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http://www.atviri.lt/

Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman
SeimyniSkiu g. 1A, Vilnius 09312,
Phone: 2612660,
Fax: 2612725
E-mail: mvlgk@lrs.lt
El. paštas jumazu@lrs.lt

Other national partners:

1. Lithuanian Gay League (LGL)
2. Vytautas Magnus University
3. „Gaumina“ Ltd.
4. European Social, Legal and
5. Economic Projects
6. Center for Equality Advancement

DP Budget:

Action 1 Budget – 98.752 Lt
Action 2 Budget – 1.457.688.48 Lt

Employed and unemployed lesbians, gays and bisexuals of all ages, also employers.

To reduce intolerance for employees, experiencing discrimination concerning sexual orientation, to integrate and mainstream equal opportunities at work.

Goals:

For the first time to make a thorough investigation into the situation of gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the Lithuanian labour market, to ascertain the scope of their vulnerability, the reasons for their exclusion and possible ways of overcoming discrimination, to raise public awareness in this regard as well as to foster tolerance.

To develop, test and distribute on the basis of research and international experience a new model of equal employment opportunities (a set of methodology, tools and measures) among Lithuanian companies willing to implement the provisions of the Law on Equal Treatment in an effective/efficient manner.

Innovation:

Innovative approach of the project shows itself both with respect to the development partnership itself and its activities. For the first time in Lithuania new human and organisational forces have gathered together to form a development partnership (researchers, representatives of the private business sector, social skills development and target group organisations) that never before jointly dealt with the issue of reducing discrimination and inequality on the grounds of sexual orientation. This context-oriented innovation helps to create and retain the innovation culture during the project based on co-operation and interaction among different partners. Such a feedback among internal (including beneficiaries) and external sources gives added value to the interactive innovative process. Considering the national context, the community’s activities are also related with a new prospect of tolerance and equality of sexual minorities in the labour market as well as advanced practices of a few EU member states, which so far has not been tested in our country. Opportunities to work with new EU partners with a view of addressing the European issue of discrimination and inequality stimulates further innovations at the national level. Our activities assume innovative character due to the fact that research activities in the field of equality of employees representing sexual minorities are undertaken in Lithuania for the first time and they are both process and goal oriented. Representatives of target groups directly participate in investigation activities and have a chance to give their own proposals regarding the investigation and opportunities to monitor project resources, which delivers impact on the efficiency of the outputs and recommendations of the investigation. Sociologists will carry out an analysis that is completely new to Lithuania of the situation of employees of non-conventional orientation, which will open new opportunities for the participants of the project to achieve social integration in their organisations.

Furthermore, the following innovative elements will be tested:

1. Process oriented innovations:

- a new “module of equal treatment” will be developed, i.e. a set of methodology, tools and measures to ensure equal employment opportunities;

- during the development and implementation of the DP work programme innovative work planning, task assignment, monitoring and assessment activities will be piloted in special working groups designed for the efficient transfer of innovations;

2. Goal oriented innovations:

- for the first time in the public policy of Lithuania endeavours will be made to provide opportunities for a “new” social group; sexual minorities as a target group is still considered taboo, especially in the field of employment;

- new ways of providing training and professional development for gay and lesbian people and their opportunities to enter the labour market will be developed and tested in the Information and Mutual Assistance Centre – the laboratory.

3. Context oriented innovations:

- innovative changes to the conduct in a workplace so as to ensure that those representing sexual minorities are socially integrated;

- development and activities of a new co-operation network.

Activities:

• Preparation and presentation of research data.
• Establishment of the Information and Mutual Assistance Centre for the target group (direct beneficiaries) and educational activities.
• Preparation, testing and distribution of a new set of methodology, tools and measures to ensure equal employment opportunities.
• International co-operation activities.
• Activities related to the development of capacities of the public and target groups in the field of the prevention of discrimination; information and publicising activities.
• Project administration and assessment activities.

Planned results:

• A thorough research of the situation of the target group in the labour market and familiarising the public and the target groups with the findings of investigations and recommendations for improvement of the situation;
• Establishment of the Information and Mutual Assistance Centre and implementation in conjunction with the development partnership partners of its activities designed to eliminate exclusion of the target group and failure to realise the damage that discrimination brings, to develop professional competence and those of legal literacy, interpersonal communication and building up of the community and to provide opportunities to contribute to the processes of development of the project outcomes, testing and distribution;
• Development, testing and distribution of a new set of methodology, tools and measures to ensure equal employment opportunities;
• Sharing the outputs and experience of investigations, preparation of a single set of recommendations for the EU member states for the meetings of international working groups, presentation to the public and target groups of the issue addressed by the IDC and ways of dealing with it at international conferences, publication of the project outputs at an international level;
• Informing the public, decision-makers and target groups about the issue addressed by the project and implementation of the project outcomes at a national and international level;
• Proper implementation of project administration and assessment activities, use of subsidy funds and preparation of appropriate project reports.

