New York City – Just days before International Day Against Homophobia, Human Rights First will host a breakfast briefing to preview a new report detailing strategies for the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI)refugees. The event, slated for TOMORROW, Friday, May 11 at 8:30 a.m., will examine best practices for ensuring that LGBTI refugees have protection from violence, access to safe shelter, access to resettlement – including expedited resettlement – and other measures to improve access to protection and assistance.

In December 2011, the Obama Administration issued a Presidential directive to protect LGBT rights at home and abroad across U.S. government agencies. A six month progress review is expected to take place this summer. The new Human Rights First report previewed during this briefing will offer specific steps that the United States should take to address gaps in protection and assistance that LGBTI refugees face on a day to day basis in Uganda and Kenya. It will also provide recommendations for other governments, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and non-governmental organizations.

Human Rights First’s upcoming report is based on the organization’s month-long field visit to Uganda and Kenya and its team’s interviews with more than 70 LGBTI refugees, UNHCR and NGO staff, government officials and other experts working with refugees or LGBTI persons. LGBTI refugees are often among the most vulnerable and isolated of refugees, especially in places where they are at risk due to violent attacks, discrimination, and laws that criminalize same sex relations.

For more information about the briefing, please contact Brenda Bowser Soder at bowsersoderb@humanrightsfirst.org or 202-370-3323. A light breakfast will be served during this event.