ALMA and the United Nations

ALMA’s human rights activism began in 2001 when, amidst much international controversy, six ALMA members took the “Lesbian Rights are Human Rights” motion to the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) Congress in Sydney. At this time this resolution was highly controversial. 

Against the odds, and with the support of the Australian Federation of Medical Women, the resolution was passed.  MWIA has consultative status with the UN and the presence of this resolution means that MWIA can advocate for lesbian rights internationally.

In 2001, this process awakened the realisation that ALMA could have an international impact which could be beneficial and protective for lesbian women.

After a seven year long process, on 7th August 2013, we received formal notification from the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations that they had awarded special consultative status to the Australian Lesbian Medical Association (ALMA).

This allows ALMA members to have a voice at UN ECOSOC meetings (the only UN body with a formal framework for NGO participation) and participate in come of the processes at the United Nations. This means we can provide expert analysis on issues, help monitor and implement international agreements and help raise public awareness of relevant issues.  The result is that ALMA members may be heard by a truly global audience and can contribute to the United Nation’s agenda.

The international subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC which  ALMA can now attend and make contributions to include:

Dr Janelle Trees' recount of her experience
speaking at the UN's Commisssion on the
Status of Women 2015