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Targets European Institutions |
| By Rex Wockner International News Report
 One hundred delegates from 26 countries turned out for the
International Lesbian and Gay Association's 20th European
regional conference October 22-25 in Linz, Austria.
They discussed plans for increased lobbying of the Council of Europe, the European Union and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. An "action plan" was developed to push for sexual-orientation protections in Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is being rewritten.
 The group also announced plans to screen candidates for
secretary-general of the Council of Europe and voiced its
opposition to the nomination of Walter Schwimmer who has voted
against gay interests while serving in the Austrian parliament.
The conference was addressed by Austrian Women's Affairs Minister Barbara Prammer at a reception hosted by the Minister President of Upper Austria and the Lord Mayor of Linz. Three members of the Austrian Parliament -- from the Social Democrat, Liberal and the Green Parties -- gave speeches at the opening plenary session. ILGA is a federation of 400 gay-rights groups from 75 countries, including, as of this year's confab, Albania. Next year's European regional gathering will be in Viareggio, Italy, and the 2000 meeting will be in Bucharest, Romania. ILGA's 1999 world conference will be in South Africa. |
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