LGBTQIA+
Call for Authors
1. Background
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) is committed to promoting human rights, democracy, and individual freedoms. In recent years, conservative and far-right movements have increasingly weaponized LGBTQ+ rights as a means to consolidate power and restrict civil liberties. The passage of restrictive laws in Hungary (June 2021), Georgia (June 2024), and Bulgaria (August 2024) exemplifies this trend, posing direct challenges to human rights organizations and democratic institutions. This project seeks to analyze these legislative rollbacks and identify effective coping mechanisms employed by civil society organizations.
2. Objectives
This study aims to:
• Examine the legislative and political conditions that facilitated LGBTQ+ rights restrictions in the focus countries.
• Assess the impact of these rollbacks on local LGBTQ+ communities and democratic governance.
• Document the coping mechanisms and advocacy strategies used by civil society organizations.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange among rights organizations, policymakers, and international actors to counteract these restrictions.
3. Scope of Work
The selected researchers and contributors will be responsible for:
• Conducting a comparative analysis of LGBTQ+ rights regression in Hungary, Georgia, and Bulgaria.
• Investigating the tactics and narratives employed by conservative and far-right movements to justify restrictions.
• Evaluating the response strategies developed by local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and civil society organizations.
• Analyzing the broader impact on democracy, governance, and human rights.
• Providing policy recommendations for international and regional stakeholders.
4. Methodology
• Desk research: Reviewing existing legal texts, policy documents, and relevant literature.
• Qualitative and quantitative data collection: Conducting surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with affected communities and civil society actors.
• Case study analysis: Documenting best practices and lessons learned from successful resistance efforts.
• Comparative analysis: Identifying common patterns and country-specific differences.
5. Deliverables & Timeline
• Inception Report: Outline of methodology and research approach – 28.02.2025.
• Draft Report: Preliminary findings, including case studies and analysis – 07.04.2025.
• Final Report: Comprehensive study with policy recommendations – 24.04.2025.
• Presentation & Knowledge Exchange: Participation in a dedicated launch event to present findings (TBC).
6. Submission Guidelines
• Abstracts (max. 500 words) should be submitted by 28.02.2025.
• Full paper (6,000 – 10,000 words) due by 24.04.2025.
• Papers must be in English.
• Selected contributions will be included in an FNF Series of Publications and presented at a launch event (TBC).
7. Application Process
Interested researchers and experts should submit their abstracts and inquiries to geneva@freiheit.org with the subject line: LGBTQ+ Rights Rollback – Terms of Reference Submission.
8. Eligibility
• Researchers, scholars, and practitioners with demonstrated expertise in human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, democratic governance, and legal studies.
• Civil society representatives with documented experience in advocacy and rights protection.
• Policy analysts with knowledge of regional and international mechanisms for human rights protection