On 12th annual conference of the European regional branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe) that took place in Vienna, Austria October 30th - November 2nd, 2008, the Russian LGBT Net has become a member of the ILGA-Europe, reports www.lgbtnet.ru.
The Russian non-governmental organization that fights for equal rights for LGBT people in Russia - "The Russian LGBT Net" effectively works since May 2006. On October 19th, 2008 the Organization was elevated to the Interregional public movement "The Russian LGBT Net". Today it is the first ever and the only one interregional LGBT organization in the Russian Federation that works for: collaboration with the Russian authorities in developing the legal acts and programmes aimed at decreasing of gay-hate level in the Russian society, management of information and educational activities, monitoring of LGBT peoples rights' violation, creation and support of the regional LGBT NGOs.
The European branch of the ILGA began its activities in 1996. Today ILGA-Europe has in its members more than 250 NGOs almost from every member state of the European Council and actively lobbies the LGBT community's interests in the EC, EU, OSCE and its bodies, supports the creation and management of the LGBT movement in ex-Soviet states and in Eastern Europe.
Translated by Yerdna Bananes