June 14, 2016
Written by USAID
USAID’s vision is a world in which the human rights of LGBT persons are respected and they are able to live with dignity, free from discrimination, persecution, and violence. In this world, the human rights of LGBT persons are upheld; they are able to participate fully in democratic decision-making in their households, communities and countries; they have equal access to sustainable livelihoods, economic assets and resources; and they are not barred from accessing the basic education, health and other services that are enjoyed by their fellow citizens and that are essential for personal well-being and growth. LGBT persons and their allies can come together to advocate for the equal treatment for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
There are numerous urgent challenges facing LGBT persons worldwide and attempts to address these challenges often confront deep-seated resistance and other barriers.At the same time, however, there are many windows of opportunity to ensure that USAID’s development work is truly inclusive, capitalizing on the forward momentum and increased visibility of work in this sector that has built up over the past few years, especially since the release of the 2011 Presidential Memorandum that required all U.S. agencies engaged abroad to “ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons.”
The process for developing thisVision for Action was itself a reflection of USAID’s commitment to inclusive development. Countless LGBT, other civil society and faith-based organizations from around the world were involved in reviewing a draft of thisVision, ensuring a truly global perspective.
©Crowd360 brought to you by
