Discrimination, stigmatization, exclusion and violence against LGBTQI people are systemic and widespread in Haiti.
Individuals who identify as LGBTQI experience abuse, sexual assault and rape, denial of employment and educational opportunities, expulsion from their families, and discrimination in access to social services and justice, simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Building on a history of projects promoting the human rights of LGBTQI groups in Haiti, the Young Leaders for Equality project, in partnership with Kouraj, aims to increase the engagement of local youth leaders, including LGBTQI youth, in community-based initiatives to promote human rights, and in particular the rights of LGBTQI people. Specifically, the project aims to build the capacity of youth human rights educators, including LGBTQI youth, to plan and implement community-based youth engagement initiatives, and to increase the level of collaboration among youth leaders from LGBTQI groups, civil society organizations, and state agencies to promote human rights, conflict resolution, social cohesion, and human rights.
In addition, the project strengthens the leadership of LGBTQI groups to mobilize youth, including LGBTI youth, to promote of human rights. This will then enables them to mobilize other community members, including local civil society organizations and state institutions, who are sensitive to the rights of all people and willing to participate in the promotion of the principles of equality, non-discrimination and universality of rights. The project builds the capacity of LGBTQI groups to create and strengthen alliances with civil society organizations and state institutions to mobilize youth for human rights and promotes youth participation in the LGBTQI movement.