Last week in Ottawa, Canada, the Gender Stream team had the honour of representing Ukraine at the Pride 7 Summit — a powerful international gathering of LGBTQI+ leaders and human rights defenders from G7 countries and beyond. Organized by Egale Canada in partnership with Dignity Network Canada.
Pride 7 is more than a pre-summit event. It is a civil society movement that insists: 2SLGBTQI+ rights must be at the core of global democratic commitments. It is also a space of deep solidarity — one that is urgently needed in times of war, rising authoritarianism, and militarization.
Participants from Canada, Colombia, Japan, Thailand, Ukraine, and other countries came together to discuss challenges, seek solutions, and shape a shared agenda — one where human rights are not abstract ideals, but a real and urgent political responsibility.
A space for solidarity and urgency
For Gender Stream, participating in Pride 7 was not simply about presence or visibility. It was an opportunity to stand alongside global allies at a time when Ukraine is enduring one of the most difficult periods in its modern history. The full-scale war launched by Russia has impacted every aspect of life including the lives of LGBTQI+ people. Escalating violence, displacement, and social vulnerability have deepened our challenges, but they have also strengthened our determination to resist, rebuild, and shape a new Ukraine.
At the summit, we felt genuine support for our work and solidarity with the everyday realities we face. These were not just words, but real commitments, openness to collaboration, and a deep understanding that Ukraine is not alone in this fight for gender equality. . We are especially grateful to Kim Vance-Mubanga , Doug Kerr, Arsen A. S., and the teams at Egale Canada and Dignity Network Canada for their leadership, the space to share our stories, and for reminding us that global solidarity is not symbolic. It is active, alive, and necessary.
We continue to advocate at the highest levels and for that, we need support
Pride 7 has a concrete goal: to develop and deliver civil society recommendations to G7 leaders ahead of their official summit, which will take place in June 2025 in Alberta. Its central theme: global security.
On behalf of Gender Stream, we have emphasized how much support for Ukrainian humanitarian and military sector means to us. Our recommendations focused on investing in social resilience, inclusion, access to healthcare, education, housing, and legal protection.
We are advocating at the highest governmental level for the adoption of a draft that criminalizes hate-motivated crimes, because it is aimed at creating a safe environment for diverse socially vulnerable groups. For us, this is a fundamental step that must be adopted without delay.
In our speech, we said:
“During the full-scale war started by Russia, we continue to advocate for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, and to protect the rights of women and girls as an important part of democratic progress.
Women in Ukraine — volunteers, plumbers, loaders, leaders, and politicians — are playing a key role in resistance and daily victory, but are still left out of decision-making, especially when it comes to their rights and needs.
Lesbians, transgender, and non-binary people still do not have basic rights: legal recognition of relationships, access to social protection, or the right to raise children together.
We also see rising militarization and radicalization across Europe, which affects political decisions in Ukraine and other countries. In this context, it is very important to keep human rights on the agenda.
Only equality, dignity, and inclusion of marginalized groups can lead to a strong and democratic society — even during war.
Nothing about us — without us.”
Moving forward together
This visit to Canada was more than a diplomatic mission. It was a deeply human experience. We listened to the voices of activists from Botswana, Zambia, Haiti, Ecuador, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo — each with their own story, but all reminding us that our struggles are interconnected.
We returned home with new ideas, partnerships, and most importantly — with a renewed sense that our voice matters on the global stage.
We are sincerely grateful to everyone who made Pride 7 possible, and to our incredible teams at Gender Stream and ActionAid Eastern Europe. This work is never easy — but it is how we shape a future where every person has the right to live openly, freely, and with dignity.