1. Patricia Curzi, Women’s Project Coordinator ILGA patriciacurzi@ilga.org

2. Why a joint workshop between ILGA and GenderDoc ?  GenderDoc 2005 health survey demonstrated that local health trends in Moldova corresponded with international findings  GenderDoc took outstinding local initiatives that can be inspiring for other organisations Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

3. Why a report on Lesbian & Bisexual women?  Most LGBT and women’s reports do not take Lesbian and Bisexual women’s specific issues into consideration  There is still little research on Lesbian and Bisexual women’s health issues (cfr HIV/AIDS)  The available information is only disseminated locally Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

4. Aim of the report  Share information and illustrate what has been done by local organisations  Raise awareness of LB health issues:  among LGBT organisations themselves  within the field of health care providers Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

5. Our approach  Collected material worldwide and selected chapters accordingly  Underlined local issues but also common concerns  Provided opportunity to women carrying out projects in “difficult” countries  Included interviews and texts written by women  Compiled bibliography of local organisations managing projects in the area in question (ex. GenderDoc, Labris, Unison) Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

6. Chapters  UN Human Rights Mechanisms: Putting Women’s Health on the Agenda  Control Over Women’s Bodies  Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS  Breast and Gynecological Cancer  Violence Against Women  Mental Health  Health Care Provision  Sexual Pleasure  Funders Supporting LGBT Projects  Findings and Recommendations Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

7. Findings  There is material available locally, but we do not know that it exists  Some projects are duplicated  Need to disseminate information locally, nationally and internationally  Need to raise awareness within the LGBT movement and among health care providers Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

8. Outcome Personal  Learnt, learnt, learnt and …enjoyed!  Challenged my own stereotypes  Strengthened my faith in women’s capacities Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

9. Outcome Global  Connected organisations working on similar projects  The report was translated into Chinese  Provoked requests to have the report translated in Spanish and French  The project led to cooperation with the Belgian Foundation Against Cancer on Breast & Uterus cancer prevention Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

10. Next ?  The report will be translated into Spanish and French  A brochure on Breast & Uterus Cancer prevention will be made available to all ILGA member organisations  ILGA plans to create a web-based platform to gather and disseminate information, starting with the present report  Local organisations will have the possibility to advertise their work on health on ILGA’s new website Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

11. What about you ?  Read, use, share the information, replicate the initiatives  One initiative can lead to another one  Show your local authorities what has been done abroad by their peers (ex. Health Ministry, local Cancer Foundation)  Consult the list of funders supporting women and LGBT initiatives  Advertise the report, available as a pdf at www.ilga.org  Place a link from the report to your organisation’s website  Support ILGA financially by making a donation for the report Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues

12. Don’t innovate, just imitate (when it is worth ) Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues