When the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms Italy’s commitment at an international level to support the fight against all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It is one of the priorities of Italy’s current mandate in the United Nations Human Rights Council (2019-2021). Italy is, in fact, part of the Global Equality Fund (GEF), an international fund established in 2011 on the initiative of the United States to finance projects aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of LGBTI people.
At this particular time, the prejudice still widespread in many countries against LGBTI people is in addition to the containment measures aimed at countering the spread of COVID-19, fuelling negative stereotypes and lending support to the increase in violence and abuse, including in the form of restrictions on access to health and social services, jeopardising the right to life itself.
To prove its commitment to mitigating the negative consequences of the pandemic, and in the firm belief that, particularly in this moment of global crisis, no one should be forgotten, marginalised, or left behind, Italy has recently joint a declaration of the countries adhering to the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC). It is an international cooperation platform of which Italy is a member, which aims at promoting the exchange of information and good practices on the rights of LGBTI people. The declaration highlights the importance of limiting the negative impact of the current pandemic on LGBTI people. Especially during the current health crisis, they are among the most at risk of marginalisation, discrimination, and violence.