Keynote Closing Speech World Pride Human Rights Summit, Malmo 2021

Summit on Refugees Asylum Seekers Immigrants

I am posting this keynote speech from World Pride Human Rights Summit in Malmo Sweden, as a matter of follow up. I am not aware if there is any provision in any of the various PRIDE related Human Rights Conferences to build on previous conferences. In short from my vantage point, which involves intense direct experience, I have not seen much buy-in from LGBTQI+ organizations in terms of coalition building to impact the ideas and outcomes of previous conferences. While speaking for the African landscape, I have also not seen any positive change for LGBTQI+ people in forced displacement, asylum seekers and refugees, but rather a climate so much worse than it was when I delivered this speech in 2021. I am calling on all LGBTQI+ organizations to partner and build coalition and capacity. I am re-calling on funders as I have done in this speech. I am calling on PRIDES to reimagine a nexus that builds upon conferences so we can actually get somewhere. THE SPEECH: (PLease do not judge grammar as it is written for delivery and not as an article..

Greetings... I  am honored to be here today to deliver this keynote closing as a member of our global LGBTQI+ Pride AND Human Rights Community.

 I am Melanie Nathan and the Executive Director of African Human Rights Coalition. It is a pleasure to share this space with my esteemed colleague, Dennis Castillo from Costa Rica. XXX Thank you to all colleagues and dignitaries - among whom I count the displaced people here today. Thank you to, UNHCR and the UN Independent Expert for SOGIESC, Government representatives, the sponsors and especially the organizers, for your vision and the extensive care and hard work that has gone into this very important gathering. This Summit has included people with lived- experience, human rights defenders, and those who we hold responsible for the legislation, policies and services that ultimately impact and saves lives.

The summit follows a critical month-long GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE on protection and solutions for LGBTIQ People in Forced Displacement, convened by UNHCR and the UN Independent Expert. Thirteen Thematic working tables were held, each yielding 3 prioritized recommendations, which must be viewed in conjunction with what you learned here today.

Today, we platformed three tracks - deepening awareness, deepening knowledge for professionals, and advocacy to decide on actions aimed at high-level global actors and politicians.

If we are to reap the full benefit of today, and these past months, we will close this summit stressing the most important understandings, with the crucial awareness that intersex and trans people are historically under-represented.

Our LGBTQI rights and equality currently reflect the highest level of recognition of all time – YET, even so, over 70 countries continue to criminalize and demonize our very existence. For this reason it is incumbent on those in safer environments to do our part, as if we are family, all the while respecting that it is the voices of those with lived experience which must be at the forefront. Countries and cultures differ, and so we need to navigate and balance the ideal of sovereignty with the importance of uniform global instruments, in the hope we can impact the decolonization of the laws that rob us of our rights and our freedoms.

There are 80 million displaced people in the world. Among them our LGBTQI family. Many are living in deep trauma and uncertainty, with limited resources, - while they are subjected to violence, persecution, discrimination and exploitation fostered by the continued criminalization and stigmatization- in hostile host countries – which are OFTEN the ONLY landing spot for protection. This  anomaly is the tempest at the core of our work.

TO effect the change needed to eradicate the cruelty we are witnessing each day it is OUR responsibility, no matter our role, whether a legislator, policy maker, service provider, member of the human rights defender or activist community, to align, form coalitions, program and fund appropriately -

TO THIS END:

·       We MUST ADVOCATE FOR inclusive trauma informed, welcoming environments, at every phase in the displacement cycle.

It must be safe for LGBTQI+ people to share their experiences, exchange ideas, and engage with decision-makers.

·       When developing initiatives and plans to improve services, we are obligated to Include all with relevant lived experiences, with continuous consultation.

·       AND we must revise systems and practices to better respect the diversity, intersectionality, and authorship of those experiences

TODAY illuminates the opportunity to PUSH for

·       The fundamental right of all refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants to safe and dignified lives - insisting on the right to respectful engagement and the use of appropriate terms - to include diverse SOGIESC terminology

·       International protection should be fair, sustainable, and humane with access to efficient and full due process

·       We are compelled to mandate sensitivity training, which is language-appropriate for every point of contact in the displacement journey, with adequate reception conditions designed specifically to accommodate LGBTQI needs

·       Missing are Orientation programs for NEW ARRIVALS which can teach self-security, and provide immediate resources

·       FOR EARLY access for LGBTI specific needs such as rehab from torture, psycho-socio support, medical support, as well as transition related hormones, and legal gender recognition

·       ALL countries must ensure THAT civil societies, NGO’s and Human Rights defenders can operate unfettered

·       We must seek ways to ensure access to livelihoods and socio-economic integration

·       It is important to Implement ethical data collection, management and reporting, in order to assess vulnerabilities and priorities, ensuring data security and confidentiality.

·       FOR ALL THIS – We must advocate and create our own paths to related programming

·       AND MOST CRITICALLY WE CALL ON Governments to expand safe and legal pathways, with sensible access - while boldly reimagining policy regarding settlement and asylum criteria.

This is no easy task. We are spread thin:

THIS requires CAPACITY BUILDING, with aid more responsive and effective. To be fully accountable, funding must support local and smaller organizations. IN building this capacity we must partner with each other, with agencies, and of

We should capacitate LGBTQI -focused Human Rights and Humanitarian Professionals - as we leverage Human Rights mechanisms.

To ensure we align funding with the needs and gaps we are compelled to fund those who are doing the actual work. 

We ask the gatekeepers to step aside - and let us in. IT IS WE who should shape the funding, rather than the funding shaping us.

FOR ALL THAT TODAY CALLS FOR- WE MUST pursue collaborative and strategic advocacy – Our success is dependent on Coalition Building. We ALL need to take responsibility - for the fact that similar recommendations were made over ten years ago and still many of the same problems persist.

WE CANNOT THROW THE BALL INTO ONLY ONE COURT.

I HOPE that 10 years from now, we will look back at today with Pride, knowing that we seized the opportunities elucidated here.

To legislators and policy makers - PLEASE understand that we do not expect special treatment, The dignity and respect that LGBTQI people command is the same as for all... That said, you cannot ignore our especially marginalized circumstances. – You all are fully aware- THAT the very core of our being, who we are, is forbidden in so many realms – RESULTING- in THAT which we escaped - following us into protection spaces.

While our demands must present realistic outcomes - that should not stop us from setting adventurous and bold benchmarks.

Today let us commit to ongoing partnerships – to further develop the exciting comradery we tasted here, in Sweden. It is my hope that we leave here with open hearts and introspective minds. We live in a world where cruelty has peppered our paths. Let us tear down the barriers and lift the limitations. It is up to us, all of us, to embrace the dream of a better world. We have the power. We have the will. AND NOW thanks to this forum and the UNHCR Roundtable, we know what we need. Let us ensure our accountability and the fulfillment of all our missions.

-----1100 words | Timed 12 minutes.