LGBTQIA+ CIVIL SOCIETY INVITED FOR THE FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT THE G7 IN MATERA
Gabriele Piazzoni, leader of Arcigay, represented the international P7 groups: "We demand full protection and equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals and families. Extend refugee protection for those fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, sex expression, or sex characteristics."“
Matera, Italy (October 6, 2024) – Representatives of the civil society affinity group Pride7 (“P7”) participated today in a Group of Seven (G7) dialogue with civil society and met individually with gender equality officials from G7 countries to ensure that the organization's shared values of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and economic inclusion are inclusive of the rights and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. This was the first time that the P7 participated as a recognized affinity group within the G7 consultation process.
The P7 delegation in Matera included Gabriele Piazzoni and Roberto Muzzetta representing Italian civil society (Arcigay/Italy); Akira Nishiyama representing Japanese civil society (Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation (J-ALL)/Japan); The Italian members of the delegation engaged the Italian government, the current G7 president; Japanese participation ensured continuity from last year's P7 Summit in Japan, which marked the creation of the P7 Affinity Group; and the Canadian group engaged the Canadian government, which will hold the next G7 presidency in 2025.
This G7 summit was a pivotal moment for the P7, which achieved several key milestones. For the first time, the P7 was invited to speak at the G7 Gender Equality Ministers' Dialogue with Civil Society, alongside more established engagement groups. Furthermore, an official G7 document mentioned the P7 for the first time as an affinity group aspiring to be recognized as a G7 engagement group. We are confident that the P7 platform will gain even greater visibility in the official proceedings at the next G7 summit.
During his speech, Gabriele Piazzoni, General Secretary of Arcigay, She explained the many challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community in Italy, but concluded that "it is an important step to engage our government in the context of its G7 peers and to encourage the Italian government—and all G7 countries—to take serious measures to dismantle all forms of discrimination and ensure full protection and equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals. We also call on the G7 to confirm and extend refugee protection for those fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, sex expression, or sex characteristics. Furthermore, we call on G7 governments to remove any obstacles that prevent the full recognition of same-sex families and the rights of their children.".
Akira Nishiyama, Deputy Secretary General of J-ALL, She expressed her excitement at seeing the P7 effectively engage with governments after its ambitious launch in Tokyo last year. She emphasized that "the P7 must continue to push all governments, but especially Japan, which is the only G7 government without a law against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and legal protection for same-sex couples," and which "remains inhumane requirements regarding legal gender recognition, to promote legal protection for all people regardless of SOGI.".
Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada, She is confident that Canada's upcoming presidency of the G7 next year will provide a broader opportunity to engage the P7 and LGBTQI+ civil society across the seven countries.
The co-presidents of W7, Rogato, Segre, and Tartaglia, they stated: “The W7 continues to contribute to the dialogue between civil society and institutions through a side event in Matera involving key stakeholders on equal opportunities from an intersectional perspective, a core value of the Italian Presidency and a pillar that will be followed in the years to come.”.
During the dialogue with civil society in Matera, the P7 participants welcomed the references of the Ministerial Declaration to LGBTQIA+ people, including these important recognitions:
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“We welcome the interest expressed by new engagement groups like Pride 7, as well as other groups currently being established, and look forward to their future development.”.
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“We express our deep concern about the backlash against the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people around the world, including in times of crisis, and we strongly condemn all violations and abuses of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”.
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“We reaffirm the G7's commitment to achieving full gender equality and protecting women and girls, LGBTQIA+ people, and all people from all forms of violence and discrimination, particularly those living at the intersection of multiple forms of discrimination, in order to create an inclusive society where the human rights of all are respected, protected, and realized.”.
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“Enhance actions to protect women and girls as well as LGBTQIA+ people from gender-based violence in public life and leadership positions, including politics, journalism, sport, and the media, whether it occurs offline or in the digital environment.”.
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“Strengthen international and cross-border cooperation and collaboration with international organizations to prevent human trafficking, support and protect victims and survivors, particularly women, girls, children and LGBTQIA+ people, as well as their families, and to prosecute perpetrators.”.
The Ministerial Declaration builds on previous references to equality in the Leaders' Communiqué gathered in Puglia in June, which expressed grave concerns about the rollback of women's, girls', and LGBTQIA+ rights worldwide, particularly in times of crisis; strongly condemned all violations and abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including conflict-related sexual violence; underscored the importance of addressing harmful gender norms, stereotypes, and practices, including in the context of education; and highlighted the importance of reliable sex- and gender-disaggregated data collection and monitoring.
>>> G7: The Group of Seven (G7) It was founded in 1975 as an intergovernmental organization composed of the world's largest developed economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The G7 presidency rotates annually, with Italy leading the group this year and Canada holding the presidency in 2025.
>>> P7: The Pride 7 (P7) It was launched at a Summit in Tokyo in March 2023, led by the Japanese LGBTQIA+ community, with the participation of government officials, diplomats, and LGBTQI+ civil society from other G7 countries. The P7 is one of several civil society coalitions that regularly consult with G7 leaders to promote the organization's values, such as human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and economic inclusion.
>>> W7: The Women 7 (W7) has been an official commitment group of the G7 Summit since 2018 (Canada). Civil society organizations unite to promote proposals on gender equality and women's rights to governments within the Group of Seven (G7) process. Based on the feminist principles of intersectionality and inclusion, the W7 brings together feminist organizations and women's rights groups not only from the G7 countries but also from around the world committed to women's and girls' rights. Its goal is to ensure that G7 leaders adopt concrete political and financial commitments that lead to a tangible, lasting, and transformative impact on the lives of women and girls everywhere.
Link to previous P7 statements:
