ABOUT US
IGLYO is the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Youth and Student Organization. It was created in 1984 as a reaction to the need for better co-operation among local, regional and national LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) youth and student organizations. Today the IGLYO network is an important meeting point for LGBTQ youth in the European region, having member organizations in almost every European country and beyond. IGLYO is registered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of IGLYO are to:
- Combat the discrimination and persecution of young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth;
- Promote and support the emancipation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth;
- Support partnership, co-operation and joint strategies on national and regional level.
ACTIVITIES
IGLYO seeks to reach its objectives by collaborating with different institutions at different levels. It carries out its work by collaborating with the Council of Europe and the European Commission in order to promote the participation of young LGBT people and their rights. IGLYO works to influence these institutions to support and include LGBT youth in their policies and lobbies, ensuring the voice of LGBT youth is represented in these institutions’ working priorities.
However, a substantial amount of IGLYO’s work is carried out by working with its member organizations. Every year IGLYO organizes an international conference or study session with a particular theme (such as Media, Health, Education, etc) reflecting the needs to be tackled by and for LGBT youth. At these conferences, up to 50 people gather and work together for a week on the theme of the event and discuss and exchanges personal experience in the field of the LGBT youth work and activism. Intercultural learning, exchanging new skills and international networking are typical examples of what IGLYO provides to its members. By doing this we aim to strengthen the capacities of member organizations and stimulate cross-border cooperation and joint projects.
IGLYO is a major source of information relevant for local youth groups and organizations. IGLYO’s work aims to build the capacity of its member organizations by providing spaces where information could be exchanged and shared. Through the IGLYO network, member organizations could also discuss best practices and liaise to develop joint projects, which target the organizations’ developmental plans (whether on a local, national and/or regional/transnational level).
IGLYO is involved in political work. It participates within youth structures on European and International levels. IGLYO is, amongst others, a full member of the European Youth Forum and ILGA-Europe (the European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association) and co-operates with the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe. Through its different events, IGLYO analyzes existing policies on LGBT issues and contributes to the estabilishment of more efficient strategies to fight the discrimination faced by LGBT youth. The spaces created by these events help IGLYO in developing a wider and stronger LGBT youth network on an international level, promoting values of acceptance and non-discrimination as well as increasing the participation of young LGBT people in the democratic decision-making process in their respective countries. Our cooperation with faith based organizations, but also with student organizations (such as OBESSU and ESIB) are an essential element of relating IGLYO with organizations working in different fields.