ ljude cijelom Balkanskom rutom!
• Zaustave nasilje i otvore granice!

Kako učestvovati u akciji?

Podignite zastavu duginih boja “Nijedna osoba nije ilegalna” (fotografija u prilogu) i pošaljite na:

the European Commission at 

Migration and Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson (commissioner):

cab-johansson-contact@ec.europa.eu

UNHCR

Refugee Status Determination Section

refworld@unhcr.org

IOM

Director General, Antonio Vitorino:

avitorino@iom.int

and 

Western Balkans Coordinator and Representative, Peter Van der Auweraert:

pvanderauweraert@iom.int 

DRC

Head of DRC, Claus Larsen:

claus.larsen@drc.ngo

Ako ste zabrinuti zbog svoje privatnosti, možete otvoriti novu sigurnu, anonimnu adresu e-pošte (npr. na http://www.protonmail.com ili na http://www.tutanota.com).

• podijelite zastavu duginih boja ‘nijedna osoba nije ilegalna’ (fotografija u prilogu) na svojim društvenim mrežama sa haštagovima 

#raisetheflag, #LGBTIQpeopleonthemove, #protestcampaign, #transbalkansolidarity, #transnetworkbalkan, #europeancommission, #eu, #iom, #unhcr, #drc #balkanroutegovernments

• podijelite ovaj poziv na akciju među svojim saborcima_kinjama i u vašoj zajednici 
• pošaljite email i/ili podijelite zastavu kad god u periodu od 29 – 30 juna/lipnja 2020

Poduzmite nešto odmah! Podignite zastavu duginih boja u solidarnosti sa LGBTIQ osobama u pokretu!

Transbalkanska solidarnost i Trans Mreža Balkan

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Zašto organizujemo ovu protestnu kampanju? 

Mi koji smo na terenu i u direktnom kontaktu s ljudima u pokretu godinama susrećemo i pružamo podršku LGBTIQ osobama. Duboko smo zabrinuti zbog nedostatka odgovarajućih mehanizama zaštite za njih i zahtijevamo od odgovornih da bez daljnjeg odgađanja uspostave funkcionirajuće mehanizme zaštite i odgovarajuća skloništa za LGBTIQ ljude u pokretu duž Balkanske rute.

Balkanska ruta

Već nekoliko godina smo svjedoci pakla Balkanske rute, neprekidno upozoravajući na nasilje koje sponzorira EU, te na kooptaciju i sudjelovanje UN-ovih agencija poput IOM-a, UNHCR-a i UNICEF-a u ovom zločinu protiv čovječnosti. Zbog represivnog europskog graničnog režima i institucionalnog rasizma duboko ukorijenjenog u europskoj prošlosti i sadašnjosti, dehumanizacija, ilegalizacija i kriminalizacija ljudi u pokretu postale su široko rasprostranjena raširena sistemska praksa koju provode vlade duž Balkanske rute i Europska unija. Kao posljedica ovih politika, broj umrlih na balkanskoj ruti neprestano raste. Na to smo upozoravali.

Potpuni nedostatak zaštite za LGBTIQ osobe

LGBTIQ osobe u pokretu izložene su istom nasilju kao i sve druge osobe u pokretu na Balkanskoj ruti: zločinima iz mržnje, nasilnim pušbekovima, nasilju policije i privatnih zaštitara. Štaviše, LGBTIQ osobe su, zbog svoje seksualne orijentacije, rodnog identiteta, rodnog izražavanja i polnih karakteristika, izložene dodatnim (psihološkim i fizičkim) oblicima nasilja unutar službenih logora koje protiv njih čine druge osobe u pokretu. Osobe koje žive i spavaju izvan logora, na ulici ili napuštenim kućama, dodatno su izložene, ne samo nasilju uzrokovanom ksenofobijom, islamofobijom i rasizmom, već i anti-LGBTIQ mržnjom.

