Amsterdam, 12^th December 2007

From the 6^th to the 9^th December, about 60 young LGBT people from all over Europe gathered in Málaga, Spain, for the General Assembly of IGLYO (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth and Student Organisation).

The meeting was opened by Francisco de la Torre, Mayor of Málaga; Michael Cashman, Member of the European Parliament and Chairperson of European Parliament LGBT Intergroup; Björn van Roozendaal, IGLYO Chairperson; Rafael Moral Escudero, Secretary General Youth Section COLEGAS; Lina María Vidales, Disputación de Málaga; and Rafael Salazar, President of COLEGAS.

Over two days, IGLYO members debated on key documents for the future of the organisation. The adopted Strategic Plan for 2008-2010 gives a clear direction to IGLYO, and states:

Run by us, young people, and for young people, IGLYO is an international membership-based umbrella organisation that aims to empower its Members in better representation of LGBTQ youth and student issues. This includes being the voice of our Members to international bodies, institutions, organisations, and promoting cooperation and joint strategies between our Members.

The Strategic Plan 2008-2010 also states that IGLYO’s core focuses for the next three years are:

ü       Education

ü       Healthcare

ü       Human rights

ü       Inter-religious and intercultural dialogue

Björn van Roozendaal, outgoing Chairperson, declared: “The General Assembly has adopted a strong and clear direction for the next 3 years. This will make sure that the fight for a better world and better human rights is coherent, and supported by the biggest organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth and students in Europe and beyond.”

The new “Guidelines for LGBT-inclusive Education” were also presented, and they should help school boards in making their schools more welcoming for all young people. Board member Bruno Selun, responsible for this project, reports: “These guidelines should help young activists to make schools realise that LGBT pupils can be found everywhere, and schools must take measures that protect the whole school community—access to education is a basic human right, and must be respected.”

All the adopted documents, including the Strategic Plan 2008-2010 and the Guidelines will be available online soon.

IGLYO members also elected a new Board, composed of Augustas Čičelis, Lithuania; Bruno Selun, France; Claire Anderson, UK; Ilke Jaspers, Belgium; Lucy Nowottnick, Germany; Nanna Moe, Denmark; and Simon Maljevac, Slovenia. The new Chairperson will be appointed in January.

Note for editors:

(1) IGLYO is the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Youth and Student Organisation and works to combat the discrimination and persecution of young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth · www.iglyo.com

(2) The GMM is organised with the great support of Member organisation Confederación Española de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales y Transexuales (COLEGAS). The IGLYO Board gratefully acknowledges the following funders and supporters of this event: Consejo de la Juventud de Andalucia (Regional Youth Council of Andalusia); Instituto Andaluz de la Juventud (Regional Youth Agency of Andalusia); Ayuntamiento de Málaga (City Hall of Malaga); Diputación de Málaga; Consejo Juventud de España (National Youth Council of Spain); European Commission; European Youth Foundation – Council of Europe