HRC Presents the Release of ‘The Road to Safety’ by Human Rights First

Washington, DC – Human Rights First and Human Rights Campaign will mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia with a May 17th “Equality Talks” panel on the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) refugees. The event will feature Anne Richard, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, as well as Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese and Human Rights First’s Refugee Protection Program Director Eleanor Acer. Larry Yungk of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and Human Rights First’s Duncan Breen, author of a new report slated for release on Thursday, are also scheduled to participate. The event will be webcast live at www.hrc.org/equalitytalks.

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 featured during this week’s “Equality Talks” event, The Road to Safety: Strengthening Protection of LGBTI Refugees in Uganda and Kenya, offers 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, specifically 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.

Equality Talks is a new speaker series by the Human Rights Campaign, bringing a critical thinking approach to issues important to the LGBT community. This event is open to press. For more information, please contact Paul Guequierre at paul.guequierre@hrc.org or 202-423-2860 Brenda Bowser Soder at bowsersoderb@humanrightsfirst.org or 202-370-3323.