UN Ukraine chief, Denise Brown, met representatives of the LGBTQI+ community in Kyiv

The gathering was an important step to discuss challenges and solutions to involve representatives of the LGBTQI+ community in humanitarian response, as well as in decision-making, advocacy, ending discrimination and promoting inclusivity.

“No talks about us without us,” – says the representatives of the community that have been facing enormous challenges in accessing life-saving support such as protection from violence, housing and experiencing social isolation, discrimination in the education and job market, health issues with a low level of support from the healthcare system.

21 local and national LGBTIQ+-led NGOs were involved in preparing the overview of the mentioned challenges, but the most important recommendations and solutions for how to tackle them, including:

• Creation of a technical working group under the Protection Cluster for LGBTIQ+ inclusion in humanitarian response.
• Ensuring inclusivity in humanitarian assistance, taking into account the needs of LGBTIQ+ people and their families.
• Advocating for inclusive legislation and legislation that aims to protect vulnerable communities.
• Supporting healthcare, educational, vocational programmes for LGBTIQ+ and LGBTIQ+-led businesses.

The UN and the Humanitarian community are committed to working with them and joining forces to build an inclusive and secure future for Ukraine.