Powerful New Video on the International Day against Homophobia & Transphobia

“Speaking up empowers us… it always has. We give voice to our ideas. We share our inspiration. And when enough people listen it can change the world,” highlights a new video by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) to commemorate the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) on 17 May.

The video titled “The Power of Sharing,” was produced as part of the OHCHR-led Free & Equal campaign, to highlight the impact that each of us can have by sharing our own stories and by showing our support for our LGBT and intersex friends, colleagues and family members.

In a recent event at the 5th European Transgender Council, Pillay spoke of the progress in raising awareness of the discrimination and violence routinely directed at LGBT people, while also highlighting that further change will take courage and conviction.

“As High Commissioner for Human Rights, I have always spoken out against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And I have yet to come across a government that says it supports violence and discrimination against LGBT people. Yet very few take action to protect people against such violations,” she said.

“The Power of Sharing” video will be screened on IDAHOT on 17 May at events around the world. It is also hosted on the Free & Equal campaign website along with a tagboard that will enable visitors to post their own messages, stories and photos in real time using the hashtag “IDAHOT”.

This year, IDAHOT is being commemorated by various OHCHR and UN field offices around the world. Several field presences have launched or are planning to launch national anti-homophobia and transphobia campaigns using materials generated by the global Free & Equal campaign and in cooperation with UN and local partners, as well as national and municipal authorities.

UN human rights special procedures mandate-holders have this year for the first time produced a joint statement for IDAHOT. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is also marking the day with a blogpost on the social media platform LinkedIn.

For more information on the Free & Equal campaign, please visit the campaign website at http://www.unfe.org, or follow the campaign on Facebook at free.equal or Twitter @free_equal.

16 May 2014