12-18 May 2014 is Pride Week – in Cambodia, a week to celebrate and raise awareness about the rights and dignity of Cambodia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, in the lead up to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on 17 May, when sexual and gender diversities are celebrated worldwide. As often, the question of family acceptance will be central to the celebrations in Cambodia. OHCHR globally recently launched 'The Welcome', a musical video reminding all that love is a family value, and that everyone should be warmly welcomed by family, no matter who they are or whom they love.
As part of the ongoing Free & Equal campaign, OHCHR has also produced a short video for IDAHOT 2014 available here. The video, which integrates photos and footage contributed by UN staff and others from around the world, focuses on the impact the sharing of stories can have and gives support to LGBT and intersex family members, friends, and colleagues. Fighting discrimination and striving for a world that is truly free and equal is a cause behind which rallies the whole United Nations system. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is highlighting the day with a blogpost on the social media platform LinkedIn, available here.
Find out more about the United Nations global Free and Equal campaign and about the celebrations in Cambodia by visiting https://unfe.org and https://www.facebook.com/IDAHOTCambodia.
Read also the opinion piece of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia in English | Khmer.