UNAIDS joins the United Nations Secretary-General in extending condolences to the families of the victims

GENEVA, 14 June 2016— UNAIDS expresses solidarity with all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and condemns the attack on a nightclub in Orlando, United States of America, in which 49 people were killed and more than 50 others injured. UNAIDS joins the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in extending our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and expresses its solidarity with the government and people of the United States of America and the global LGBTI community. 

“There is no place for hatred and violence based on sexual orientation in today’s world,” said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. “We have to build inclusive societies where all people are treated with respect and dignity and can lead lives free of fear and exclusion.”

LGBTI people face a wide range of human rights violations. The United Nations and others have documented widespread physical and psychological violence against LGBTI people in all regions of the world.

In September 2015, UNAIDS, together with 11 other United Nations entities, released a joint statement calling for an end to violence and discrimination against LGBTI people. The joint statement highlights the need to protect, respect and fulfil the rights of LGBTI people to live free from violence, persecution, discrimination and stigma.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.