Key Outcomes from Annual Conference on LBTI Human Rights
Key Outcomes from the Annual Conference to Advance the Human Rights of and Promote Inclusive Development for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Persons
Media Note
Office of the
Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 21, 2014
The United States was proud to host the third Annual Conference to Advance the Human Rights of and Promote Inclusive Development for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Persons (LGBTI) held in Washington from November 12–14. The conference was the largest such gathering to date, bringing together senior leaders from government, civil society and the private sector to discuss and strategize on how to most effectively protect the human rights of LGBTI persons and promote their inclusion in development programs. Thirty governments were represented from all regions as well as representatives from nine multilateral agencies, including the United Nations and World Bank. Key outcomes of the conference include:
• Joint Communique: Over 25 governments and multilateral bodies formally affirmed their commitment to increase cooperation to advance the human rights of and promote inclusive development of LGBTI persons through agreeing to support a Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. issued yesterday. The communique sets out important principles to guide our collective engagement and notes the signatories’ plan to continue to hold regular discussions on an annual basis to strengthen cooperation and coordination.
•
• Chile Joins the Global
Equality Fund: Chile became the first Latin American
government to support the Error! Hyperlink reference
not valid.. Chile joins a group of nine like-minded
governments, two corporations, three private foundations and
Out Leadership who are all dedicated to committing resources
to advance the human rights of LGBTI persons through
providing support to civil society organizations.
•
• PEPFAR Launches New Partnership with
Global Equality Fund: The President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) announced plans to provide funding
for the Global Equality Fund to document how stigma and
discrimination, including discriminatory laws and policies,
impede efforts to address HIV/AIDs, as well as undermine
human rights.
•
• New Initiatives to
Support the Human Rights of Transgender and Intersex
Persons: Private donors announced efforts to strengthen
assistance to transgender and intersex persons through
activist-led funding initiatives.
•
• Increasing Research and Data on
LGBTI-related Assistance: Activists, researchers, and a
number of governments expressed their intention to further
explore how to most effectively share information on
efforts, both diplomatic and financial, to further advance
the human rights of LGBTI persons.
•
The United
States and other governments greatly look forward to the
next conference to be organized by the Netherlands in early
2016 as an opportunity to continue to build the global
coalition of stakeholders in support of the human rights of
LGBTI
persons.
ENDS