Više puta smo se obraćali organizacijama UN-a. Zatražili smo od IOM-a, UNHCR-a i njihovih partnera kao što su DRC, koje financira EU, da se uključe u pružanje zaštite ljudi u pokretu, kao i grupama identificiranim kao ranjivim, tražeći uspostavljanje sigurnih prostora za LGBTIQ osobe koje su zaglavile na Balkanu. Pitanje nisu pokrenuli_e samo aktivisti_kinje, već i LGBTIQ osobe u pokretu, i unutar i izvan logora. Do sada smo od navedenih organizacija dobili_e samo deklarativne izjave da su „svjesne“ i „posebno osjetljive“ kada su ove grupe u pitanju. Ali ljudima nije potrebna osjetljivost, već konkretna rješenja i adekvatne mjere.

Nadalje, u Bosni i Hercegovini su organizacije koje bi ih trebale zaštititi u januaru odlučile protjerati jednu LGBTIQ grupu iz logora Ušivak, pod već uvriježenim sramotnim izgovorom neposlušnosti kućnih pravila. Protjerivanje grupe uslijedilo je nakon jednoglasne odluke svih organizacija u logoru (uključujući UN agencije) da prenamijene kontejner koji je bio rezerviran za LGBTIQ osobe, ostavljajući tu izuzetno ranjivu skupinu bez ikakve zaštite. Iako navedeni kontejner u Ušivaku nije bio adekvatna zaštita, zaista je razočaravajuće što su sve UN-ove agencije zadužene za zaštitu u Ušivaku pristale zatvoriti i ovu simboličnu mjeru zaštite.

Također moramo izraziti zabrinutost zbog nedostatka podrške mladim LGBTIQ osobama u pokretu, posebno maloljetnika_ca. Ne postoje određeni programi preko Balkanske rute koji bi podržali LGBTIQ ljude u pokretu, a kamoli LGBTIQ mlade. Ne postoje sigurne kuće u koje mogu biti smještene_i pripadnice_i LGBTIQ populacije, čak ni postojeće sigurne kuće / mjesta za ranjive skupine uglavnom nisu adekvatne i nisu sigurne za LGBTIQ populaciju.

Zaustavite nasilje i otvorite granice

Dana 19. juna 2020. Parlament EU je usvojio rezoluciju „Black Lives Matter“. Interesantno je napomenuti i to da EU koristi događaje u SAD-u da se proglasi antirasističkom i protiv bijele superiornosti, a da pritom ne priznaje vlastitu kolonijalnu historiju i trenutni rasizam i nasilje, a pogotovo ne nasilje koje vidimo kao rezultat europskog graničnog režima. Anti-rasizam za EU nije ništa drugo nego deklarativan, jer ne postoji ni spremnost za pokretanje procesa dekolonizacije, niti za suočavanjem sa vlastitim rasističkim i nečovječnim politikama i potezima prema ljudima u pokretu.

Budući da je juni prepoznat kao Mjesec ponosa širom svijeta, uključujući i u EU, ovu prigodu koristimo za pokretanje kampanje podizanja zastave duginih boja „Nijedna osoba nije ilegalna“ i zahtijevamo od EU da stanu uz LGBTIQ osobe u pokretu. Zahtijevamo od EU i UN organizacija koje EU financira da se pridržavaju svojih principa i pruže utočište i zaštitu LGBTIQ osobama u pokretu balkanskom rutom.

Pozivamo zemlje EU da poštede ljude ovih bespotrebno rizičnih i opasnih putovanja i otvore granice. Prestanite sa zločinima protiv čovječnosti sada.

Transbalkan Solidarity and Trans Network Balkan invite you to participate in a 48-hour flag-raising protest campaign directed at the European Union’s decision-making bodies and the EU-funded UN organizations, by raising the No One Is Illegal rainbow flag in support of LGBTIQ people on the move left without protection on the Balkan Route. 

Why do we need to take action?

It is well documented that LGBTIQ people are forced into exile due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics and the dangers they face. It is thus extremely surprising that their experiences from the perilous Balkan route are not documented and acted upon. 

Thus with this campaign, we want to make visible:

• the plight of LGBTIQ people on the move on the Balkan route,
• complete lack of protection for LGBTIQ people,
• lack of support for LGBTIQ youth on the move, especially minors,
• refusal of those in charge of protection (UN institutions such as IOM and UNHCR and their partners such as DRC) to provide the protection that is in their mandate,
• EU’s racist and anti-LGBTIQ border policies.

