Congresswoman Lee Represents the United States at the UN General Assembly
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) attended a series of landmark meetings and events during the 78th United Nations General Assembly. The Congresswoman was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Representative of the United States to the 78th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, marking the eighth time she has served in this role.
The Congresswoman gave opening remarks at a panel discussion on “Accelerating Civil Society Responses to LGBTQ Human Rights in Africa, the U.S., and Globally.” Speakers gave updates on the status and impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya, as well as the United States, and the strategic responses needed by the UN, world leaders, and civil society. They also discussed anti-LGBTQ+ organizing by US right-wing hate groups in Africa and the US. The panel was organized by the African Services Committee and co-hosted by Outright International, with input from Convening for Equality Uganda, Council for Global Equality, Rainbow Railroad, Human Rights Campaign, Global Fund Advocates Network Africa, Health GAP, and COC Netherlands.
She also spoke at the event “15 Years of UN LGBTI Core Group: Milestones and Challenges” alongside Special Envoy Jessica Stern. This event was sponsored by UN LGBTI co-chairs Argentina and the Netherlands.
The UN LGBTI Core Group was established in 2008 to focus on LGBTI-rights in an intergovernmental context. The main goals of the group are to raise awareness about LGBTI issues, to contribute to multilateral work and negotiations at the UN, and to seek common ground and dialogue with non-members and other stakeholders. Almost 15 years after its establishment, the LGBTI Core Group now is made up of 42 member states from both the global south and north, the European Union, the OHCHR, Human Rights Watch, and Outright International. Then Vice-President Biden provided remarks at the 2016 annual meeting; Secretary Blinken provided remarks last year (2022).
“As a founding member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, it is deeply important for me to speak up about these issues as anti-LGBTQI+ efforts increase at an alarming rate. The United States is proud to advance respect for the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the globe, especially on the world stage at the United Nations General Assembly” said Rep. Lee. “We are also pleased to have contributed to a critical milestone for this group and for LGBTQI+ rights at the UN – leading on the first ever consensus reference to ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ in the General Assembly in our biannual UNGA Third Committee elections resolution in 2021. The United States will be facilitating that resolution again this year, where we will be defending that reference, and count on the support of all members of this group. I thank all of the speakers and panelists for their work to advance a more just society worldwide.”