Webinar organized by the National Laws and Policies Thematic Group of the ERC on April 8, 2022.

The Equal Rights Coalition strongly condemns the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with the involvement of Belarus therein, grossly violates international law. Its humanitarian consequences are on a scale that the international community has not seen in Europe in decades. The Equal Rights Coalition is appalled by the aggression against one if its member states and expresses its solidarity with the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people. The Equal Rights Coalition aligns itself with United Nations General Assembly resolutions A/ES-11/L.1 and A/RES/ES-11/2 and the Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/49/L1.

As the aggression against Ukraine intensifies, this severely impacts the LGBTI community in Ukraine and neighboring countries. As the United Nations Independent Expert on the protection from violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity noted in his statement of 22 March, there is deeply concerning evidence about the additional dangers faced by LGBTI persons seeking protection during this time. Those who identify or are perceived as LGBTI are vulnerable to acts of stigmatization, harassment and violence from both combatants and civilians. The Equal Rights Coalition calls on all actors to protect the safety, dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of people fleeing the conflict and violence regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or sex characteristics.

In this context, it is essential for all stakeholders working on protecting forcibly displaced persons to recognize and respond to the exposure to risk and protection needs of LGBTI refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced and undocumented people. As the UN Independent Expert noted, in armed conflicts, LGBTI displaced persons are often marginalized or excluded from established evacuation and emergency response services and processes. Civil society organizations that serve LGBTI displaced persons already have the specialized knowledge on how sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics create specific exposures to risk during conflict, and know how to respond to these risks and needs accordingly. The Equal Rights Coalition affirms its commitment to pay attention to the vulnerability and protection needs of LGBTI persons who have been forcibly displaced, and will continue to engage with civil society on how best to support Ukrainian LGBTI human rights defenders and communities.

The Coalition recalls its unwavering support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and to the urgent need for protection of LGBTI persons in these unprecedented times.

Equal Rights Coalition members who are co-signatories:

Albania; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Canada; Chile; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Ecuador; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; New Zealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; The Netherlands; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay

Webinar held by the National Laws and Policies Thematic Group of the ERC on December 21, 2021.

On the occasion of the Summit for Democracy, the undersigned members of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) affirm that the revitalization of democracy within our own nations and around the world is essential to promoting and protecting human rights, especially for those in the most vulnerable situations including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. Threats to the rule of law, rising levels of inequality, authoritarianism, and corruption are eroding democracy in every region, with grave consequences for the LGBTI community, among others. Persistent criminalization of LGBTI status and ongoing violence and discrimination undermine the possibility of LGBTI persons to fully participate in democratic and political processes.

Members of this Coalition affirm our interest to work together over the coming year to support and empower the participation of LGBTI persons in the full range of democratic processes, including elections; political campaigns; civil society advocacy and oversight; journalism and independent reporting; and political leadership. We also recognize certain members of the community, such as transgender and intersex individuals, may face particular challenges as they seek to participate in political processes. We pledge to identify and respond to these challenges in close collaboration with members of the LGBTI community.

We reaffirm that open societies connect individuals to knowledge that they need to advocate and affirm their human rights. Democratic renewal is vital for progress on human rights and ensuring the fundamental freedom of all persons, no matter who they are or whom they love. Over the coming year and beyond, we commit to work together to promote democracy and create a world where all people are free and equal.

Equal Rights Coalition members who are co-signatories:

Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay

Factsheet on legal recognition of gender identity – human rights standards and good practices – produced by the National Laws and Policies Thematic Group. The factsheet is open for feedback, and was produced to accompany a webinar on the topic, as a resource for states to improve legal gender recognition in their countries, and for civil society and other stakeholders working on this issue.

To download the factsheet kindly click here.

We, the undersigned civil society organizations participating in the Equal Rights Coalition, present this Statement on the occasion of the ERC Meeting held July 6-7, 2021.

The meeting is taking place in a challenging time for LGTBI+ people, affected by COVID-19 and its consequences, as well as by the aggravation of political situations in several countries, the persistence of stigma, discrimination, and violence, and the impact of climate change.

We celebrate the new ERC Strategy and express our support of its Five-Year Implementation Plan. They have the potential to provide a shared framework for Member States and multilateral institutions, in collaboration with each other and with stakeholders in civil society and other sectors, to progress human rights and inclusive development for LGBTI+ people globally. At the same time, we consider it necessary to highlight those issues that persistently challenge the ERC’s role and the achievement of its aims.

Click here to access the declaration

Speeches given by the ERC Civil Society Co-Chairs for the 2019-2022 period – Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (Executive Director, Kaleidoscope Trust), Andrea Rivas (President, Asociación Familias Diversas de Argentina) and Nancy Kelley (CEO, Stonewall Equality) – at the Equal Rights Coalition online conference, held on 6-7 July 2021.

You can access the text by clicking here.

Since its establishment in 2016, the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) has worked to bring together governments and civil society in pursuit of a common goal to advance the human rights of all people, and to ensure their inclusive development, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics. We must leave no one behind.

As we continue to consolidate our alliance, the ERC co-chairs, Argentina and the UK, have launched the ERC’s first Strategy and Five-Year Implementation Plan. The new Strategy seeks to guide, shape and re-energise the work of the ERC to ensure that it meets its considerable potential to advance LGBTI equality.

Since its establishment in 2016, the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) has worked to bring together governments and civil society in pursuit of a common goal to advance the human rights of all people, and to ensure their inclusive development, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics. We must leave no one behind.

As we continue to consolidate our alliance, the ERC co-chairs, Argentina and the UK, have launched the ERC’s first Strategy and Five-Year Implementation Plan. The new Strategy seeks to guide, shape and re-energise the work of the ERC to ensure that it meets its considerable potential to advance LGBTI equality.

Access the document by clicking here.

See the attached Implementation Plan via this link.

Report: The Global Launch of the Equal Rights Coalition Strategy
Tuesday 6 – Wednesday 7 July 2021

The formal launch of the ERC’s Five-Year Strategy (2021-2026) took place at a virtual ERC conference planned by the co-chairs in close collaboration with Wilton Park on 6 and 7 July at 13:00 to 17:30 UK time. The conference objectives were:

• Improve collaboration.
• Formal launch of the Strategy.
• Agree to closer working within the ERC.

Outcomes of the global launch event:

• A majority of the 42 ERC Member States responded positively to the Strategy and Five-Year Implementation Plan.
• Ministers and high-level representatives from 31 ERC Member States and the World Bank delivered statements, in person or by video during the Ministerial segment. Given the overwhelming response by Member States, there was no time to hear the statements of support from the Baring Foundation and Global Philanthropy Project in this session.
• ERC Member States committed to closer collaboration with the ERC and to joining at least one of the ERC’s Four Thematic Groups.

Click here to access the report.