Building and Leveraging Partnerships

to help support the human rights of the LGBT community in Ukraine

Challenges

• Widespread hostility toward LGBT people, and misunderstanding

• Government torn between desire to move toward EU and ties to Russia

• Underdeveloped LGBT NGO sector• Potential for US Embassy becoming a target• Lack of established links in LGBT community, lack

of credibility among those working on the issue

Step 1: Get internal buy-in

• Cohesive, internal strategy referencing statements by the President and the Secretary

• A: Enlist International Orgs & Embassies• B: Use existing PD programs • C: Work with businesses

Build Networks with Locals

• Representational events focused on LGBT• Including LGBT leaders in other programs,

invite lists• Embassy meetings with LGBT leaders• Grants, exchanges, and other direct support• Public statements in support

Determining available resources

• Survey sent to 80 Embassies and donor organizations– Used list of UN signatories to human rights

documents on LGBT issues– Collect information about current support– Motivate to increase or broaden support

• Don’t forget unlikely organizations

Build networks with IOs, Embassies

• Attending readouts of annual grant programs• Using survey responses to determine

interested, key players• Locally: – Dutch, Germans, Spanish, EU, French, and Swiss

most interested- Dutch and Swedish aid agencies

Financial support

• AEECA thematic competition: 6 NGOs funded• LGBT IVLP program – 6 activists• 2 activists, 1 FSO to Albania conference• Grant to reprint damaged photographs• Attempts to send journalists to US• Funding annual LGBT national conference

Cultural support

• Ambassador’s statement• Screening of Milk – twice• Inclusion of LGBT leaders on Youth Council• Informal representational events• Discussion of future int’l film festival

Informational support

• Coordination with other donor organizations on who is funding what

• Coordination with EU members on joint statements condemning violence

• Coordination with LGBT community on Pride

Still to come…

• Information Fair to connect donors and trainers to LGBT community

• Results of 6 funded NGOs• Results of LGBT IVLP program• Business outreach program

Questions?