Human Rights Campaign to Global Equality Fund

State Department Welcomes the Human Rights Campaign to Global Equality Fund

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
February 19, 2015

The State Department today welcomes the Human Rights Campaign as the newest Partner of the Global Equality Fund. The Human Rights Campaign joins a strong and diverse partnership of like-minded governments, foundations, and corporations dedicated to advancing the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons globally.

Launched in December 2011, the Global Equality Fund supports civil society’s efforts to advance and protect the human rights of LGBT persons around the world. The Fund has provided more than $17 million in over 50 countries to support civil society organizations and human rights defenders with emergency assistance in response to threats or harassment, to build organizational capacity for human rights, advocacy, and development, and to combat negative social attitudes and societal discrimination. The U.S. Department of State with the participation of the U.S. Agency for International Development, manages the Fund.

Through this partnership, the Human Rights Campaign and the U.S. Department of State will highlight how the investment in civil society through the Fund is working to create environments of non-discrimination, and seek to engage more business leaders to increase and demonstrate their commitment to LGBT equality.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBT equality. HRC works to strengthen the global equality movement by raising awareness of discrimination and persecution faced by LGBT people worldwide, supporting the efforts of LGBT organizations and advocates abroad, and advocating for an LGBT-inclusive U.S. foreign policy. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

As a Partner of the Fund, the Human Rights Campaign joins the governments of the United States, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, and the Arcus Foundation, the John D. Evans Foundation, LLH: the Norwegian LGBT Organization, the MAC AIDS Fund, Deloitte, the Royal Bank of Canada and Out Leadership. Together, these organizations are committed to protecting and promoting the human rights of LGBT persons worldwide.

For more information about the State Department’s efforts to advance the rights of LGBT individuals, please visit: http://www.humanrights.gov/dyn/issues/lgbt.html

ENDS

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