REMARKS - National Dialogue LGBTI

September 24, 2020

Denise E Antonio, UNDP Resident Representative

Salutations

  • Mr. Jason Fraser, Country Representative, United States Agency for International Development Jamaica
  • Mr. Jaevion Nelson, Executive Director, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays
  • Mr. Luis Duran, Inclusive Development Specialist, United States Agency for International Development Dominican Republic,
  • Esteemed members of the panel
  • Virtual Participants

Good morning to all

Human rights are the birth right of every person and its observance is key to the development of every country and its people.

Over the past few years, the human rights of LGBTQI persons has received increased attention throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Notwithstanding efforts by Governments to improve human rights for all, LGBTQI persons continue to experience stigma, discrimination and violations of their human rights. Threat of discrimination has also limited access to basic social services which exacerbates their vulnerability.  The Covid 19 pandemic has further compounded these vulnerabilities and has placed this community at even greater risk for distress and displacement.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the importance of reaching those who are furthest behind first.  This commitment includes all persons regardless of their ethnicity, colour, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, culture and way of life.  Inequality affects the successful achievement of all the SDGs, particularly, SDGs 10 – Reducing Inequalities and SDG 16 Promoting Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Our institutions cannot be strong unless peace and justice are accessible to all Jamaicans.   

We commend the Government of Jamaica for the strides it has made in ensuring that the rights of all Jamaicans are upheld and protected. The involvement of our government partners in this Dialogue signals an awareness of the gaps that exist in the pursuit of universal human rights protection but more importantly shows the commitment of local policy makers to protecting the lives and livelihoods of all members of the society.  UNDP remains committed to supporting the Government of Jamaica in its efforts of leaving no one behind consistent with its own national development goals which are in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

The next two days mark an important hallmark in the coordinated efforts towards stimulating interest in localizing the advancement of diversity and social inclusion. The National Dialogue on Human Rights is a key component under the Being LGBTQI in the Caribbean project, a collaborative regional project financially supported by the United States Agency for International Development  with implementation led by the United Nations Development Programme in close partnership with our local and regional civil society partners.

The discussions emanating from the “LGBTQI Needs Assessment” presented today will be instrumental in providing current data on the experiences of LGBTQI persons living in Jamaica. The findings of the study will facilitate the achievement of the goals of the BLIC project, but specifically Output 1: Strategic information developed to support National and Regional Advocacy Activities.

We hope that the outcomes of the session will have far reaching positive impacts on the lives of the LGBTQI community in Jamaica.  We also commend USAID for providing grant funding to eligible CSOs for the implementation of projects which are aligned to the event’s recommendations.

We reiterate our commitment to strengthening our existing partnership with local and regional CSOs as well as our International Development partners to design flexible and impactful strategies to ease the challenges faced by the most vulnerable.  The inclusion of all Jamaicans, with their energy, skills, expertise and optimism is integral to Jamaica achieving its development goals.

We look forward to fruitful discussions and enhanced collaboration as we work towards developing solutions that are beneficial, relevant and respectful to all.   Thank you.