Union activists from Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Northern Cyprus, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom will meet in Ankara for Kaos GL Association’s 3rd International Symposium against Discrimination.

The 3rd International Symposium against Discriminations will be organized by Kaos GL Association in Ankara on December 13-14.
The symposium will take place in dedication to the International Human Rights Day, December 10, at Tum Bel-Sen (Trade Union for All Workers of Municipality and Local Administration Services) Conference Hall. All the events are open to all and for free.
The Symposium that has been organized around the themes of rights-based struggle and social rights of LGBTs since 2012 will open “unions and the problems of LGBTs, women and youth workers” to discussion this year.
Joint struggle against discrimination for freedom!
 
Kaos GL Association stated its aim with the symposium as strengthening the human rights struggle and solidarity against the heterosexist practices by making these practices visible.
The Symposium will host international and local participants from the unions, umbrella NGOs and human rights organizations as well as the European Union institutions.
Opening speech will be made by both Yuri de Boer, policy advisor in the Council of Europe – Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Unit and Ulrike Lunacek, Austrian Green MEP and Co-President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBTI Rights.
With the call of “Let’s defend the rights of LGBTs as human rights!”, Kaos GL announces the full program:
The 3rd International Symposium against Discrimination
Tum Bel-Sen Conference Hall
Sümer 2 Sokak No: 29/7 Kat:4 Kizilay / ANKARA
 
December 13, 2014
 
13:30 – 14:15
Opening speech:
 
Yuri de Boer: Policy advisor, Council of Europe – Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Unit
Ulrike Lunacek – Austrian Green MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament (video message)
 
14:30 – 16:00
First session: The experience of umbrella associations in the field of LGBT, women and youth workers rights
Moderator: Ezgi Kocak, Kaos GL Association 
Salvatore Marra: President of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Youth Committee
Sandra Vermuyten: Equality and Rights Officer, Public Services International (PSI)
Dr. Peter Purton: Policy officer for disability and LGBT rights for the Trades Union Congress (TUC)
16:00 – 16.30: Coffee break
16.30 – 17.30
Second session: The union experience in the UK 
Moderator: Kursad Kahramanoglu, Member of Kaos GL Association, Former External Relations Coordinator for Unison
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah: Executive Director & Co Founder of UK Black Pride and Head of Campaigns for Public & Commercial Services Union
Gethin Roberts: Member of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners
17:30 – 18.00: Coffee break
 
18:00 – 19:00
Third session: The union experience in Germany
Moderator: Sevim Ozdemir, Kaos GL Union Working Group
Anna Braunroth – Legal advisor in the counseling unit of the German Federal Anti-discrimination Agency
Detlef Mücke – Confederation of German Trade Unions
December 14, 2014
 
13:30 – 14:30
First session: The union experience in Netherlands
Moderator: Marten Van den Berge, TIE-Netherlands
J. Vreer Verkerke: Transgender Europe board member
Anya Wiersma: Coordinator of Women’s Network of the Dutch Confederation of Labour Unions
14:30 – 15.00: Coffee break
15:00 – 16:00
Second session: Union movement in Cyprus and Turkey: Discussion on LGBT, women and youth workers rights
Moderator: Turkan Karagoz, Izmir Egitim-Sen Branch Number 2 LGBTI Commission
Saziye Kose: Co-chair of the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK)
Sakine Esen Yilmaz: General Secretary of the Education and Science Workers’ Union (Egitim-Sen)
Semen Saygun: Head of Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union (KTOS)
16:00 – 16:30: Coffee break
16:30 – 17:30
Third session: Union movement in Turkey: Discussion on LGBT, women and youth workers rights
Moderator: Berna Savci, Eskisehir Egitim-Sen, Kaos GL Education Working Group
Belkis Yurtsever: Trade Union of Employees in Public Health and Social Services (SES)
Meliha Beysulen: Women’s Secretary for Trade Union for All Workers of Municipality and Local Administration Services (Tum Bel-Sen)
Sibel Ozen: Women’s Labor and Employment Initiative (KEIG) Platform
Emrah Kirimsoy: Gundem Cocuk (Agenda Children) Association
The 3rd International Symposium Against Discrimination is organized in cooperation with TIE Netherlands (www.tie-netherlands.nl) within the scope of the “Human Rights at Work. Combating Discrimination Regarding Gender, Sexual Orientation and Age at the Workplace in Turkey” Project funded by European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
 
The 3rd International Symposium Against Discrimination is supported by SIDA, Embassy of Germany in Ankara, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Turkey Office, Tum Bel-Sen.