› Home › Partners › ADESPROC - LIBERTAD

ADESPROC - LIBERTAD

It was only in 2001 that Libertad became recognized by the Bolivian State as - the first - Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) organisation. For a long time, Bolivia refused to recognise homosexual organisations, and obtaining legal recognition was a long and difficult process for Libertad. Established in 1996, the organisation gradually became more visible. Today Libertad defends the rights of LGBTs in Bolivia and acts as a service provider to the community, providing a safe space to meet and counselling, organising discussion groups, running education and AIDS-prevention programmes, and providing a telephone help line.
Although Libertad is open to both homosexual men and lesbian women, in practice most of its beneficiaries is made up of (young) men. The transgender community is supported by Libertad mainly through its education workshops on human rights, health and Hiv/AIDS issues.
Libertad is a strong actor at the national level and an important reference for both governmental and non governmental organisations on LGBT rights. It is also active in the field of Hiv/Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, mainly by awareness-raising on the issue among the GLBT community and by lobby for access to treatment. Libertad has made the LGBT issues and rights visible among the public. Through a regulation institutionalizing the "Day of sexual and gender diversity", the municipality of La Paz has now recognized LGBT rights. Thanks to the leading role of Libertad in campaigns, an article on non discrimination on the basis of sexual and gender identity is incorporated in the country's (draft) new constitution. Libertad is member of the interinstitutional national Committee for AIDS prevention and is an active member of the national LGTB network composed of 21 organisations.
The pioneering work on LGBT rights is the main reason for Hivos to embark on support to Libertad in 1998. Now Hivos cooperates with Libertad for their continuing leading role in the Bolivian LGBT movement and their support to new upcoming LGBT groups.

Type organisatie	Membership organisation
Werkveld	Human Rights & Democratisation
Land	Bolivia
Opgericht	1996
Hivos partner sinds	1996

Proyecto Trienal 2006-2008

DAC-sectors:	Reproductive and sexual health (BSS) Human rights
Location:	Bolivia
Beneficiary:	GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual) people
Contract total:	165.000
Contractperiod:	01-01-2006 until 31-12-2008

Description:
The Libertad institutional three-year programme for the period 2006-2008 contains the following strategies: Mobilisation of the community: in order to empower the LGTB community throughout the country, this strategy aims to strengthen the organisational development of four LGTB organisations as well as sensitisation of the Bolivian public in general. The main activities are orientated towards: capacity building of the LGTB leaders on human rights, sexual and gender diversities at the leadership school that will be created, which comprises 5 seminars for 15 participants each on the concept of homosexuality, organising the first film festival on LGTB that will show 10 films that will include public debates with space for 120 persons each, 35 public debates on a weekly basis on sexuality and politics, and seminars on identity and political lobby. In the coming three years Libertad will also continue to organise the annual EXPOSIDA together with other organisations and government departments. This important AIDS prevention campaign is a tradition that Libertad initiated in 2002, visited mainly by 800 high school and university students of La Paz. Libertad will also be present at the annual GayPride, where 400 LGTB's will march; Providing services: this strategy will improve the quality of life of the LTGB community by providing services of quality with a human face. The activities ranges from 100 HIV/ Aids tests per year, the telephone help and advice line CONTIGO (with you) that can receive 500 calls per year, the establishment of the first information and resource centre on LGTB in Bolivia to the provision of 100 psychological therapies per year, juridical support and health services to 100 clients per year. Moreover a self-help group for family members of the LGTB community will be operative. Libertad also plans in these three years to develop a strategy to become a professional consultant on LGTB topics that is able to provide technical services for 10 pubic and private agencies in Bolivia; Institutional strengthening: this strategy aims to strengthen the management, operational system and the policy of Libertad itself, as well as to reinforce the external relations with relevant stakeholders in the field of human rights of sexual and gender diversity. The activities of this strategy are composed (among others) of training on planning, monitoring and evaluation and improving the overall management of the organisation, creating 9 strategic alliances with human rights and VIH/Aids organisations, training on political lobby for the leaders of the LGTB community, workshops on educational methodologies, reaching out towards remote LGTB meeting points, promoting Libertad's work in the media and on the website and systematising research data on the LGTB community.

