Publication
Government of Mexico and the civil society organisation Rainbow Railroad to cochair new Thematic Working Group on Humanitarian Protection
11 July 2025
Government of Mexico and the civil society organisation Rainbow Railroad to cochair new Thematic Working Group on Humanitarian Protection
For some time, Member States and civil society organisations of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) have wanted to address the humanitarian protection needs of LGBTQI+ people, and to acknowledge the growing impact of the anti-gender movement in generating crises that disproportionately affect this community.
At the most recent ERC Conference in 2024 in Berlin the issue of humanitarian protection was of keen interest. This initiative seeks to use the working group process of the ERC to address the critical protection challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals and communities in humanitarian crises, including armed conflicts, forced displacement, natural disasters, and climate-related emergencies.
This new Thematic Working Group on Humanitarian Protection aligns with the strategic objectives of the ERC, particularly:
- Eliminating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and sex characteristics.
- Ending the criminalization of LGBTQI+ persons.
- Expanding and strengthening the Coalition’s operational capacity.
With a structured approach, the group will focus on three interrelated areas:
- Humanitarian Protection: The group will examine measures to ensure that humanitarian response mechanisms are inclusive and accessible to LGBTQI+ individuals at high risk, fostering collaboration between grassroots actors, UN agencies, multilateral institutions, and non-governmental organizations. Advocacy efforts will also be prioritized to effectively integrate SOGIESC-related considerations into traditional humanitarian response programs.
- Crisis Response: The group will explore mechanisms for early identification and protection of highly vulnerable LGBTQI+ populations during crises, as well as ways to establish sustained collaboration with grassroots organizations. It will also address proactive planning strategies and post-crisis support, with the aim of facilitating reintegration and long-term safety.
- Forced Displacement: The group will study how to improve access to legal documentation and durable solutions for displaced LGBTQI+ persons, asylum seekers, and refugees. Awareness-raising strategies for asylum adjudication bodies will be addressed, along with the identification of temporary and permanent protection measures — particularly for LGBTQI+ human rights defenders facing persecution.
As co-chairs, the government of Mexico and Rainbow Railroad are committed to the principles of equality, justice, and dignity for all people, and express confidence that this new thematic working group will strengthen the ERC’s capacity to respond to the humanitarian challenges faced by LGBTQI+ communities around the world.
The ERC Secretariat working in close collaboration with the co-chairs will soon call for expressions of interest for governments, civil society organisations and intermediaries to become active members of this new thematic working group.