Geneva, 17 June 2025 — In a powerful moment of advocacy and solidarity, the International PRIDE Centre delivered a joint oral statement on behalf of NGOs, at the 93rd meeting of the UNHCR Standing Committee, held in Geneva.
The statement addressed the urgent state of international protection and the disproportionate impact of displacement on marginalized communities, particularly including LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Marginalized Voices
The statement highlighted that over 11 million displaced people globally are estimated to be from SOGIESC minorities. These individuals face systematic exclusion, heightened risk, often with fatal consequences. If that was not enough, they are also subject to abject homophobia and transphobia at all levels, and in all aspects of life.
The International PRIDE Centre’s delivery of this message was a bold affirmation that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights, and that inclusion must be non-negotiable in humanitarian response.
A Call to Action
The NGOs urged UNHCR and its Member States to:
-Develop and implement strategies to include SOGIESC minorities in humanitarian responses.
-Uphold age, gender, and diversity inclusion as a core principle in all programming.
-Direct funding to local organizations led by forcibly displaced and stateless persons, especially in protection programming.
-Prioritize inclusive, equitable, and accountable approaches as measurable and operational commitments.
Rising to the Challenge
In the face of budget cuts and political retreat, the statement was a rallying cry: “We must not shrink in the face of challenge; we must rise to meet it!” The International PRIDE Centre’s leadership in this moment reflects a broader truth—those most affected by displacement must be at the centre of the response.
As the humanitarian community grapples with unprecedented challenges, this joint statement serves as a reminder that protection must be for all—not just in principle, but in practice.
