This story is part of a series highlighting the work done through the Equal Rights in Action (ERA) Fund. Through the ERA Fund, NDI supports local activist organizations all over the world, strengthening democracy and defending the human rights of marginalized communities. LGBTQI+ communities, people with disabilities (PWD) and other marginalized communities face discrimination and unfair treatment at the individual and systemic levels, operating with limited resources and overcoming tumultuous circumstances. By supporting these communities and amplifying their voices, NDI reinforces a diverse democratic presence in various regions throughout the globe.

Political inclusion is a fundamental democracy and governance issue and a core component of NDI’s mission to increase the participation of all citizens in political processes. NDI recognizes that supporting historically marginalized populations to gain a greater political voice and more space to participate in public life contributes to sustainable democratic development. This includes the participation of LGBTQI+ populations, who are at risk all over the world and face unique barriers to political participation. It’s imperative that lawmakers, government officials and public citizens alike understand the values and needs of all of their constituents, including members of LGBTQI+ communities. Many LGBTQI+ individuals throughout the globe are without fair and equitable representation or a chance to participate in democratic processes. By acknowledging that active engagement in public life is key to addressing barriers to participation, NDI’s ERA Fund works to amplify their voices and provide support to global partners.

Poland: Fundacja Interakcja

Fundacja Interakcja, a Poland-based organization, was founded in 2020 as the first intersex-led organization to advocate for the rights of intersex people to self-determination and equal protection under the law. The organization’s advocacy reaches both urban and rural communities in Poland through the provision of vital information and resources in the Polish language on intersex human rights as well as organized peer support groups for parents and families of intersex children. 

Fundacja Interakcja, with support from the ERA Fund, worked with intersex activists and legal experts to create the first translation of a legal toolkit on intersex human rights, translating from Polish to English. This served as a conduit for raising awareness among and providing credible, non-pathologizing information and best practices on intersex issues to community members and stakeholders, including members of parliament, human rights lawyers and other local, national and international actors. 

Fundacja Interakcja also has prepared for sustained impact, organizing a strategic planning session in order to design a framework for more long term programming and organizing training workshops to educate staff and strengthen their skills in monitoring and evaluation (M&E). With support from NDI, Fundacja Interakcja has laid the groundwork for continuous and accessible legal support for intersex people.

Mongolia: LGBTQ Centre

The LGBTQ Centre in Mongolia, founded in 2007, works with a multi-pronged advocacy strategy focused on the full realization of legal protections for LGBTQI+ individuals. They raise awareness on key issues through public messaging campaigns and events as a pioneer LGBTQI+ human rights organization. Additionally, the LGBTQ Centre maintains broad and supportive coalitions among the country’s civil society and human rights networks.

Through the support of the ERA Fund, the LGBTQ Centre also designed and delivered a training program to justice sector institutions, including prosecutors, on access to justice for victims of hate crimes. This outreach has expanded working relationships with the justice sector as part of an overall strategy to help LGBTQI+ individuals in need of assistance. The LGBTQ Centre has also created a video series aimed at raising awareness of LGBTQI+ rights and legal protections. This work, with support from the ERA Fund, works to better the lives and resources of the LGBTQI+ communities in the region, in addition to the education and awareness of prominent actors in the political field. 

Namibia Diverse Women’s Association (NDWA)

The Namibia Diverse Women’s Association (NDWA) has been working to address the lack of representation of women, transgender and gender non-conforming people within the broader LGBTQI+ movement in Namibia since its founding in 2016. NDWA works directly with lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) and transgender women, as well as in coalition with other organizations working at the national level on LGBTQI+ issues. They’ve put forward an inclusive policy agenda that considers the needs of the whole community

In 2015, the government of Namibia passed the National Human Rights Action Plan, which included language on sexual orientation and gender identity. This created an opening for LGBTQI+ activists. With support from the ERA Fund, NDWA is working to create a Technical Advisory Working Group composed of representatives from LGBTQI+ led organizations, LBQ women activists and stakeholders within the movement to draft a common policy agenda. They’re also working together to organize community dialogues for LBQ and trans women to inform this work and receive feedback on proposed agenda items.

In response to the ERA Fund’s support, the Namibia Diverse Women’s Association shared, “I found NDI to be supportive and sensitive of our work and the context of our country. This is what made this project unique. NDI really wanted to look at how NDWA is working, how we can move to the next stage and improve the work we do.”

Democracy only works when everyone is included, represented and able to participate. The ERA Fund and its partners have worked tirelessly to represent, support and fight for LGBTQI+ individuals in different regions of the world, creating lasting connections between the LGBTQI+ communities and their allies in civil society and government. With support from the ERA Fund, and the many activists involved, LGBTQI+ individuals are seeing a new day of democracy.

Author: Hannah Richards, Project Assistant on the Government Relations and Communication team

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NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all. NDI envisions a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all.