Foreign Missions in New Delhi Celebrate the Commitment of their Country to Full Equality for all Human Beings Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity

Position, 28.06.2019

New Delhi, 28 June 2019 – This June, we the undersigned diplomatic missions in India’s capital, reaffirm our countries' strong commitment to promoting universal human rights and to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, enjoys these rights without discrimination.

Every year around May or June, our governments and our civil society work together to support, organize, or participate in a wide range of events to celebrate the diversity of our citizens, to reduce discrimination and misinformation about the LGBTI community, to build on individual and collective achievements, and to highlight what needs to be done to ensure human dignity and equality for all human beings. Events are as diverse as the countries and communities that host them, but usually concentrate around IDAHOT day on May 17, LGBTI Pride marches and events in June, and sometimes at other moments of the year such as on Human Rights Day on December 10. 

This year, events organized by foreign missions in New Delhi include the lighting of embassies in the iconic colours of the LGBTI rainbow flag, hoisting the rainbow flag on the embassies’ flagpoles, LGBTI film screenings, panels and lectures, as well as outreach on social media.  

These diverse celebrations raise awareness about this important issue and foster a sense of community and belonging to advance human rights for all throughout the world. When all persons are protected on the basis of equality and with dignity, global stability is enhanced. We note with pride the increasing progress being made around the world to protect the fundamental human rights of LGBTI individuals and have included  a list of national and international achievements in the annex.

We take this occasion to express our solidarity with the human rights defenders and civil society organizations working in India and around the world to uphold the fundamental freedoms of LGBTI persons to live freely and with dignity.

Finally, we also take this opportunity to welcome the decision of the Supreme Court of India on 6 September 2018 to read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, a critical step towards the full enjoyment of human rights by LGBTI persons without discriminations in India.

Signatories

 

Australian High Commission

Austrian Embassy

Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium

British High Commission

High Commission of Canada

Embassy of Croatia

High Commission of Cyprus

Embassy of the Czech Republic

Royal Embassy of Denmark

Delegation of the European Union

Embassy of Finland

Embassy of France

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Embassy of Greece

Embassy of Iceland

Embassy of Ireland

Embassy of Israel

Embassy of Italy

Embassy of Japan

Embassy of Latvia

Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania

Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

High Commission of Malta

Embassy of Mexico

New Zealand High Commission

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Embassy of Norway

Embassy of Portugal

Embassy of Serbia

Embassy of Slovenia

Embassy of Spain

Embassy of Sweden

Embassy of Switzerland