Due to the repressive European border regime and institutional racism deeply rooted in European history and the present, the dehumanization, illegalization, and criminalization of people on the move has become a widespread systemic practice conducted by governments along the Balkan Route and the European Union. 

LGBTIQ people on the move are exposed to the same violence as any other person on the move along the Balkan route: to hate crimes, violent push-backs, police and private security violence. Moreover, LGBTIQ people are, due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics, exposed to additional forms of violence (both psychological and physical) inside official camps committed by other people on the move. Those who live and sleep outside of camps, in the streets or abandoned houses, are further exposed, not only to the violence caused by xenophobia, islamophobia, and racism but also anti-LGBTIQ hatred.

Therefore, Transbalkan Solidarity and Trans Network Balkan demand from the European Union’s decision-making bodies and the EU-funded UN organizations (namely IOM and UNHCR) and their partners (such as DRC) to:

• organize functional protection mechanisms and adequate shelters for LGBTIQ people all along the Balkan route!
• Stop the violence and open the borders!

How to participate in the campaign?

• Raise the No One Is Illegal rainbow flag (photo attached) by sending it to

the European Commission at 

Migration and Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson (commissioner):

cab-johansson-contact@ec.europa.eu

UNHCR

Refugee Status Determination Section

refworld@unhcr.org

IOM

Director General, Antonio Vitorino:

avitorino@iom.int

and 

Western Balkans Coordinator and Representative, Peter Van der Auweraert:

pvanderauweraert@iom.int 

DRC

Head of DRC, Claus Larsen:

claus.larsen@drc.ngo

If you are concerned about your privacy, you can open a new secure, anonymous email address (e.g. at www.protonmail.com or at www.tutanota.com).

• share the no one is illegal rainbow flag (photo attached) on your social media with hashtags 

#raisetheflag, #LGBTIQpeopleonthemove, #protestcampaign, #transbalkansolidarity, #transnetworkbalkan, #europeancommission, #eu, #iom, #unhcr, #drc #balkanroutegovernments

• distribute this call to action among your comrades and in your community 
• send the email and/or share a flag anytime during June 29 – 30, 2020

Take action now! Raise the rainbow flag in solidarity with the LGBTIQ people on the move!

Transbalkan Solidarity & Trans Network Balkan

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Why are we organizing this protest campaign? 

We who are in the field and in direct contact with people on the move have been meeting and supporting LGBTIQ people for years. We are deeply concerned and worried about the lack of adequate protection mechanisms for them and demand from those responsible to, without further delay, put in place functional protection mechanisms and adequate shelters for LGBTIQ people on the move all along the Balkan route.

The Balkan route

For several years now we have been witnessing the hell of the Balkan route, continuously warning about violence sponsored by the EU, and the co-optation and participation of UN agencies such as IOM, UNHCR, and UNICEF in this crime against humanity. Due to the repressive European border regime and institutional racism deeply rooted in European history and the present, the dehumanization, illegalization, and criminalization of people on the move have become a widespread systemic practice conducted by governments along the Balkan Route and the European Union. As a consequence of these policies, the number of deaths along the Balkan route is constantly increasing. We have been warning about that. 

Complete lack of protection for LGBTIQ people

LGBTIQ people on the move are exposed to the same violence as any other person on the move along the Balkan route: to hate crimes, violent push-backs, police and private security violence. Moreover, LGBTIQ people are, due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics, exposed to additional forms of violence (both psychological and physical) inside official camps committed by other people on the move. Those who live and sleep outside of camps, in the streets or abandoned houses, are further exposed, not only to the violence caused by xenophobia, islamophobia, and racism but also anti-LGBTIQ hatred.

We have approached UN organizations on numerous occasions. We have asked IOM, UNHCR, and their partners such as DRC, who are funded by the EU, to engage in the provision of protection of people on the move, as well as groups identified as vulnerable, asking for the establishment of safe spaces for the LGBTIQ people stuck in the Balkans. The issue has not only been raised by us activists but also by LGBTIQ people on the move, both inside and outside the camps. Until now, we have only received declarative statements from the aforementioned organizations that they are “aware” and “specifically sensitive” when these groups are in question. But people do not need sensitivity but concrete solutions and adequate measures.

