Social Work with People Practicing Same-Sex ... - ILGA Europe

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While creating an alliance it is important to take into account and admit the specific
features of other coalition participants — cultural and gender differences, areas of
characteristics of activities, decision making process, etc.
While performing a certain small amount of work inside the coalition one should
compare it with the types of activities performed by other coalition members and a
common result, for the achievement of which all these activities are focused.
To build a coalition it is important to choose a problem, or an issue around which
the whole work will be built:
• Is the problem sufficiently important to enter the coalition in order to resolve it?
• Is it worth entering the coalition if the problem is insignificant and an expected
result is small?
• Will this campaign create a basis for the future campaigns?
• Will it contribute to the development of skill to strengthen the organization as a
whole?
• How important and interesting this problem is to the population (the problem
should be attractive — Americans say ”sexy“ — and “packaged“ to touch upon
many people).
Characteristics of successful coalition:
• Well organized.
• No formal structure. If a coalition is built on the basis of a Statute, with membership
fees and other formalities, it is harder for it to function.
• A clearly defined goal.
• No “dominating“ organization.
• Clear rules.
• Collaboration oriented.
• Specific characteristics of work of each member organization are understood.
• Delegation of authorities. Each organization or group should have specific duties
and areas of responsibility. It is most difficult to distribute them between the
coalition members.
• Unconditional and complete informing of all coalition members about all activities.
Ideally, everybody should have an e-mail and a special mailing list is created to
regularly inform the members. A special working group can be established to
discuss working issues and inform about the results.
• Coalition celebrates big and small victories and achievements.
General coalition rules:
• The goal is clearly defined and understood by all participants. At the same time, each
individual organization should pursue its own goals and have own “interests“.
• Decisions are always made by all coalition members.
• All members have equal rights.
• One person should speak on behalf of the coalition.
• Free and open membership. An unlimited number of participants. Coalitions
should strive for a broad membership, but should never admit organizations, that
do not entirely share its goals.
• “Do not wash your dirty linen in public”.
• Do not criticize coalition members in public.
• Equal opportunities for all.