LGBTI Program Overview

LGBTI Rights are Human Rights

Every day, throughout the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people face violence, harassment and discrimination because they reject socially imposed gender roles and because they have intimate relationships with same sex partners. Every day, they experience emotional, physical, legal, as well as financial coercion by their own families, communities, religious institutions, and governments in violation of international human rights norms.
The overall objective of the LGBTI Campaign is to achieve full and international recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender, intersex people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

The LGBTI Campaign has seven specific objectives, namely:
(1) to coordinate efforts in advocacy, outreach, education and reform of the national law, policy and social marginalization of the LGBTI community through building a local network of civil society, professionals, political leaders, the media and others;
(2) to build local capacity and political will towards the elimination of discriminatory LGBTI laws, policies and conditions in the country through working with the local network;
(3) to create a comprehensive understanding of the extent of discrimination encountered with regards to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights through mapping the current situation of the LGBTI community;
(4) to contribute to longer-term capacity building of local target groups and stakeholders for advocacy and reform efforts through creating a network of international collaborators who can work together with local target groups in a coordinated and harmonized manner;
(5) to provide LGBTI persons with legal advice and representation before courts of law, tribunals and other administrative bodies including at police stations;
(6) to engage in a dialogue with local and national media in bi-lateral meetings with the goal of gaining public visibility;
(7) to encourage/put pressure on the United Nations to adopt a Resolution to end discrimination against the LGBTI community worldwide. This would make people aware of the extent of the discrimination of denial of fundamental rights that the LGBTI community suffers.

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