Dear friends,

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today releases a video and a pamphlet on violence and discrimination targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. Both video and pamphlet may be relevant in the context of any events planned on or around the International Day Against Homophobia on 17 May.

In the video, the High Commissioner talks about recent violent attacks against LGBT people in the United States, Brazil, Honduras and South Africa, stressing that such incidents are not isolated but part of a global problem. "Ultimately, homophobia and transphobia are no different to sexism, misogyny, racism or xenophobia", she notes "but whereas these last forms of prejudice are universally condemned by Governments, homophobia and transphobia are too often overlooked." She appeals to those most hostile to LGBT persons to "think again" and calls on States to take steps to ensure equal rights for everyone, "whoever they are, whoever they love". The video is released in English, with a French sub-titled version also available (Spanish subtitled version to follow). It has been posted on the OHCHR website, on YouTube and on OHCHR's (new!) Facebook page (please see instructions, below). The full script is also provided on the OHCHR website as a Word document in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.

The pamphlet, entitled The United Nations Speaks Out: Tackling Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity is a collaborative effort between OHCHR, UNDP, UNAIDS and WHO. It presents extracts from many of the strong statements on the subject made by the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner and other senior UN officials, as well as by the UN treaty bodies, special rapporteurs and other UN agencies. By issuing the pamphlet jointly, the participating agencies/entities hope to convey the impression that United Nations partners speaks together on the issue. The pamphlet is available from the OHCHR website in two formats: a full-colour, three-fold pamphlet available in hard copy or electronically for local printing and dissemination; and a 'stripped-down' version, suitable for low-volume desk-top printing using A4 paper. French and Spanish versions of the pamphlet will follow in the coming days and will be posted alongside the English-language original version.

We hope you will find both the video and pamphlet a useful public information resource in the lead-up to and beyond the International Day Against Homophobia. For additional information on OHCHR's work in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, please refer to our webpage (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBT.aspx), where you will find links to recent speeches and newspaper articles by the High Commissioner, statements of the Secretary-General and other relevant materials.

Best regards,

Charles Radcliffe
Senior Adviser on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
Chief, Global Issues
OHCHR-New York
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

To download the pamphlet:

The pamphlet is available as a pdf file from the OHCHR website (go to http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBT.aspx and look for the link "brochure" in the right-hand column).

It may be reproduced and disseminated locally, using the pdf file “Brochure – printer (with crop marks) (PDF)”. A 'stripped-down' version of the pamphlet in English (and in due course in French and Spanish) is also available, suitable for low-volume desk-top printing (click "brochure – A4 format (PDF)".

To view or download the High Commissioner's video:

The video is in English, with a French sub-titled version also available (Spanish subtitled version to follow shortly). The script is also available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. The video and scripts are available to view or download from the following platforms:

• OHCHR website: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBT.aspx
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/UNOHCHR
• Facebook: "United Nations Human Rights"

If you wish to show the video at an event, it is recommended that you download the 'high-res' version, which will be available shortly on the OHCHR website.