IraQueer

Location: Iraq

Focus: LGBTQI human rights in Iraq

Website: https://www.iraqueer.org

IraQueer are Iraq’s first and leading LGBTQI human rights organisation. The community faces discrimination, threats, physical attacks, kidnappings, and death. In 2020, IraQueer experienced several challenges. Restrictions around COVID-19 limited their ability to document violations against LGBTQI people on the ground and lead advocacy work. The government also increased their hateful rhetoric and the media increased negative coverage of the community. 

Still, IraQueer provided vital support and celebrated successes. They provided psychosocial support to 159 people, documented 250+ cases of discrimination against LGBTQI people and are establishing a queer women’s network in 2021. From June to August 2020, they provided emergency temporary housing for the community.

In 2020, IraQueer successfully seeded a counter-narrative in the media, appearing on national channels debating with politicians and lawmakers. These were watched by millions live, and hundreds of thousands on social media. The landmark release of their media report ‘Biased’ in July 2020 provided extensive analysis of media coverage concerning the community, and is now used to encourage politicians to end hate speech.

Iraq’s recognition of the right to life of all persons including LGBTQI people in its report to the UN Human Rights Committee in February 2020 is a historic win for the LGBTQI community. This recognition is both a legally binding statement and an acknowledgement that LGBTQI citizens exist in Iraq. 

In 2021, GiveOut’s grant will support IraQueer’s core costs, particularly staff salaries as they continue to raise awareness and campaign for accurate and accessible information about the queer Iraqi community.

GiveOut is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Charity Number 1176434).