Strategies Used by International Organizations to Advocate for LGBTQ Rights
International organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been actively working towards promoting and protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTI) people for many years now.
Their efforts face significant challenges due to cultural and political resistance from some countries. In this essay, I will discuss several strategies that these organizations employ to advocate for LGBTQ rights while navigating local cultural and political obstacles.
One strategy is to engage in public campaigns and awareness-raising activities.
Amnesty International launched the "My Body My Rights" campaign in 2018 to promote the bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health of LGBTI individuals. The campaign focused on providing resources and support to LGBTI communities worldwide, particularly those who lack access to essential services due to discrimination and marginalization. This approach has helped raise awareness about the issues faced by LGBTI individuals and encouraged governments to take action to address them.
Another strategy is to collaborate with local civil society organizations and activists. These groups play a critical role in mobilizing public opinion and pressuring policymakers to adopt more progressive policies. By building partnerships with these actors, international organizations can amplify their voice and reach, enabling them to influence decision-makers at all levels.
A third strategy is to use legal frameworks to advance LGBTQ rights. International human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) recognize the right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Organizations like Human Rights Watch have used these instruments to hold governments accountable for violations of LGBTQ rights and to demand reform of discriminatory laws and practices.
International organizations may advocate for the repeal or amendment of harmful legislation that criminalizes homosexuality or denies marriage and family rights to same-sex couples.
Amnesty International has lobbied against the 2013 anti-gay bill passed in Uganda, which prescribed life imprisonment for homosexual acts. The organization also campaigned for the decriminalization of sodomy in Nigeria and Ghana.
Some organizations employ diplomatic channels to promote LGBTI rights internationally.
The United States has launched the Global Equality Fund to support civil society initiatives promoting LGBTI equality worldwide. Similarly, the European Union and Canada have developed a "Foreign Policy Instrument for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights" to fund projects aiming to improve access to healthcare and services for LGBTI individuals.
Despite the challenges posed by local cultural and political resistance, international organizations can effectively advocate for LGBTQ rights by engaging in public campaigns, building partnerships with local actors, using legal frameworks, pushing for the repeal or amendment of discriminatory laws, and leveraging diplomatic channels. These strategies have helped raise awareness about the issues faced by LGBTI people and put pressure on governments to take action to address them.
There is still much work to be done to ensure the full realization of LGBTI rights globally.
What strategies do international organizations employ to advocate for LGBTQ rights while navigating local cultural and political resistance?
One of the main tactics used by these organizations is to collaborate with other groups working on human rights issues, such as women's rights, indigenous peoples' rights, and refugee rights. This allows them to build broad coalitions that can exert pressure on governments and push back against cultural and political norms that are hostile to LGBTQ people.