Source description last updated: 19 November 2020

In brief: OutRight Action International is a New York-based non-profit that aims to advance the human rights of LGBTIQ persons worldwide.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Selected reports and articles

Covered monthly on ecoi.net, for countries of priorities A–E (all available countries).

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

Established in 1990, OutRight Action International (or OutRight for short), is an “international human rights organization dedicated to improving the lives of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.” (OutRight Action International website: Our Model for LGBTIQ Human Rights Change, undated)

“OutRight envisions a world where LGBTIQ people everywhere enjoy full human rights and fundamental freedoms, exercise self-determination, form strong communities, and thrive personally and economically. [...]

OutRight works at the international, regional and national levels to research, document, defend, and advance human rights for LGBTIQ people around the world. We partner directly with human rights defenders, allies and organizations to produce reliable data on the experiences of LGBTIQ people around the world and support research-based advocacy and capacity-building for the human rights of LGBTIQ people.” (OutRight Action International website: About us, undated)

Outright is registered as a non-profit in the United States (OutRight Action International website: About us, undated), with staff based in the US, Belize, Jamaica, Kenya, and the Philippines (OutRight Action International website: Staff Directory, ohne Datum). It “holds consultative status at the United Nations as a recognized Non-Governmental Organization.” (OutRight Action International website: Our Model for LGBTIQ Human Rights Change, undated)

Funding:

OutRight Action International is funded by contributions from donors, government grants and contracts, revenue from special events and investment income, amongst others (Schall & Ashenfarb: OutRight Action International, Corp.; Audited Financial Statements, 30 June 2019, p. 4). Its funders include the Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, the Arcus Foundation, the Calamus Foundation, the Dunn Family Charitable Foundation, the Jackson Foundation, the Horizons Foundation, the Global Faith and Equality Fund, the Alphawood Foundation and the PARC Foundation (OutRight Action International website: Funders, undated).

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: all countries

Thematic focus: issues relating to LGBTIQ rights (including legal discrimination; privacy and family; criminal injustice; treatment of activists; trans, intersex and nonbinary rights; safety and security)

Methodology:

“We believe that generating evidence-based human rights research documentation is the most effective way to hold governments accountable for failing to meet human rights obligations and standards [...]. We vigilantly monitor and document the discriminatory and life-threatening conditions LGBTIQ people face in order to spur action to stop human rights violations when they occur. [...]

Each year, we produce a series of ‘shadow’ reports that confront the official narrative composed by governments with the often-dark realities facing LGBTIQ individuals and communities. We then use these reports to advocate with our partners to encourage the UN Human Rights Commission to instruct governments to take corrective action, including decriminalizing sodomy.” (OutRight Action International website: Research Documentation, undated)

Reports may be based on a review of existing literature such as national legislation, reports by international NGOs, media reports, books and academic publications (see, for example, OutRight Action International/IraQueer/MADRE: Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, March 2019, pp. 8–10)) combined with field research involving focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews that may be conducted in-person during visits to the relevant country/countries. Research may be also involve engagement with stakeholders including key academics and local activists at certain stages during the research process to “identify LGBTQ activists, organizations, and networks, as well as inform the focus of interviews” (see, for example, OutRight Action International: Activism and resilience: LGBTQ progress in the Middle East and North Africa, 27 September 2018, p. 7). Reports co-published with local LGBTIQ rights organisations may draw on research in the field (interviews, collection of reports from individuals etc.) conducted by OutRight itself (see, for example, Outright Action International/El Aquelarre Trans/PAIIS: Cartografía de derechos trans en Colombia, 23 November 2016) or the partnering local organisations (see, for example, OutRight Action International/IraQueer/MADRE: Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, March 2019, pp. 2 and 8–10). Information may be referenced in the reports by means of footnotes (see, for example, Outright Action International/El Aquelarre Trans/PAIIS: Cartografía de derechos trans en Colombia, 23 November 2016) or endnotes (see, for example, OutRight Action International/IraQueer/MADRE: Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Iraq, March 2019).

Languages of publication:

English and relevant local languages (Spanish, Arabic etc.)

 

All links accessed 19 November 2020.