Baroness Anelay announced funding for LGBT projects on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has pledged £900,000 to support LGBT causes and projects around the world to coincide with IDAHOBIT Day. IDAHOBIT Day was created in 2005 and is dedicated to raising awareness of LGBT rights and promoting this group’s causes.
Speaking today, Baroness Anelay said, “On International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), I am delighted to be able to announce that in 2016/17, the FCO will dedicate approximately £900,000 of the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy to projects working with LGB&T communities around the world.”
“These projects aim to: improve institutional protection against discrimination; remove or amend discriminatory laws, policies and practices; reduce hate speech, violence or harassment based on discrimination; and increase the participation of LGB&T communities in their societies.”
The Magna Carta Fund is the FCO’s dedicated strategic fund supporting global human rights and democracy work.
Baroness Anelay, Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) continued, “I am proud that the UK continues to be a leading voice in global efforts to promote and protect the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people around the world.”
“The shocking reality is that in many places, LGB&T people continue to suffer discrimination, violence and even death, simply because of who they are, or whom they love. In 75 countries there are laws that criminalise private, consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex. Many others offer LGB&T people little or no protection from discrimination in the workplace or in the provision of goods and services.”
“This is incompatible with international human rights laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is also wrong and counterproductive. The strongest, safest and most prosperous societies are those that value diversity and strive to address all forms of discrimination against all people, including on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Baroness Anelay was appointed Minister of State responsible for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 2014. Before this, Anelay was a Chief Whip in the House of Lords. In 2015, she was also appointed as the Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Find out more about International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia Day here.
