On May 17, UNAIDS and ILGA-Europe co-hosted an event addressing the existing gaps within the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine, concluding with recommendations to better protect the human rights of LGBTI people staying in Ukraine or who have left.

On 17 May, people around the world came together to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) to champion inclusion and build a better world for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community. In many countries, lack of adequate legal protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity exposes many LGBTI people to violations of their human rights. This is even more the case within the context of war and humanitarian crisis, as currently experienced in Ukraine.

UNAIDS and ILGA-Europe co-hosted an event, moderated by Cianán B. Russell, Senior Policy Officer, ILGA-Europe, to mark IDAHOBIT. The event brought together LGBTI representatives and a wide range of thought leaders, policymakers and practitioners.

The panellists highlighted the multiple vulnerabilities and challenges facing LGBTI people in and fleeing from Ukraine during the war. These vulnerabilities and challenges were clearly articulated by two LGBTI representatives.

“Levels of discrimination, violation of rights and hate crimes have risen in Ukraine since the start of the war. Meanwhile, no regulations or specific measures have been put in place in shelters to protect key populations. LGBTI people have no safety net since the war started,” said Olena Shevchenko, from Insight. “Go to local organisations and ask them what they need if you are intent on helping Ukraine. Ensure the accountability of humanitarian missions to fulfil the needs of the local community,” she added.

Tymur Lysenko, a Ukraine crisis consultant working for Transgender Europe, spoke about the essence of true humanitarian support, saying, “’Leave no one behind’ should work, and not just be empty words. Trans people in Ukraine should be provided with humanitarian support, safe evacuation and access to medical care, and functioning gender recognition regulation procedures. Foster direct connections that are strong and sustainable between local organisations and international humanitarian missions. Stick to organisations that have a track record in providing direct support to LGBTI people.”

Reflecting on their own work and experiences, the panellists also reviewed the actions taken to date to protect the human rights of LGBTI people in and fleeing from Ukraine and the existing gaps within the humanitarian response and concluded with recommendations and commitment to better protect the human rights of LGBTI people staying in Ukraine or who have left.

“Humanitarian agencies must ensure that civil society organisations with expertise are included in the planning and implementation of all humanitarian assistance and in recovery efforts,” said Victor Madrigal-Borloz, a United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

This was echoed by Kate Thomson, Head of the Community, Rights and Gender Department at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), who referred to the need for all partners to work collectively to build back resilient health and community systems. “All partners to work together to support access to HIV services in Ukraine, including those led by LGBTI communities, inside Ukraine and abroad. Let’s work collectively to help Ukraine build back better its health and community systems,” she said.

Matthew Kavanagh, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, a.i., spoke about the importance of maintaining and increasing the funding for the AIDS response. “We stand with the Ukrainians who are fighting so hard to make sure that their responses — the AIDS response, the community response, the rights response, the LGBTI response — are not destroyed by the moment that we are in now. There is an urgent need to move funding towards that, and an urgent need to fund the Global Fund at the same time. We cannot choose between these two things or we will end up in a less safe world — we have to do both,” he said.

Joanna Darmanin, Head of the Humanitarian Aid Thematic Policies Unit, European Union Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, reiterated the European Union’s commitment for an inclusive humanitarian response. “Supporting Ukraine and neighbouring countries remains the priority for the European Union, and we remain committed to providing humanitarian support in an inclusive manner, taking into account the specific needs and vulnerabilities faced by the LGBTI community,” she said.

This commitment was re-echoed by Katalin Cseh, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, who promised to work for inclusiveness of the LGBTI community. “I pledge to fight with all my means to ensure better consultation with the LGBTI communities on the ground in Ukraine and also within the European reception area.”

Maria Arena, Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, highlighted the need to position the humanitarian response to the needs of LGBTI people, saying, “The conflict zones are putting at risk people with these vulnerabilities, so we have to be really aware of the situation and to adapt our answers for the needs of these people, including with traceability of these funds.”

