-    Dear Mr. Simon Kreye, Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires of Germany Embassy Hanoi
-    Mr. Oliver Brandt, Director of the Goethe Institut
-    Leaders of Hanoi Pride; Development partners and friends

What an honour to join you to kick-off Hanoi Pride 2024!

I’d like to use my few minutes to share with you my reflections on the importance of Pride, and why this year’s theme of "This Gender is Ours," resonates with me and our work at UNDP. 

Around the world, including where I come from in the Middle East, culture and society impose a rigid framework of both gender identity and sexuality. 

Whether by law or by practice, so restrictive and narrow are socially acceptable norms of what it means to be a man or a woman, and about who you can and cannot love, that it leaves little room for individuals to live their lives freely, away from shame, judgement, and sometimes outright violence.   

Standing here tonight, in this space, celebrating equality and love, celebrating the uniqueness and beauty of each one of us, in all our messiness and complexity, I feel a profound sense of Hope.

That’s because  

Pride is about expanding boundaries. 
Pride is about accepting and celebrating the full spectrum of who we are, 
Pride is about embracing our identities, and living our authentic lives.

If you are with us tonight, its because in one way or another, you have embarked on a journey of self-knowledge, self-love, acceptance and tolerance. For some the journey is long and arduous; and we have to unlearn prejudices and attitudes we’ve been taught.  For others, perhaps the journey has been more straight forward. But for all of us, the journey continues. 

And this is the essence of Pride—honouring the personal journeys of each and every one of us, and realizing the right to live and love freely.

In Viet Nam, I see significant progess; progress at the societal level and progress within the policy sphere toward greater acceptance and inclusion of the LGBTI community. Changes does not happen overnight.

However, more open conversations are taking place, challenging old stigmas, and creating a more inclusive society where diverse identities are embraced. 

This growing acceptance is a testament to the resilience of the LGBTI community and the context appropriate advocacy that has been driving these changes.

At UNDP in Viet Nam, we are proud to be an ally of the LGBTI community. 

Proud to advance a rights-based agenda;

And proud to promote greater LGBTI voice and representation in line with the principle of “nothing about us without us”. 

One of our key initiatives is the LGBTI Inclusion Index, on which we collaborate closely with local LGBTI organizations.

The index assesses Viet Nam’s progress on LGBTI inclusion in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

It seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the lived realities of LGBTI individuals in the realms of education, health, personal security, economic well-being and civic participation. 

Through this, we aim to inform policies that promote inclusion and well-being of LGBTI persons, ensuring that “no one is left behind”.

Dear friends,

Hanoi Pride is an example of what can be achieved when a community comes together to raise its voice and celebrate diversity.

As we begin these two weeks of celebration, and solidarity, I hope you will all take part in the events ahead, connect with one another, and bring your unique colours to this collective journey. 

With your energy, I hope we can make Hanoi Pride 2024 the most vibrant and impactful one yet.

Xin cam on!