The United States and Uruguay recognize that supporting and promoting human rights is the responsibility of all governments and peoples and that the human rights of LGBTI persons are not different or separate from the human rights of any other persons. Defending the human rights of LGBTI persons is part of our shared human rights policies and of our respective foreign policies.

To build on our shared commitment and partnership, we are pleased to announce today that Uruguay has joined the Global Equality Fund. Uruguay joins the United States and other like-minded partners – including the governments of Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, as well as the Arcus Foundation, the John D. Evans Foundation, LLH: the Norwegian LGBT Organization, the M•A•C AIDS Fund, Deloitte LLP, the Royal Bank of Canada, Hilton Worldwide, the Human Rights Campaign and Out Leadership — to advance freedom, equality, and dignity for all. Partners of the Global Equality Fund work together to affirm a consistent global message that LGBTI rights are human rights and support civil society organizations working to promote the inclusion of and respect for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

In April 2016, Uruguay will host the 2016 Global LGBTI Human Rights Conference, which will be co-hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Conference follows-up on previous conferences hosted by the United States, Germany, and Sweden. During the November 2014 conference hosted by the United States, several governments, including Uruguay, signed a Communique affirming their commitment to increase coordination to advance the human rights of LGBTI persons, as well as to increase resources to civil society organizations. Partners of the Global Equality Fund look forward to the upcoming Uruguay-Netherlands hosted conference as an opportunity to review priority needs of the global LGBTI community, share lessons learned, and strengthen joint strategies to advance and protect the human rights of LGBTI persons.