THE UN IN VIET NAM SUPPORTS LGBTI PERSONS WHO ARE BREAKING THE SILENCE ON THIS INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA (IDAHOT) 2020

Visibility of LGBTI people – for example through LGBTI public figures, personal stories, media and cultural events such as VietPride and regional pride celebrations – gives other LGBTI persons the courage to ‘come out and be who they are’. Visibility also has broader impacts in society, including in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It contributes to decreased inequalities, including in health, education and employment, and promotes gender equality, which accelerates the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, 5 and 8, while helping to reduce data gaps regarding LGBTI persons.

For a person to be able to fully be themselves and to be recognised as such by society can be a wonderfully empowering experience. This recognition together with a safe environment allow LGBTI people to participate more actively in public life and make important contributions to Viet Nam’s socio-economic development, the achievement of the SDGs and the protection of human rights. Unfortunately, an LGBTI persons’ visibility can often expose them to stigma, discrimination, exclusion and even violence, sometimes fuelled by a lack of acceptance by their families and societies. Simple gestures of solidarity in everyday life can go a long way to make it safer to break the silence.

This right to a safe environment resonates even more at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people, including LGBTI persons, are struggling to have a safe place they can call home.  More than ever, we need to ensure that the specific challenges faced by different identities under the LGBTI umbrella are addressed.  Expressing concerns about the vulnerable situation of many LGBTI persons due to COVID-19, the UN offered guidance to help Governments respond. Faced with a hostile environment with unsupportive family members or cohabitants, or challenging quarantine settings, some LGBTI people, particularly trans, gender diverse and gender non-conforming persons, may be more exposed to violence, as well as potential anxiety and depression, and have even less access to key peer and other support services. Measures to address gender-based violence should include LGBTI persons, and restrictions on movement should provide protection for trans, gender diverse and gender non-conforming persons. In addition, as employment options are impacted by COVID-19, more LGBTI people may be forced to choose between returning to an unsafe home and becoming homeless. Measures to address socio-economic impacts of the pandemic should consider the particular vulnerabilities of LGBTI people. Finally, some LGBTI persons may be reluctant to seek or face challenges in accessing healthcare due to fears of discrimination, and specific efforts should be made to remove these obstacles.

Viet Nam has made encouraging progress in terms of breaking the silence and protecting the human rights of LGBTI persons. In its third UN Universal Periodic Review in 2019, Viet Nam recommitted to enact a law to fight discrimination by guaranteeing equality, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.[1] Viet Nam also committed to enact legislation to “ensure access to gender affirmation treatment and legal gender recognition”.[2] It is now time to translate those commitments into action, for example, by adopting a Gender Affirmation Law with a self-determination and de-pathologization perspective. Viet Nam should also further strengthen the Marriage and Family Law to ensure equality and protection of same sex couples and rainbow families, and implement existing prohibitions on discrimination against LGBTI persons in all areas of life, including employment. For greatest impact, such reforms must continue to be developed in close consultation with LGBTI persons and defenders, community-based organisations and support services, civil society, business leaders and other partners who have been breaking the silence for many years.

The UN is proud to work with many businesses in Viet Nam, which are increasingly becoming significant actors in promoting important UN standards, including in relation to LGBTI issues  We call on more businesses to join our efforts, on the Government to promote such initiatives, and on the people of Viet Nam to support businesses that play this positive role.

On behalf of the UN in Viet Nam, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Kamal Malhotra reiterates, “as Viet Nam responds to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact while remaining committed to achieving the SDGs, we are reminded of the power of solidarity and what it means to Leave No One Behind.” Mr. Malhotra concludes, “by working to create environments for our LGBTI relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues to be safe and break the silence every day, Viet Nam and the UN can continue to build a society where all of us are truly safe, free and equal.”

[1] Third Cycle Universal Periodic Review of Viet Nam, Recommendation 38.109, from Chile: Develop legislation against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender Identity. (January 2019). Viet Nam also committed to Recommendation 38.97, from Malta: Take further steps to ensure the protection of all vulnerable groups in society including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. (January 2019)

[2] Ibid, Recommendation 38.93 from Iceland: Enact legislation to ensure access to gender affirmation treatment and legal gender recognition. (January 2019).