UN officially launches Pride Month with flag-raising ceremony
The United Nations (UN) in Guyana, on Friday, officially launched pride month 2022 with a flag-raising ceremony at the UN House, Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown.
Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira along with UN Resident Coordinator Yeşim Oruç and members of various LGBTQ+ organisations at the flag-raising ceremony
According to the UN, the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons are protected by international law.
UN Resident Coordinator Ye?im Oruç stated, “UN agencies have a history of working together with LGBTIQ+ organisations to address the challenges and vulnerabilities that LGBTIQ+ communities face and to ensure that they are not left behind from Guyana’s enormous development potential.”
Offering remarks at the ceremony, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, said, “the Government is committed to human rights and democracy…this is an issue that we will continue to strive to make progress on.”
The UN has worked closely with LGBTIQ+ organisations in Guyana since 2005/2006 when the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) worked to raise awareness of health issues affecting key populations in Guyana.
In 2017, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) undertook a National Dialogue on HIV and the Law as part of its “Being LGBTI in the Caribbean” project, which was funded by the generous support of the USAID.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supported the outfitting of safe spaces for gender-based violence victims. Additionally, the International Organisation (IOM) supported the provision of food hampers for LGBTIQ+ migrants.
In 2022, the UN will also host a gender-based violence sensitisation session with LGBTIQ+ organisations, under the Spotlight Initiative, which is supported by the European Union.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of LGBTIQ+ organisations – Guyana Trans United, the Guyana Rainbow Foundation, EQUAL Guyana, Proud To Be Trans, and Tamùkke Feminists; members of the diplomatic community, and UN staff.
The month of June is internationally known as Pride Month, and is dedicated to vocalising the many injustices people of the LGBTQ+ community face, and also celebrating the community and its people.