Marc Angel, Co-President of the European Parliament LGBTI Intergroup, emphasised the importance of ensuring that promises made correspond with funding. “Action and money must follow words and promises,” he said.

Valeriia Rachynska, from the Global Partnership against All Forms of HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination, spoke about the Global Partnership’s commitment to fight for and save all lives, saying: “Our main target is to save and fight for life; we will do everything in our power to save the lives of LGBTI people in Ukraine.”

Indeed, to champion and build a better world for the LGBTI community, and to end inequalities for an effective AIDS response, especially in a humanitarian crisis context, institutional actors with differing responsibilities must ensure that no one is left behind.

This among others, includes directed action to: combat discrimination targeting LGBTI people and people living with HIV,?rebuild or reinforce the HIV response system, meaningfully engage LGBTI civil society both in crisis planning and in crisis response systems, ensure that LGBTI-led humanitarian efforts are adequately resourced and?ensure that human rights violations faced by LGBTI people are documented, investigated and result in access to justice.?

To mark IDAHOBIT on May 17, ILGA-Europe and UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, will host an event focusing on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in and from Ukraine. Here, our Executive Director, Evelyne Paradis speaks to UNAIDS about the particular challenges facing LGBTIQ+ people caught up in war.

Hi Evelyne, how do humanitarian crises particularly affect LGBTI people?

Humanitarian crises affect everybody, however, some communities sometimes need a targeted response because of pre-existing vulnerabilities. These particular vulnerabilities make people feel unsafe when dealing with humanitarian organisations providing safe shelter, basic necessities food and medical aid. Not knowing if they will be treated without discrimination, simply welcomed and be taken care of, is a barrier for people in accessing humanitarian support.

ILGA-Europe is heavily involved in the Ukraine crisis. What are the main challenges facing LGBTI people affected by the war?

In the Ukraine crisis, what we are seeing is that LGBTI people are not de facto integrated in first aid supply chains. Transition-related and intersex-specific medication, such as hormone replacement therapy, and to a certain extent medicines for people living with HIV, are not ensured in humanitarian packages at the moment. On top of this, a significant portion of the LGBTI community cannot meet their basic needs, due to pre-existing socioeconomic inequalities.

Trans women with a male gender marker on their documents can be obliged to join the army or cannot leave the country along with other women, which puts them in a potentially very harmful situation.

Having access to safe shelter is also an issue. In Ukraine, many LGBTI people don’t feel safe to be ‘out’ in regular shelter, while some who are displaced in the country are reporting facing discrimination when trying to rent an apartment. As a result many of the LGBTI groups have set up shelters to support their communities. Some of those who are staying and are visible have been physically attacked, as LGBTIphobia was already an issue in Ukraine before the war.

This is all happening while LGBTI people face the same struggles everyone else is facing; money, food, caring for loved ones, and so much more.

What are organizations like ILGA-Europe doing to help?

We are sending direct financial support to groups who are staying in Ukraine and are providing direct support to their communities, as well as to LGBTI groups in hosting countries. We’re also actively working to mobilise resources for all the LGBTI groups working in support of LGBTI people in Ukraine and abroad. We’re working with large humanitarian groups and organisations like UNAIDS and connecting them to the needs on the ground, while advocating with European institutions and governments to take action both in support of LGBTI communities in Ukraine and for LGBTI people who have left the country.

What can be done to better address the unique needs of LGBTIQ+ people in humanitarian crises?

What we are seeing is that an LGBTI perspective is really not integrated into humanitarian work and the development of protection measures, such as protection from gender-based violence or access to medicines. In many ways we have had to start from zero, including having to establish contacts with actors in the humanitarian sector.

While it is still early in this particular crisis to have specific recommendations, there will be no doubt be a lot of learning to be done from the work currently happening, so that we make sure that in future LGBTI perspectives and needs are integrated in the way humanitarian actors respond from the start.

Many civil society and community organizations are supporting LGBTI people affected by the war in Ukraine. What challenges do they face in carrying out this important work?

