HIVOS on the impact of the Gay Games V international human rights conference on gay emancipation in developing countries

Hivos (Humanistisch Instituut voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking) is a Dutch organization for development co-inspired by humanist values. Hivos provides financial and political support to over 800 partner organizations in over 30 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Southeastern Europe. Along with these local organizations, Hivos seeks to contribute to a free, fair and sustainable world, where women and men have equal access to resources and opportunities for development. Hivos is convinced that if people have a fair chance, their possibilities are almost limitless. Hence the slogan "People unlimited ". An important guiding principle is to strengthen the social position of women, along with work in the area of HIV/AIDS.

From the HIVOS webpage on their gay emancipation policy:


In 1998, Hivos decided in association with Amnesty International to make it possible for activists from developing countries to participate in the international human rights conference of the Gay Games in Amsterdam. Their participation resulted in widespread publicity and a substantial increase in the number of activities in the field of gay emancipation in developing countries. It was the breakthrough needed to launch a true global gay emancipation movement, which until then had been dominated by Europe and the United States. It was also during this period that international gay emancipation started to appear on the agenda of national governments, including in the Netherlands.