ABOUT US
Who We Are
VISION
We envision a world where young sexual minorities are free from discrimination, persecution and equal opportunities in life.
MISSION
We strive to ensure young LBQTI individuals are engaged in meaningful decision-making processes through advocacy, knowledge generation, information sharing, partnership, and capacity building.
Thematic Focus
Here is a list of the major things we focus on
IGE-SRH believes that our rightsholders should be empowered and that there is a need to drive and support the community for better health. Our aim is to ensure the highest possible level of health and well-being and their equitable distribution by focusing on LBQTI rightsholder’s needs and preferences as early as possible along the continuum of care and as close as feasible to people’s everyday environments.
In order to elevate the voices of young LBQTI people, IGE-SRH operates in national, regional, and international advocacy arena’s. We aim to ensure young people participate in national, international, and regional meetings and conferences to advocate for the adoption of language and policies aimed at increasing access of LGBTQIA young people to youth-friendly SRHR information, education, and services. By our presence in these spaces, policymakers are constantly reminded that their decisions have an actual influence on our social realities. At the same time, we educate, generate information, and share key news/policies to ensure that young LGBTQIA people are aware of the commitments and keep accountable for what stakeholders have made.
As a youth-led organization, capacity strengthening and development is at the core of our strategy. Both internally and externally, we train young activists in articulating their needs and support them to translate these into policy recommendations. IGE-SRH is a platform for learning, both on a personal and a professional level. We believe in facilitating safe spaces, in which young LBQTI people can acquire/develop advocacy skills free of stigma and discrimination. IGE-SRH trains young people to become effective advocates and strong leaders in their communities.
IGE-SRH strives to bridge the digital divide and ensure equal access to technology for young LBQTI individuals. By advocating for policies that promote affordable and accessible internet connectivity, we aim to empower marginalized communities to utilize digital tools and platforms for their development, education, and participation in decision-making processes.
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by LBQTI individuals in online spaces, we are committed to promoting their digital safety and security. Through awareness campaigns, capacity building initiatives, and partnerships with technology companies, IGE-SRH aim to combat cyberbullying, online harassment, and hate speech targeting sexual minorities. We also advocate for inclusive and user-friendly reporting mechanisms to address online abuse effectively.
— We are dedicated to building a thriving community for young sexual minorities in Nigeria
The Initiative for Gender Equality and Sexual Reproductive Health (IGE-SRH) is a sub-national, youth-led organization that has been established to improve the lives of young lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, and intersex (LBQTI) rightsholders in Nigeria. Our organization was founded in 2020 with a focus on promoting the rights and meaningful inclusion of LBQTI individuals who have been subjected to discrimination and exclusion due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sexual characteristics.
The organization was founded on the premise that the very spaces and programmes that should respond to young LBQTI individuals’ needs often do not address our needs or involve us in strategic decision-making. As such, young LBQTI individuals can play a significant role as agents of change in development if given the necessary resources.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IGE-SRH serves young LBQTI rightsholders in Nigeria through our focus areas: SRHR, Economic Empowerment, Information and Digital Technology, Human Rights and Gender Justice Advocacy, and Safety and Security.
IGE-SRH has been in existence since 2020 and was officially registered in 2021 with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Nigeria.
IGE-SRH believes that working in partnership is essential to strengthening our work and ensuring that we are effectively working towards a common cause. Pursuing new partnerships and maintaining existing ones is critical to the IGE-SRH continually evolving and growing as an organization. Partnerships allow us to plan for activities that are contextualized and reflect the SRHR realities on the ground. If your organization is interested in partnering with the Youth Coalition, please get in touch and email us at info@ge-srh.org