For many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) youth, the online world has opened up a new front for bullying, from insults and threats tied to their sexual and gender identity/expressions to rumor mongering and other forms of harassment.
Can the response to this harassment be as simple as “clicking to disconnect” from the bullying? Can trolls just be ignored?
These are among the questions that a panel of experts will be discussing as part of the upcoming webinar, “Click to Dis/Connect?”, being organized by the B-Change Foundation on 6 June.
Justine Sass, the Chief of UNESCO Bangkok’s HIV Prevention and Health Promotion Unit, will take part in the webinar along with representatives from the B-Change Foundation, Indonesian LGBT federation Arus Pelangi, the Ardhanary Institute, also from Indonesia, Google and many more.
Experts and key stakeholders from throughout Southeast Asia will share their knowledge about online bullying as well as strategies they have used to address it.
B-Change says that the seminar aims to: “Address bullying and violence against young persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions in online and offline spaces; discuss strategies and initiatives that protect privacy, enhance agency and counter surveillance; and, explore the various strategies for redress from the community and private sector across Asia.”
The webinar carries on from the main global theme of this year’s International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) campaign, which was a call to action to support LGBTI youth. It is linked also to UNESCO's broader work on homophobic bullying in educational institutions.
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2015
Time: 3:00pm-4:30pm (BKK•JKT) 4:00pm-5:30pm (KUL•MNL•SIN)
Register to attend here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/click-to-disconnect-online-violence-the-experiences-of-lgbti-youth-tickets-17146520705
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1414464478878159/
“B-Change Foundation provides care, support and advocacy services for young LGBTI people and their allies across Asia. The Foundation’s web-apps, social media and other web-based platforms connect young people to their peers as well as to community-friendly advocates, health care providers and support groups. Platforms created by the Foundation enable community-based groups to learn from each other and improve the impact of their advocacy work.”
Via: B-Change.org
For more information on UNESCO's work, please visit: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/health-education/homophobic-bullying/