Most LGBTI organisations are not set up to be doing humanitarian work, and yet they are supporting basic needs in addition to the work they continue to do for their communities. But they cannot do it all. If they become the first point of support and assistance, there’s a lot of other work, like advocating for rights, that will not be done. This is true in Ukraine as well as in hosting countries.

Inequalities, stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against are continuing to prevent LGBTI people from being able to access the HIV and health services they need. How can we achieve positive political, legal and social change?

The work that has started with the humanitarian sector shows there’s a need, but it’s also an opportunity. If the humanitarian sector incorporates an LGBTI perspective and LGBTI people in their work from the start, this can mean a positive change for these communities, especially in times of crisis.

Register now for tomorrow’s event by ILGA-Europe and UNAIDS focusing on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in and from Ukraine.

This interview was originally published on UNAIDS’ website.

On the occasion of IDAHOBIT, ilga-EUROPE and UNAIDS are hosting an event focusing on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in and from Ukraine.

The event will take place on Tuesday, 17 May from 12:00 – 13:30 CET.

The interactive panel session will be moderated by Cianán Russell, ILGA-Europe’s Senior Policy Officer to discuss how to better protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in and from Ukraine.

The event will bring together:

• Victor Madrigal-Borloz, UN Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity
• Olena Shevchenko, Representative of the Ukrainian LGBTIQ+ Community
• Tymur Lysenko, Representative of the Ukrainian LGBTIQ+ Community
• Matthew Kavanagh, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director a.i.
• Marc Angel, Co-President of the European Parliamentary Intergroup on LGBTI rights
• Maria Arena, Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights
• Katalin Cseh, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Joanna Darmanin, Head of Unit Humanitarian and Thematic Policies (C1), DG ECHO
• Kate Thomson, Head of Community Rights and Gender Department, The Global Fund
• Valeriia Rachynska, The Global Partnership to End HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination

For different reasons, many sexually active people don’t want to know whether they are HIV positive or not. They don’t want to even think about it. But if you do know what your status is, one way or the other, you will be making a positive difference to your life. Here’s why…

Do you know your HIV status? According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over half a million people in Europe don’t know they are living with human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. Many of them are still afraid to get tested because of fear of prejudice and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. LGBTI people who are HIV positive often face a ‘double stigma’, including within their own communities.

But a better quality of life for people living with HIV and AIDS depends on testing. Only after knowing their status, can HIV positive people start a treatment, and obtain support and social protection. In advance of World AIDS Day, we have joined the European Testing Week to encourage people to get tested on HIV and hepatitis. Although there is no cure for HIV yet, treatments can enable a greater life expectancy and prevent the transmission of the virus to others.

Testing is the first step to greater life expectancy for people living with HIV. As the virus attacks the immune system, a person with HIV is at risk of developing serious infections. The ability to fight other diseases like cancer weakens too. But if you know you are HIV positive, and access treatment, you can help prevent the development of other infections and increase your ability to fight disease.

Testing and following treatment also limits the risk of passing the virus to someone else. Today, there is scientific evidence proving that undetectable equals untransmittable (U = U). This means that people living with HIV who achieve an undetectable amount of HIV in the blood by taking antiretroviral therapy cannot sexually transmit the virus to others. Therefore, testing is not only important for your own health and wellbeing, but also for others.

How HIV tests work?

The most common form of HIV test is a blood test and today it can provide an accurate status within a month of infection. The blood is tested several times before someone is given a positive result. In some countries, saliva tests and dried blood tests are also available; these tests provide a rapid accurate result, but are a bit less able to detect very recent infections. Voluntarism, privacy and confidentiality should be assured and respected while getting tested.

How is HIV transmitted?

• HIV is transmitted through contact with blood, sexual fluids and breast milk
• The main routes of transmission are through unprotected sex and by sharing injecting equipment

Where to get tested?

