Sub-Working Group on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual +
Improving quality, access, and availability of sexual and reproductive health services in humanitarian settings for LGBTQIA+ populations
Overview
The IAWG Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) sub-working group aims to improve quality, access and availability of sexual and reproductive health services in humanitarian settings for LGBTQIA+ populations by improving cross sector collaboration, ensuring inclusion through established technical standards, engaging LGBTQIA+ networks, and advocating with agencies working in sexual and reproductive health in emergencies.
Priority Objectives
- Raise awareness about LGBTQIA+ sexual and reproductive health needs in humanitarian settings within the field and among all IAWG members globally.
- Build and enhance the knowledge and capacity of IAWG members around the sexual and reproductive health needs, concerns, and priorities of LGBTQIA+ persons.
- Connect and build linkages and strengthen the meaningful cooperation and collaboration with LGBTQIA+ groups, the field of sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings; and non-humanitarian actors with expertise working with SRH-related concerns for LGBTQIA+ populations.
- Advance inclusion of LGBTQIA+ populations and integrate consideration of their particular needs throughout all phases of the emergency management cycle.
Activities in 2020
- Prepare and conduct a side event for the IAWG Annual meeting in December 2020; Reaching Sexual and Gender Minorities (LGBTQIA+) with Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights care in emergencies.
- Update LGBTQIA+ advocacy messages.
- Maintain library of relevant guidance and best practices of sexual and reproductive health rights from the development actors.
- Conduct LGBTQIA+ webinar for institutionalization.
- Act as a knowledge hub and network of organisations to share key resources, events, and more with the sub-working group and liaise with the IAWG steering committee on issues related to LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
Leadership
- Lana Woolf (she/her), Edge Effect
LGBTQIA+ Resources
Improving the Agency and Equity of Marginalized Communities in the COVID-19 Crisis
This advocacy brief is based on a study conducted in 2021 under the Approaches in Complex and Challenging Environments for Sustainable Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) (ACCESS) program. It explores the equity and agency of selected marginalized communities - including sex workers, transgender people, men who have sex with men, lesbian, bisexual, queer and intersex (LGBT+) people, people living with HIV, people living with a disability, and adolescent girls and young women - in Lebanon, Mozambique, and Uganda, with in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 2020-2021. The brief summarises key findings on the enablers and barriers to SRHR for each community in the three countries. It makes recommendations for humanitarian and development actors on how to better address these barriers, and steps for working across the humanitarian-development nexus with communities.
Documentary: Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Lesbian Women
This documentary shares insights and lived experiences of variant forms of violence among lesbian, bisexual, and queer young people in Botswana. Narrating the nuances, determinants, and realities in the country considered to be the fourth-most unequal by Gini-coefficient and second-highest reported rape incidents per capita.
“We Have a Broken Heart”: Sexual Violence against Refugees in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya: The Experiences of Congolese, Somali, and South Sudanese Men, Boys, and Trans Women
The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) conducted a qualitative exploratory study to examine the nature and characteristics of sexual violence perpetrated against Congolese, Somali, and South Sudanese refugee men and boys (including those with diverse SOGIESC) and trans women in their home countries, during flight, and in Nairobi and Mombasa. Intersections with violence against women and girls were also examined.
Addressing Sexual Violence against Men, Boys, and LGBTIQ+ Persons in Humanitarian Settings: A Field-Friendly Guidance Note by Sector
This Guidance Note outlines key actions and considerations for service provision per sector to support frontline workers to better address sexual violence against men, boys, and LGBTIQ+ persons.
Impact Series #1: SRHR for Intersex People
This video is part of IAWG's Impact Series 2021: LGBTQI+ people and experiences of SRHR in emergency settings.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual+
Addressing the priorities and objectives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual+ persons' sexual and reproductive health considerations during humanitarian crises and emergencies.