UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has launched this week a series of consultations to identify ways of ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) refugees are better protected against harm, and are able to seek justice and support when they experience violence and discrimination.
Echoing the theme chosen for this year’s International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT), “Justice and Protection for All”, the first round of consultations with LGBTI organizations and advocates took place today, 16 May 2019, in Geneva. Other consultations will take place in different parts of the world in the coming months.
“UNHCR has been working hard to ensure that LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees are protected wherever they are, but we need to mobilize further. This is why it is so important to hear from and join up forces with individuals and organizations that have expert knowledge on this issue,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
With over 70 countries around the world still criminalizing same-sex relationships, many LGBTI people continue to experience severe human rights abuses and persecution in their home countries. Forced to seek safety and protection abroad, they often face similar or even greater risks once arrived in neighboring countries.
UNHCR Field Office in Mae Sot organized a special event to contribute the awareness on IDAHOT Day.
Today UNHCR highlights on May 17, 2019, the international day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT). We are partnering with this global action against the discrimination and prejudice of members of the LGBTI community in the world.
UNHCR Field Office in Mae Sot organized a special event to contribute the awareness of this mobilization. During the event, there was a discussion on the protection measures taken to keep LGBTI refugees living in the camps in Thailand safe. A video of Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, delivering a statement to mark #IDAHOT was shown followed by a screening of the film ‘Mr. Gay Syria’, a documentary that was part of the 2018 Refugee Film Festival in Bangkok.
Join UNHCR today in supporting LGBTI refugees and refugees in Thailand.
