By Elise Colomer-Cheadle | Project Contact
Dear Friend,
Over the past year, Outright International has worked to advance the inclusion of LGBTIQ people in Ukraine’s humanitarian response during the war. We helped formally integrate an LGBTIQ working group into the United Nations (UN) national humanitarian coordination system, so that inclusion is not treated as an “add-on” but as part of the core response. We also supported the development of joint plans and recommendations to ensure that the needs of LGBTIQ people are reflected in Ukraine’s main humanitarian response plans for 2025 and 2026. This has helped bring visibility, accountability, and concrete action to issues often overlooked.
A key part of our work has been building the knowledge and skills of humanitarian actors across the country. Outright delivered 22 regional trainings on LGBTIQ inclusion and reached more than 100 UN staff and partners through additional sessions. The training module was formally endorsed as mandatory for all UN staff by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, marking a major institutional shift. We also trained 15 LGBTIQ community leaders as trainers, strengthening local leadership and ensuring that this work can continue sustainably and be led by those most affected.
At the same time, we have supported LGBTIQ civil society organizations to play a stronger role in the humanitarian system. This has increased their participation in national and regional coordination spaces and helped them influence practical guidance, such as adapting hygiene kits to better meet LGBTIQ needs. We convened national and regional forums to bring together community groups, UN agencies, and partners to address local and intersectional challenges. Through this work, Ukraine is emerging as a global model for how to build a more inclusive humanitarian system, demonstrating that even in times of war and regression, it is possible to create responses that are safer, fairer, and more accountable to LGBTIQ communities.
Thank you for your support!
Outright International
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