I am Generation Equality: Pip Gardner, LGBTQI+ leader and activist

Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Pip Gardner is a gender equality and human rights activist with a focus on sustainable development. They are currently the Communications Manager for Woodcraft Folk, a co-operative youth movement in the United Kingdom (UK), and the Chief Executive of The Kite Trust, a charity for LGBT+ young people. Pip is a member of UN Women’s Beijing+25 Youth Task Force and attended the 25th year Regional Review Meeting of the Beijing Platform for Action for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Region.

I am Generation Equality: Celina Jaitly, actor and activist

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2020

Billions of people across the world stand on the right side of history every day. They speak up, take a stand, mobilize, and take big and small actions to advance women’s rights. This is Generation Equality. Celina Jaitly is an acclaimed Indian actress, human rights activist devoted to advocating for the rights of the members of LGBT communities in India, and a Champion of the UN Free & Equal campaign.

UN Women hosts first high-level event on gender diversity and non-binary identities at UN headquarters

Date: Thursday, July 18, 2019

In the first ever high-level meeting on gender diversity and non-binary identities held at UN headquarters in New York, Member States, UN entities and civil society came together to discuss the current state of LGBTI rights globally.

Five LGBTI activists you need to know

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019

Day in and day out, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender activists fight for their right to live, love, work, be heard and respected. They risk their safety to push for a world where all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics, are treated with equality. On some fronts, there have been joyous victories, but there is still much to fight for.

UN Women statement for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia UN Women calls to change the social norms that lead to the exclusion of LGBTI people that keep them living in the shadows and rupture their ties with their families and communities.

From where I stand: “Every journalist must be aware of the power they have to help change things”

Date: Friday, May 3, 2019

Chissana Magalhães is a journalist from Cabo Verde who reports on gender equality issues regularly. Since undergoing a training programme through UN Women, she feels that the media has the responsibility to report on gender and human rights issues and stories can change lives.

Ask an activist: What are the main challenges for LGBTI+ people in Jamaica and what solutions should be prioritized?

Date: Friday, April 26, 2019

Nicolette Bryan is a Jamaican youth activist and Executive Director of WE-Change, an advocacy group supporting women in the LGBTI+ community. They run a support group for survivors of sexual violence each summer and participants sometimes opt to share their stories at events. Ms. Bryan is attending the Tunis Forum on Gender Equality, where she is emphasizing the importance of the Beijing Platform for Action in global women's rights and feminist advocacy, and the need for understanding existing gender inequalities in the local contexts.

From where I stand: “Being LGBT means fighting against prejudice and violence every day”

Date: Thursday, November 15, 2018

Helen Tavares knew she was different, but it took her a long time to accept her own sexual and gender identity because of societal pressure and expectations. Although homosexuality is legal in Cape Verde, LGBT people suffer discrimination and violence. Same sex marriages are not recognized and there is rampant discrimination against LGBT people in employment and housing.

UN Women Statement for International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Date: Thursday, May 17, 2018

On this International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, our focus must be strongly on inclusion. That means advocating for change in ways that acknowledge the intersections between multiple forms of discrimination.

In the words of Yuan Feng: "Different sectors need to work together to fight domestic violence"

Date: Monday, May 7, 2018

Yuan Feng, from China, is the co-founder of Equality, an NGO based in Beijing, dedicated to women’s rights and gender equality. The organization, a grantee of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, managed by UN Women, works to end domestic violence and helps survivors of violence. Since the mid-1990s, Feng has also been a founding member, coordinator, chair-person, and board member of countrywide organizations, such as the Gender and Development Network in China, Anti Domestic Violence Network, Women’s Network Against Aids/China, and Media Monitor for Women Network.

In the words of Sandra Moran: “Being the first openly lesbian Congresswoman in Guatemala has been a big responsibility”

Date: Friday, April 27, 2018

Sandra Moran is Guatemala’s first openly lesbian member of the Congress. She organized the country’s first lesbian group in 1995, and was elected in 2015. She is well-known for her vocal support for women’s rights, indigenous women’s rights and LGBT rights in Guatemala.

Executive Director’s blog series: Violence against LGBTI persons

Date: Friday, December 8, 2017

Part fourteen in a 16-part blog series by UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.A 16-part blog series by UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

In the words of Nongnee Kondii: “I was told that being a lesbian woman is a sin”

Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Discriminatory stereotypes, cultural norms and attitudes that normalize and trivialize violence against women and girls are prevalent in every part of the world. Nongnee Kondii*, 25, from Yala, a southern border province of Thailand, never felt safe expressing her sexual orientation at home or in her community. When she experienced a traumatic sexual assault, she kept silent at first. In May 2016, after participating in a gender retreat for young people organized by Rainbow Sky Association(RSAT), an organization that works to promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual women, transgender and intersex persons (LGBTI) in Thailand, supported by the UN Trust Fund to end Violence against Women (managed by UN Women), Kondii decided to speak out and pursue the path of justice. With funding from the UN Trust Fund, RSAT continues to organize workshops with LGBTI individuals in Thailand to support them to combat stigma based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Statement for International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT)

Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2017

On this International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), UN Women joins with the international community to support the LGBTI community and “Celebrate Family Diversity”. We stand firmly behind the full human rights of all LGBTI people. Violations of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people undermines the shared international goal of gender equality. Addressing and ending such violations is part of the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’s promise to leave no one behind.

UN Women welcomes new Human Rights Council Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity

Date: Friday, July 1, 2016

UN Women welcomes the Human Rights Council’s decision to appoint an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and calls for full support to the new mandate.

Staying true to yourself: A tale of discrimination and love in Cambodia

Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Sao Mimol’s story was one of many heartbreaking, yet empowering life stories heard during a 21-25 May workshop in Prey Sdouk Village, Cambodia for LGBT people and their supporters.

What is a real man — a 'mard'?

Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Farhan Akhtar, a regional UN Women Ambassador for South Asia and an advocate for the HeForShe campaign, writes about masculinity in the 21st Century, and the pressures men face around identity.

Joint UN statement on Ending violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people

Date: Thursday, October 1, 2015

On 29 September 2015, 12 UN entities released an unprecedented joint statement calling for an end to violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

UN Women Executive Director Statement on the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia

Date: Friday, May 15, 2015

In a statement for the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka says the assault on LGBTI rights is an assault on freedoms everywhere.

UN Women Executive Director Statement on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Date: Saturday, May 17, 2014

Statement by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.