A high-level event on the role of “Leadership in the Fight Against Homophobia” is held today at UN Headquarters to coincide with the commemoration of this year’s Human Rights Day.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (shown on screens and on podium, centre) speaks at the event. He is joined by (from left): LGBT human rights defenders from Ukraine and Argentina, respectively, Olena Schvechenko and Blas Radi; South African singer and Roll-Back Malaria and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador, Yvonne Chaka Chaka; Puerto Rican pop singer and actor Ricky Martin; Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Minister of Women’s Rights of France; and Gift Tranpence, LGBT rights defender from Malawi.