Description:

The Libertad institutional three-year programme for the period 2006-2008 contains the following strategies:
Mobilisation of the community: in order to empower the LGTB community throughout the country, this strategy aims to strengthen the organisational development of four LGTB organisations as well as sensitisation of the Bolivian public in general. The main activities are orientated towards: capacity building of the LGTB leaders on human rights, sexual and gender diversities at the leadership school that will be created, which comprises 5 seminars for 15 participants each on the concept of homosexuality, organising the first film festival on LGTB that will show 10 films that will include public debates with space for 120 persons each, 35 public debates on a weekly basis on sexuality and politics, and seminars on identity and political lobby. In the coming three years Libertad will also continue to organise the annual EXPOSIDA together with other organisations and government departments. This important AIDS prevention campaign is a tradition that Libertad initiated in 2002, visited mainly by 800 high school and university students of La Paz. Libertad will also be present at the annual GayPride, where 400 LGTB's will march;
Providing services: this strategy will improve the quality of life of the LTGB community by providing services of quality with a human face. The activities ranges from 100 HIV/ Aids tests per year, the telephone help and advice line CONTIGO (with you) that can receive 500 calls per year, the establishment of the first information and resource centre on LGTB in Bolivia to the provision of 100 psychological therapies per year, juridical support and health services to 100 clients per year. Moreover a self-help group for family members of the LGTB community will be operative. Libertad also plans in these three years to develop a strategy to become a professional consultant on LGTB topics that is able to provide technical services for 10 pubic and private agencies in Bolivia;
Institutional strengthening: this strategy aims to strengthen the management, operational system and the policy of Libertad itself, as well as to reinforce the external relations with relevant stakeholders in the field of human rights of sexual and gender diversity. The activities of this strategy are composed (among others) of training on planning, monitoring and evaluation and improving the overall management of the organisation, creating 9 strategic alliances with human rights and VIH/Aids organisations, training on political lobby for the leaders of the LGTB community, workshops on educational methodologies, reaching out towards remote LGTB meeting points, promoting Libertad's work in the media and on the website and systematising research data on the LGTB community.

Defence and Promotion of LGBT Rights 2009-2011

DAC-sectors:	Reproductive and sexual health (BSS) Human rights
Location:	Bolivia
Beneficiary:	GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual) people
activity	Institutional strengthening
Direct outreach	25 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	60 - Intermediary level
activity	Community mobilisation and awareness raising
Direct outreach	1500 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	30000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
activity	Communication
Direct outreach	100 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	50000 - Policy level/ public opinion
activity	Services provision
Direct outreach	300 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	10000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Contract total:	143.900
Contractperiod:	01-01-2009 until 31-12-2011

Description:
In the project period, Libertad continues with its main programmes in support of the LGBT community, with an additional emphasis on improving the quality of its communication policy and activities. In order to achieve a better understanding of LGBT rights among the wider public, strategic alliances are fostered with opinion leaders who are willing to promote those rights. Information programs will be developed with at least three opinion leaders per year. With a more intensive media strategy, Libertad aims at influencing the way of reporting by the media. By 2011 at least 60% of the mainstream media should practice a more positive coverage of the LGBT community and their rights. Part of building a stronger social base for the cause of LGBT rights is to build cooperation with academic institutions for research, publication and exchanges with the LGBT community.. Libertad aims at having at least five cooperation agreements with several universities for this purpose. Lobby campaigns to improve government policies are conducted together with the community. An important target by 2011 is the creation of a specific body within the Vice Ministry of Justice that deals with sexual and gender identity. Educational activities and counseling services are being improved both in quality and outreach. Participation in the educational workshops and events are expected to reach 450 persons per year, half of which newcomers, or persons who did not participate before. For an expansion of the capacity of the helpline (telephone) "Contigo" at least 18 new operators will be trained. Libertad also aims at broadening its national and international networks.

Description:

In the project period, Libertad continues with its main programmes in support of the LGBT community, with an additional emphasis on improving the quality of its communication policy and activities. In order to achieve a better understanding of LGBT rights among the wider public, strategic alliances are fostered with opinion leaders who are willing to promote those rights. Information programs will be developed with at least three opinion leaders per year. With a more intensive media strategy, Libertad aims at influencing the way of reporting by the media. By 2011 at least 60% of the mainstream media should practice a more positive coverage of the LGBT community and their rights.
Part of building a stronger social base for the cause of LGBT rights is to build cooperation with academic institutions for research, publication and exchanges with the LGBT community.. Libertad aims at having at least five cooperation agreements with several universities for this purpose. Lobby campaigns to improve government policies are conducted together with the community. An important target by 2011 is the creation of a specific body within the Vice Ministry of Justice that deals with sexual and gender identity.
Educational activities and counseling services are being improved both in quality and outreach. Participation in the educational workshops and events are expected to reach 450 persons per year, half of which newcomers, or persons who did not participate before. For an expansion of the capacity of the helpline (telephone) "Contigo" at least 18 new operators will be trained.
Libertad also aims at broadening its national and international networks.

