A Refugee-Led Call for Protection, Dignity, Accountability, and Equal Humanitarian Assistance

I am writing this petition as a refugee and LGBTQ+ community representative, on behalf of LGBTQ+ refugees who continue to face serious protection challenges in refugee settlements across East Africa, including Gorom Refugee Camp in South Sudan.

Many of us fled our countries because we feared persecution, violence, rejection, and even death because of our sexual orientation or gender identity. We crossed borders believing that becoming refugees would bring us closer to safety.

But for many LGBTQ+ refugees, the fear did not end when we became refugees.

We continue to face threats, harassment, violence, discrimination, intimidation, isolation, and exclusion because of who we are.

In some refugee communities, LGBTQ+ refugees have reported attacks and threats from other refugees and members of surrounding communities. Some have faced discrimination when trying to access basic services. Others live in constant fear and feel that they have nowhere safe to turn when something happens to them.

THE CHALLENGES WE FACE

LGBTQ+ refugees can face barriers to accessing basic humanitarian assistance, including:

Food and adequate nutrition
Clean and sufficient water
Healthcare and emergency medical treatment
Safe and adequate shelter
Sanitation and essential hygiene supplies
Education for children
Livelihood and employment opportunities
Protection from violence and discrimination
Some families struggle to provide food for their children. Some children remain out of school. Refugees with medical needs can struggle to obtain treatment. Others have experienced unsafe or inadequate living conditions, including the loss or destruction of shelter.

These are not simply humanitarian statistics. They are people’s lives.

THE FEAR OF SPEAKING OUT

One of our greatest concerns is the fear of reporting abuse and protection incidents.

When LGBTQ+ refugees experience threats or violence, many are afraid to report because they fear retaliation, further discrimination, exposure, or being placed at even greater risk.

Silence should never be mistaken for safety.

Refugees should have confidential, accessible, and trustworthy mechanisms through which they can report protection concerns and receive meaningful assistance.

OUR CONCERNS IN GOROM REFUGEE CAMP

Our situation in Gorom Refugee Camp, South Sudan, requires urgent attention.

LGBTQ+ refugees have raised concerns about safety, discrimination, access to humanitarian assistance, shelter, healthcare, food, water, and the ability to seek protection when they face threats.

We believe that these concerns deserve to be heard directly from the people experiencing them.

LGBTQ+ refugees should not have to hide who they are in order to feel safe or access humanitarian assistance.

OUR CALL TO UNHCR

We respectfully but firmly call on UNHCR East Africa and the relevant UNHCR country operations to:

1. Strengthen protection for LGBTQ+ refugees facing threats, violence, harassment, discrimination, and other forms of abuse.

2. Properly document, investigate, and follow up on reported protection incidents, ensuring that serious concerns are not ignored.

3. Guarantee equal and non-discriminatory access to humanitarian assistance, including food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, education, sanitation, and other essential services.

4. Establish safe and confidential reporting mechanisms where LGBTQ+ refugees can report threats and abuse without fear of retaliation.

5. Consult directly with LGBTQ+ refugees and community representatives when assessing protection risks and developing solutions.

6. Strengthen accountability and transparency in the handling of refugee protection complaints.

7. Protect children and vulnerable families, ensuring that they have access to education, healthcare, food, shelter, and safety.

8. Conduct a comprehensive protection assessment of the situation facing LGBTQ+ refugees in Gorom Refugee Camp and take concrete action based on the findings.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT

We are asking for equal protection.

We recognize the difficult environments in which UNHCR and humanitarian organizations operate. We also recognize that resources are limited.

But limited resources should never mean that vulnerable refugees are left without meaningful protection.

We have already lost our homes, our communities, our livelihoods, and our sense of security.

We should not have to lose our safety again after becoming refugees.

A refugee camp should be a place where people can find protection—not another place where they are forced to live in fear.

OUR MESSAGE TO UNHCR

We are refugees.
We are human beings.
We deserve protection.
We deserve dignity.
We deserve to be heard.

We are asking UNHCR to listen to LGBTQ+ refugees, investigate our concerns, strengthen protection mechanisms, and take meaningful action.

Please do not wait until another person is seriously harmed before our concerns are taken seriously.

Z

By signing, you are standing with LGBTQ+ refugees in Gorom Refugee Camp and across East Africa.

You are calling for protection, equality, accountability, dignity, and action.

LGBTQ+ refugees are refugees too.

UNHCR East Africa — hear our voices. Protect our community. Act now.