Washington, DC - The State Department welcomes Hilton Worldwide as the newest Partner of the Global Equality Fund. As the first hospitality company to partner with the Global Equality Fund, Hilton Worldwide joins a strong and diverse alliance of like-minded governments, foundations, and corporations dedicated to advancing the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons globally.
Launched in December 2011, the Global Equality Fund supports civil society’s efforts to advance and protect the human rights of LGBT persons around the world. The Fund brings together the resources and expertise of governments, corporations, foundations, and civil society organizations with the shared objective of creating an environment in which LGBT persons can live freely and without discrimination. It is managed by the U.S. Department of State with the participation from the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The Fund has provided more than $17 million in over 50 countries to support civil society organizations and human rights defenders with emergency assistance in response to threats or harassment, to build organizational capacity for human rights, advocacy, and development, and to combat negative social attitudes and societal discrimination.
With more than 4,300 hotels, resorts and timeshare properties in 94 countries and territories, Hilton Worldwide brings to the Fund significant experience in advancing diversity and inclusion. As a Partner of the Fund, Hilton Worldwide joins the governments of the United States, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, and the Arcus Foundation, the John D. Evans Foundation, LLH: the Norwegian LGBT Organization, the M.A.C AIDS Fund, Deloitte, the Royal Bank of Canada, the Human Rights Campaign and Out Leadership. Together, these organizations are committed to protecting and promoting the human rights of LGBT persons worldwide.
For more information about the State Department’s efforts to advance the human rights of LGBT individuals, please visit: http://www.humanrights.gov/dyn/issues/lgbt.html.
