The Swedish Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights RFSL Oral Statement: 65th Commission on the Status of Women General discussion (Item 3) Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly My name is Khawla, and as a young, queer, woman, I am making this intervention on behalf of the LBTI Caucus, an informal group of over 300 representatives covering every region of the world. Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex women and girls and gender non-conforming people continue to experience alarming rates of gender-based violence because of our real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. The multiple and intersecting forms of violence and discrimination we face, directly create and affect real, specific, and, often times, onerous barriers to our full and effective participation in public life and decision- making. Yet these are cornerstones of empowerment, sustainable development, and climate justice. The scarce representation of LBTI and gender non-conforming women, girls, and people in political parties, central and local governance structures, trade unions, professional associations and other institutions, exacerbates the denial of our rights to food, water, housing, healthcare, education, employment, safety, and security. This exclusion from public life and decision-making has become even clearer in States’ responses to Covid-19, where LBTI, gender non-conforming, and other vulnerable people are excluded from humanitarian response efforts, in the design and implementation of mitigation programs, and in shaping response initiatives. Globally, systematic attacks on sexual and reproductive health and rights and the freedom of assembly, expression, and association, driven by anti-rights, conservative, patriarchal, populist, and fundamentalist actors, and fuelled by sexism, racism, transphobia and xenophobia, are increasing. States must commit to tackling the organized resistance to the human rights of all women and girls and remove laws and policies that criminalize or limit our rights as LBTI and gender non-conforming women, girls, and people. To eliminate gender-based violence and protect the effective public participation for all, we must commit to an inclusive and intersectional approach, recognizing the diversity of all women and girls. We need more States and other partners to commit to funding ethical data collection focused on the impact of gender-based violence and exclusion of LBTI and gender non- conforming persons, so that targeted laws and policies are created and implemented with the full and meaningful participation of LBTI civil society. States cannot sit idly by and be silent on the Beijing Declaration and the 2030 Agenda where LBTI and gender non-conforming communities are concerned. Further, we must acknowledge and celebrate the active involvement and participation of LBTI women, girls, gender non- conforming people and rights defenders in all efforts towards securing a more equitable world. Gender equality can never be achieved if we do not work together to combat the marginalization of LBTI women and girls and gender non-conforming people now. Thank you. The Swedish Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights RFSL This oral statement is submitted and delivered by The Swedish Federation of LGBT Rights, RFSL on behalf of the following ECOSOC accredited organizations: • The Swedish Federation of LGBT Rights, RFSL • Outright Action International • International Service for Human Rights • International Lesbian and Gay Association • Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie Van Homoseksualiteit – COC Nederland • Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany .