Press Release: Historic UN Report Highlights Worldwide Human Rights Violations Against LGBTI People, Recommends Much-Needed Support to LGBTI Refugees

For Immediate Release

Historic UN Report Highlights Worldwide Human Rights Violations Against LGBTI People,
Recommends Much-Needed Support to LGBTI Refugees

DECEMBER 15, 2011 / SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today issued a first-ever report documenting human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals around the world. The report makes special mention of vulnerable LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers.

ORAM - Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration, an international NGO helping refugees fleeing sexual and gender-based violence, welcomes the report, which documents the need of LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers for protection from persecution based on sexual orientation and gender nonconformity.

“The United Nations has demonstrated great leadership in the growing movement to ensure LGBTI people everywhere have access to basic human rights. Vulnerable LGBTI refugees desperately require governments and NGOs to accept the recommendations in this report,” said ORAM Executive Director Neil Grungras.

ORAM commends the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for highlighting the protection needs of LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers. Of note:

• The UN urges governments to recognize persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for refugee status, and to train asylum adjudicators and government officials to be sensitive to the unique challenges faced by LGBTI refugees.
  
  
• The report recognizes the extreme vulnerability of LGBTI refugees at risk of violence both before they flee their homelands, and during the refugee status determination and resettlement process. It also calls for a more consistent approach for safeguarding the human rights of LGBTI refugees.
  
  
• The report urges governments not to return LGBTI refugees to countries they have fled where their freedom will be threatened because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

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Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) is the only organization worldwide focused exclusively on helping vulnerable LGBTI refugees find safety and rebuild their lives in welcoming communities. ORAM provides refugees with free counseling and increases support for them through advocacy and education. Learn more at www.oraminternational.org.