By J. Andrew Baker | Fundraising and MEL Manager
A Strong Start to 2026
The first quarter of 2026 showed once again why global solidarity for LGBTI communities is essential. Across regions, anti-rights actors continued to target sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, trans and intersex people, and the civic space that allows communities to organise safely. At the same time, ILGA World continued to stand with activists, members, and partners to ensure that the rights of people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and sex characteristics remained visible in international human rights spaces.
Between January and March, our teams worked across Geneva, New York, online convenings, media spaces, and member networks. We supported human rights defenders to engage directly with the United Nations, contributed to critical debates at the Human Rights Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, continued preparations for IDAHOBIT 2026, and responded to urgent attacks on LGBTI rights worldwide.
Advancing LGBTI Rights at the Human Rights Council
At the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, ILGA World continued to monitor and engage on issues affecting LGBTI communities globally. Our work addressed multiple priorities, including the rights of LGBTI people with disabilities, the situation of LGBTI people in Afghanistan, Universal Periodic Review follow-up, the protection of children in armed conflict, and attempts to weaken human rights protections through anti-gender narratives.
A key moment this quarter was the UPR 52nd Session Advocacy Week in Geneva. ILGA World brought together five human rights defenders from Solomon Islands, Mozambique, and Namibia to prepare for the May 2026 UPR Working Group session. Participants received practical training on UN advocacy and the UPR, refined their country-specific priorities, and held 15 bilateral meetings and 2 roundtables with Permanent Missions.
The advocacy package shared with diplomats combined first-hand evidence from the participating defenders, written inputs from civil society partners in Paraguay and Singapore, and legal and policy information from the ILGA World Database. This consolidated material was shared with more than 20 Permanent Missions in Geneva, helping governments prepare stronger and more informed recommendations.
CSW70 and Feminist Solidarity
ILGA World also participated in the 70th Commission on the Status of Women, where the global community focused on access to justice for women and girls. For ILGA World, this conversation must include lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, and gender-diverse women, whose experiences of violence, discrimination, poverty, and exclusion are often overlooked in mainstream gender equality spaces.
Throughout CSW70, ILGA World worked with feminist, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and LGBTI partners to strengthen intersectional advocacy. We helped bring attention to LBQ women and the Independent Expert on SOGI’s forthcoming report, International Women’s Day, and the need for stronger justice systems that respond to the realities of all women and girls.
Responding to Anti-Rights Attacks
The quarter brought serious challenges. ILGA World responded to Russia’s designation of ILGA World as an “undesirable” organisation, a hostile act that forms part of a broader pattern of restricting civic space and silencing LGBTI organising. We also spoke out against the expansion of the Global Gag Rule and its devastating impact on communities, health services, and rights-based organising.
Our advocacy also addressed the rights of women and girls in sport. ILGA World joined calls for the Olympic movement to uphold human rights for all athletes and challenged policies on sex testing that harm women and girls. These interventions are rooted in a simple principle: sport must be safe, fair, and free from discrimination.
Movement Building, IDAHOBIT, and Global Visibility
This quarter, ILGA World continued supporting movement-wide initiatives that connect local realities to global platforms. The LGBTI Pathways survey gathered information on what our communities need in a rapidly changing funding environment. The survey supports a broader effort to understand the gaps, pressures, and priorities facing LGBTI movements worldwide.
ILGA World also continued its work on IDAHOBIT 2026 through the IDAHOBIT Secretariat, helping to prepare the global theme, resources, and coordination to support communities around the world on 17 May.
Another milestone was the announcement of the International Pride Awards 2026, a joint initiative of ILGA World and UNDP celebrating people advancing LGBTI equality, often in challenging contexts.
Communications Impact
From January to March, ILGA World’s communications work helped keep LGBTI issues visible across global media and digital spaces. Our reporting showed 444 media articles across the quarter, with an estimated combined readership of more than 2.57 billion. In March alone, ILGA World was referenced in 308 media articles, including coverage drawing on data from the ILGA World Database.
Across the quarter, digital campaigns on LGBTI History Month, International Day of Education, International Day for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, International Women’s Day, the LGBTI Pathways project, and other key moments reached and engaged more than 134,000 people.
Looking Ahead
In the months ahead, ILGA World will continue to advance advocacy at the Human Rights Council, support human rights defenders through UN mechanisms, coordinate IDAHOBIT 2026, respond to anti-rights attacks, and deepen cross-movement solidarity.
Your support through GlobalGiving helps make this work possible. It enables ILGA World to stand with defenders, amplify community evidence, and keep pushing for a world where every LGBTI person can live free, safe, and equal.
Thank you for standing with us.
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By J. Andrew Baker | Fundraising and MEL Manager
By J. Andrew Baker | Fundraising and MEL Manager
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