Paper details
| Paper authors | Eirene Chen |
| In panel on | Love, sex and crisis: challenges and paths forward for sexual and reproductive health and rights in humanitarian settings |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
In many humanitarian settings, individuals whose real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or sex characteristics (SOGIESC) differ from prevailing social norms are among the most marginalised of crisis-affected populations. They include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) forcibly displaced persons, whose sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) are frequently mis-addressed throughout the entire displacement cycle.
Although there have been recent advances to meaningfully include the specific priorities of LGBTIQ+ displaced persons into existing SRHR policy and programming (including, inter alia, gender-based violence prevention, risk mitigation and response; mental health and psychosocial service provision; adolescent health interventions), research and consultative discussions undertaken in partnership with LGBTIQ+ displaced people confirm that the complex, intersecting and specific stigmatisations and abuse faced by crisis-affected LGBTIQ+ persons continue to challenge mainstream humanitarian SRHR actors’ capacity to effectively respond, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drawing from research, policy guidance and findings from the 2021 UNHCR-IE SOGI Global Roundtable on Protection and Solutions for LGBTIQ+ People in Forced Displacement, this presentation aims to highlight key SRHR challenges experienced by LGBTIQ+ displaced persons in crisis settings, as well as recommendations for how humanitarian SRHR researchers and practitioners can more effectively ensure their protection.