Acquisition of IT and other professional, organisational, communicative, teamwork skills by the target group, reduced exclusion in the field of information and communication technologies.

Increase in the imitativeness and independence of the target group, enhanced motivation and self-confidence – at the end of the project all members of the group will actively seek to secure employment in the jobs created by the project or other local companies/institutions or to gain new or improve the existing qualification;

Conception of self-identity and revival of depressed self-esteem – at job interviews and in their workplace homosexual men and women no longer conceal their lifestyles and speak of them as a legal part of public culture;

Both heterosexual participants of the project and representatives or subjects of public policy, i.e. NGOs, public institutions, political parties, etc. to whom information about the project is provided become markedly more tolerant to openly declared homosexual orientation of their employees or job aspirants;

Subjects of public policy who are informed about the project have a better understanding of the significance of the EU equal treatment and anti-discrimination policies upon integration of representatives of all vulnerable groups (including those of sexual minorities) into the labour market.

TRACE (Transnational Cooperation for Equality)

DPs involved

Sweden

Under ytan (Beneath the Surface)

France

Deledios

Slovenia

Partnerstvo za enakost

Open and Safe at Work.lt

Activities:

Travel, accommodation, per diem and salary for participating in the transnational work.

TRACE hosted a workshop in the 2005 ILGA-Europe annual conference (ILGA-Europe: International Lesbian and Gay Association, the European region). In the workshop, the partners and the transnational activities were introduced. The second event where the transnational cooperation will disseminate findings to a public audience will be at an international research conference held in Sweden. The third event will be a follow-up conference, where findings – so far – will be presented. It will be arranged in Lithuania. The final transnational conference, where conclusions will be made and reported, is being arranged in Slovenia. The Lithuanian DP will host the ILGA-Europe annual conference in 2007. Such an arrangement would give the partnership an excellent opportunity to disseminate the findings of the transnational partnership among European NGOs focusing on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues. Between conferences, there will be a need for transnational meetings, where researchers, working groups, transnational coordinator and others will discuss and develop the partnership cooperation.

A joint information leaflet will be produced in the beginning of the project period. It will present the objectives and activities of the transnational partnership and the cooperating DPs. If needed, another leaflet will be produced later.

Findings and conclusions on research performed, with a transnational perspective, will be presented in a research report.

Findings and conclusions on the transnational partnership will be presented in a final project report.

Each national DP will, on their national web pages, develop a section especially devoted to the transnational partnership. A database with contact details of researchers and other organisations/persons working in relevant fields will be compiled. Other costs might be advertisements, working group reports and letters.

Planned results:

Generally, research findings, good practice and lessons learned within the transnational partnership work will be documented in publications/reports and on web pages. It will be spread (in conferences and meetings) within the participating partners’ own organisations and through their international networks, as well as to other key actors on the national and European level.

With the three pillars as a base, three working groups will be established:

1 – Research Group

Researchers will exchange experiences from different studies (i.e. performed in the first round of Equal), with the purpose to coordinate coming studies in one country with studies already performed in other countries. Through qualitative studies in the respective countries we will together develop concepts, theory and strategies that will enhance awareness about the heterosexual norm in different areas in working life and in different countries. The research-projects will follow each others’ progress and contribute through a common mutual discussion. A transnational researchers’conference will be arranged in Sweden in June 2006. The conference will offer one session focused on heteronormativity in working life co-hosted by the projects.

2 – Communication and Policymaking Group

In order to raise awareness and make sustainable changes in society, there is a need for communication and information efforts on all levels. EU institutions and networks on the EU level will be the main focus for this working group. At the beginning of the project period, an information leaflet will be produced and used in all contacts on a transnational level. Other communication tools could be radio programmes, newspaper articles, letters to stakeholders, the participation in conferences, the production of comic strips or other activities/products.

The “Communication and Policymaking Group” will be aiming to influence both social dialogue (communicating with trade unions and employers) and civil dialogue (communicating for example with the EU Parliament, the EU Commission and Pan-European networks and NGOs) using the tools mentioned above.

3 – Experience Exchange Group

In each country, there are a number of key actors that would benefit from exchanging experiences transnationally. The “Experience Exchange Group” will be responsible for linking relevant organisations and authorities together, in different countries, in order to exchange experiences on successful structures and methods in the field of preventing discrimination and promoting equality. These contacts will not only give inspiration on different ways to work, but also strengthen and support organisations/institutions that are new and inexperienced in the field of non-discrimination work. One specific task for the Experience Exchange Group will be to organise “Fact Finding Missions” in connection with meetings. On these missions, the mentioned key actors will be able to meet, discuss, exchange experiences and establish ways of communicating in the future.