EuroTest has put together a list of places where you can access a HIV test:

• Sexual health clinics, also called genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
• Hospitals, department of infectious diseases
• Clinics or testing sites run by community based HIV/hepatitis organisations or charities
• Some General Practitioner (GP) surgeries and GPs
• Some contraception and young people’s clinics
• Local drugs agencies
• Antenatal clinics, if you are pregnant
• Private clinics

Check out the NAM European test finder to find a testing centre near you.

Help moving forward, if you test positive

If you have tested positive for HIV you may feel overwhelmed at the moment, and that’s okay. Solid communities and organisations’ networks across the world are there to support you whenever you need so. To seek treatment and care, EuroTest recommends these websites:

• http://www.aidsmap.com/
• http://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/
• http://www.infohep.org/

For the last two years, ILGA-Europe have been working on ‘health4lgbti’, a project exploring the healthcare needs and challenges faced by LGBTI people. Sophie Aujean, our Senior Policy and Programmes Officer, explains why this work is so important.

“I went to see an eye doctor and asked to be referred to as ‘he’. When I came, they were saying ‘he’ all the time. Then they read ‘she’ in my documents and that was it. I was referred to as ‘she’ for the rest of my visit, I felt horrible….“

This is just one example of the sort of discrimination and stigma that LGBTI people can face when accessing healthcare. Going to visit a medical professional can be a stressful experience anyway, right? But when you add this kind of negative experience to the mix, it can be even worse.

For the last two years, ILGA-Europe have been working on Health4LGBTI – a project exploring the health needs and challenges faced by LGBTI people. It also looked at the barriers faced by healthcare professionals when providing care for LGBTI people.

Right now, from 1 and 2 of February, the closing conference of the Health4LGBTI project is taking place in Brussels. 130 participants are taking part, including policy makers from the health ministries of 16 EU member states, LGBTI organisations representatives, WHO and EU officials, umbrella groups and health and anti-discrimination networks.

This conference will launch the first training modules on LGBTI health ever produced at European level, having been piloted in six EU countries (Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Belgium and United Kingdom). In addition, the findings from a state-of-the-art study on LGBTI health and from focus groups (which talked about the barriers faced by LGBTI people and healthcare professionals) will be presented. 

ILGA-Europe was part of the project Consortium, along with our partners from AOUI-Verona (Italy), University of Brighton (UK), the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene (Poland) and EuroHealthNet.

The state-of-the-art study and the focus group confirmed that LGBTI people continue to face barriers and discrimination in the area of healthcare, which have an impact on their health outcomes. The quote at the very start of this blog was not fiction – it was the testimony of an LGBTI person who spoke to the Health4LGBTI focus groups.

It also showed that there is a scarcity of research on the specific health needs of trans and intersex people and of under-represented LGBTI people (who are disabled, young, older, migrants, etc.).

In addition, healthcare professionals seem to lack knowledge and cultural competence on the health needs of LGBTI people. Those findings were used to develop the training modules, aimed at all health professionals, including staff at the reception desk, psychiatric specialists, surgeons or gynaecologists.

In the coming months, ILGA-Europe will work towards the dissemination of the training modules. However, providing training for health professionals isn’t the end of the work.

The project’s findings indicate the ways forward for policy makers, so they can put in place measures ensuring that LGBTI people have access to healthcare that works for them – patient-centred, appropriate and inclusive.

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• Follow the conversations from the closing conference on Twitter at #Health4LGBTI
• For more information on the Health4LGBTI project, click here.

International Human Rights References to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (regarding LGBT populations and HIV/AIDS and STIs)

ILGA-Europe has commissioned the production of this reference guide within a joint project “Prevention and Empowerment in the Commonwealth of Independent States (PRECIS)”, coordinated by COC Netherlands and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

The project aims at improving the sexual and reproductive health and enhancing the human rights of LGBT people in seven countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Ukraine. Thus the primary target audiences of the guide are LGBT advocates in the countries belonging to the PRECIS partnership. 

However, the guide is applicable to, and can be used by, a wide international readership. The production of the reference guide has also been supported by Sigrid Rausing Trust.