Themed "LGBTI Community Celebrating 21 Years of a Democratic Legislature”, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) will host its second Sector Parliament for the Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Sector.
The first ever LGBTI Sector Parliament was hosted in November 2014, following a Dialogue held between GPL and the Gauteng LGBTI community in 2013, which indicated a lack of participation by the sector in governance and society as a whole.
The GPL convenes Sector Parliaments for various sectors of society in order to solicit feedback and provide an engagement platform for addressing service delivery challenges pertinent within each sector, for intervention by GPL and the Executive.
The 2015 LGBTI Sector Parliament will provide a platform for the LGBTI community to address its socio-economic empowerment and human rights challenges; as well as continue raising awareness on LGBTI, equality and human rights issues. The Sector Parliament will further enable and assist the GPL to exercise oversight in ensuring the recognition, protection, rights and equality of LGBTI people.
Details of the 2015 LGBTI Sector Parliament are as follows:
Venue: City of Tshwane, Bronkhorstspruit Sport Centre
Date: Friday, 2 October 2015
Time: 10h00
Over 20 years into democracy, South Africa still faces challenges of heightened violent and sexual attacks against the LGBTI community, which have resulted in the community being outcast from broader society. Each year’s Sector Parliament focuses on themes informed by consultation with the sector. This year, the focus will mainly be on: LGBTI community and families; Lack of economic empowerment and employment opportunities for LGBTI sector by government; and the Stigma and discrimination against LGBTI by other members of the community.
The Sector Parliament is targeting around 500 stakeholders from across the five regions of Gauteng. Gauteng Provincial Government; NGO’s; as well as other Sector key role-players have also been invited to take participate.
Members of the media are invited.
For more information or interview queries, please contact:
Ms Pfano Bulasigobo
Tel: 011 498 6381
Cell: 060 533 1982
E-mail: PBulasigobo@gpl.gov.za