Defence and promotion of the rights of GLBT, Bolivia, 2009-2010

DAC-sectors:	Human rights Legal and judicial development Strengthening civil society
Location:	La Paz and Santa Cruz
Beneficiary:	GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual) people
activity	Mobilization and education of the LGBT community
Direct outreach	240 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	5000 - Intermediary level
activity	Public education and awareness raising on LGBT rights
Direct outreach	200000 - Policy level/ public opinion
Indirect outreach	1000000 - Policy level/ public opinion
activity	Capacity building of relevant government and private institutions
Direct outreach	1200 - Policy level/ institutional
Indirect outreach	10000 - Policy level/ institutional
activity	Advocacy for legal reforms
Direct outreach	100 - Policy level/ institutional
Indirect outreach	500 - Policy level/ institutional
Contract total:	184.927
Contractperiod:	01-01-2009 until 31-12-2010

Description:
The present two-year project, funded for 90% by the EU, is an intensive advocacy project on LGBT rights in four cities in Bolivia: La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz and Montero. In the two first cities, field implementation is the hands of Libertad. In Santa Cruz and Montero, the Hiv/Aids-oriented Hivos partner RedVIHda is responsible for the implementation. Supervising the two components and responsible for supra-local activities as well as the overall implementation of the project, is a coordinator, particularly recruited for the purpose. Despite the fact that the LGBT communities and their rights have become more visible among the public, discrimination of these communities is still common practice. Similarly, although certain legislation favourable to LGBTs has been promulgated, enforcement of those laws still falters. The project, aimed at promoting the rights of LGBTs and creating conditions favourable to the reduction of discrimination and stigmatisation of LGBT persons, therefore targets its activities at the LGBT communities themselves, the public at large and stakeholders in the relevant public institutions. LGBT persons, who often have internalized their marginalized social position, have to be empowered as to be able to defend their rights. This will be done through workshops on human rights, LGBT events such as gay prides, organisational capacity building and legal assistance. By the end of the project, at least 240 LGBT persons have developed their self esteem and ability to actively serve as defenders of LGBT rights. Public awareness-raising is conducted through a massive public information and education campaign. Mega city posters, radio spots and a variety of printed material is produced to this end. It is expected that the campaign has a favourable impact on the perception on LGBT issues of between 5 and 10% of the total population (3,5 million) in all four cities. In the public institutions, which include the police, the project aims at directly reaching out to 1200 employees. To this end, workshops will be held with selected personnel from these institutions. These workshops will deal with general issues related to LGBT rights as well as practical tools to defend those rights. The draft of the new national constitution has an article on no discrimination on the basis of sexual and gender identity, also thanks to strong lobby by the LGBT movement under the lead of Libertad. In the present project, lobby activities are conducted to ensure that the article is maintained in the constitution and that secondary laws and regulations are developed that concretely promote and protect the LGBT rights.

Description:

The present two-year project, funded for 90% by the EU, is an intensive advocacy project on LGBT rights in four cities in Bolivia: La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz and Montero. In the two first cities, field implementation is the hands of Libertad. In Santa Cruz and Montero, the Hiv/Aids-oriented Hivos partner RedVIHda is responsible for the implementation. Supervising the two components and responsible for supra-local activities as well as the overall implementation of the project, is a coordinator, particularly recruited for the purpose.
Despite the fact that the LGBT communities and their rights have become more visible among the public, discrimination of these communities is still common practice. Similarly, although certain legislation favourable to LGBTs has been promulgated, enforcement of those laws still falters. The project, aimed at promoting the rights of LGBTs and creating conditions favourable to the reduction of discrimination and stigmatisation of LGBT persons, therefore targets its activities at the LGBT communities themselves, the public at large and stakeholders in the relevant public institutions.
LGBT persons, who often have internalized their marginalized social position, have to be empowered as to be able to defend their rights. This will be done through workshops on human rights, LGBT events such as gay prides, organisational capacity building and legal assistance. By the end of the project, at least 240 LGBT persons have developed their self esteem and ability to actively serve as defenders of LGBT rights. Public awareness-raising is conducted through a massive public information and education campaign. Mega city posters, radio spots and a variety of printed material is produced to this end. It is expected that the campaign has a favourable impact on the perception on LGBT issues of between 5 and 10% of the total population (3,5 million) in all four cities.
In the public institutions, which include the police, the project aims at directly reaching out to 1200 employees. To this end, workshops will be held with selected personnel from these institutions. These workshops will deal with general issues related to LGBT rights as well as practical tools to defend those rights. The draft of the new national constitution has an article on no discrimination on the basis of sexual and gender identity, also thanks to strong lobby by the LGBT movement under the lead of Libertad. In the present project, lobby activities are conducted to ensure that the article is maintained in the constitution and that secondary laws and regulations are developed that concretely promote and protect the LGBT rights.

MYHIVOS LOGIN