Furthermore, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the organizations who are supposed to protect them, in January decided to expel one LGBTIQ group from the camp Usivak, under an already established shameful excuse of disobedience of house rules. The expulsion of the group was followed by a unanimous decision of all the organizations in the camp (including UN agencies) to dismantle the container that was reserved for the LGBTIQ population, leaving that extremely vulnerable population without any protection. While the specified container in Usivak was not adequate protection it is really disappointing that all UN agencies in charge of protection in Usivak agreed to shut down even this small measure.

We also need to express our concerns about the lack of support for LGBTIQ youth on the move, especially minors. There are no specific programs across the Balkan route to support LGBTIQ people on the move, let alone LGBTIQ youth. There are no safe houses in which members of the LGBTIQ population can be placed, even the existing safe houses/places for vulnerable groups are not adequate in general, and are not safe for the LGBTIQ population.

Stop the violence and open the borders

On 19 June 2020, the EU Parliament adopted the resolution on “Black Lives Matter”. This is an odd curiosity: the EU is using the events in the USA to declare itself anti-racist and anti-white supremacy, while failing to recognize its own colonial history and the present racism and violence, not in the least the violence we see as a result of the European border regime. The EU anti-racism is nothing but declarative, as there is neither the willingness to initiate the decolonizing process, and to deal with their own racist and inhumane policies and actions towards people on the move.

Since June is recognized as Pride Month across most of the globe, including in the EU, we are using this occasion to start the campaign Raise the No One Is Illegal rainbow flag and demand from the EU to stand by  LGBTIQ people on the move. We demand from the EU, and the EU-sponsored UN organizations to live up to their principles and provide shelter and protection to LGBTIQ people on the move throughout the Balkan route. 

We invite EU countries to spare the people these unnecessary perilous and life-threatening journeys and open the borders. Stop committing crimes against humanity now. 

We invite all members of TGEU and our communities to work together to make TGEU an organization where racism, abuse, and silencing are unacceptable.

Yesterday, Trans Network Balkan participated in the TGEU Extraordinary General Assembly. Yesterday we witnessed the validation and even a return of harmful attitudes such as racism and a culture of power abuse to TGEU. We witnessed the validation of rumors over evidence, of politics over compassion. We watched members and candidates leave because the EGA was inaccessible, and we felt the emptiness that should have been filled by over 150 organizations and as many individual members. Many could not afford to pay to have their voices heard, or could not attend the EGA session live or online. We are deeply concerned, but we are not done.

We still believe that justice is possible, and that our communities deserve to be made fully aware of all the facts relating to the conflicts in TGEU. We demand that all the relevant reports and investigations are shared with the membership to the fullest extent possible, while protecting the privacy of individuals. We further demand that the exiting Board is held responsible for any and all of their actions which may have violated the Statutes and/or the legal and human rights of any member of TGEU. We also demand full transparency from the Interim Board in dealing with the conflicts that they stepped up to tackle, and we believe that the membership will support the efforts of the new Board if the Board members demonstrate a dedication to the values and wellbeing of our communities.

Those elected to represent the will and the best interests of our communities are elected to serve, and we will hold them up to this. We believe that the voices of our communities must be heard by the Board – those who look down upon their communities are looking upside down.

Trans Network Balkan stands in solidarity with all those who were harmed by racism and abuse of power which, unfortunately, still has a stronghold in TGEU. We stand in solidarity with those who were subjected to a public hate campaign and demonized despite the evidence to the contrary, and we deeply honor them for persevering and continuing to serve their communities while enduring daily cruelty and abuse. We honor those who carried the work of many on their shoulders, because they would rather sacrifice their own wellbeing than that of our communities. And while we honor them, we do not accept that this is necessary. We do not accept that anyone should be broken and burnt out by the precious work that they do.

We bow to no authority that is not substantiated by principles, we defer to no status titles, nor acts of dominance. We gave our voices and our confidence to those tasked with safeguarding and nurturing TGEU and its communities, and we will never again be silent when witnessing abuse of TGEU Staff and our communities.

-Trans Network Balkan