International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, May 2026: Joint Assertion to the OSCE

Thank you, Mr Chair.

I’m delivering this assertion on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom, and my very own nation, Norway.

May seventeenth marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia – IDAHOBIT. This day is a vital second to reaffirm our shared dedication to the equal enjoyment of human rights and basic freedoms by all folks, with out discrimination. As we stay up for Pride Month in June, this dedication have to be sustained and translated into motion, each throughout the OSCE and past.

This yr’s world IDAHOBIT theme, ‘At the heart of democracy’, underlines a basic fact: that respect for human rights, equality and non‑discrimination is crucial to sturdy, inclusive and resilient democratic societies.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. Yet for many individuals throughout the OSCE area and past, this promise stays unfulfilled on account of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender id or expression, or intercourse traits. Discrimination, harassment and violence persist in schooling, employment, healthcare and public life.

In some taking part States, legal guidelines and insurance policies proceed to criminalise consensual identical‑intercourse relationships, prohibit freedom of expression, affiliation and peaceable meeting, or deny authorized recognition and safety to trans and gender‑numerous folks. Regrettably, over the previous twelve months, the state of affairs for a lot of LGBT+ folks within the OSCE area has additional deteriorated.

In lots of our societies, transgender, non-binary, and gender numerous folks nonetheless face stigma, harassment, and violence. Intersex folks also can face the potential for medically pointless or deferrable interventions. These traits are sometimes exacerbated by disinformation, hostile rhetoric and the shrinking of civic area, which collectively undermine social cohesion and the safety of people and communities.

Human rights defenders and civil society organisations play an important function in responding to those challenges. Across the OSCE area, they supply assist to victims, doc abuses, and advocate for inclusive, human rights‑compliant insurance policies. Their work strengthens our societies and contributes on to complete safety. We subsequently reiterate the significance of defending civic area and guaranteeing that human rights defenders can function freely and safely, together with by means of full respect for the freedoms of expression, peaceable meeting and affiliation.

Mr Chair, respect for human rights and basic freedoms is a core OSCE dedication. Participating States have freely undertaken commitments to respect and promote these rights, to fight discrimination, and to guard people from violence. Full implementation of those commitments is crucial to complete safety, and to the credibility of this Organisation.

On this IDAHOBIT, we reaffirm our solidarity with LGBT+ communities and human rights defenders throughout the OSCE area and worldwide. We name on all taking part States to uphold their commitments, to repeal discriminatory legal guidelines and practices, and to advertise insurance policies that guarantee all folks can stay free from worry, violence and discrimination.

We stay steadfast in our dedication to a world wherein all persons are equal, protected and free to stay their lives with dignity and respect.

Thank you.