Basic information about ECOM

What is ECOM?

ECOM — Eurasian Coalition for Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity — is an international non-governmental association based in Tallinn, Estonia. We are a membership association open to non-profit organizations and activists working in the field of rights and health of LGBT communities in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region. ECOM was founded in 2011 and officially registered in 2013.

ECOM mission

is to support the development of national LGBT+ communities and their activism, promote human rights, and to protect the health and social well-being of gender- and sexually diverse people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Goal and objectives in 2022-2026

Ensure sustained and active attention to LGBT+ health and human rights issues in national and international policies and programs, including the necessary funding and technical support for the development of community organizations in the countries of the EECA region.

Human Rights Protection

Human rights protection is the process of safeguarding the inherent dignity, freedoms, and equality of every individual, regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation.

Sexual and Mental Health

Sexual and mental health are essential aspects of overall well-being. Sexual health involves the ability to enjoy safe, respectful, and fulfilling relationships, access healthcare, and make informed decisions about one’s body.

The development of ECOM

The development of ECOM focuses on strengthening the LGBT+ community in the EECA region. It unites activists and organizations, promotes health and human rights.

Vision of the Future for ECOM

Key Objectives

Expanding knowledge and skills among community members to safeguard against HIV, STIs, and human rights violations.Promoting gender-transformative policies and practices

Developing national LGBTQ+ community networks in every CEECA country. Collaborating with governments on human rights, sexual, and reproductive health issues.

Support and Funding

Ensuring financial sustainability for organizations through support from governments, international donors, and the community itself.

Equal access to government funding for LGBTQ+ organizations alongside other NGOs.

Long-Term Goal

To create conditions for the safe, protected, and prosperous lives of LGBTQ+ individuals through collaboration with state and international partners.

Legislative Changes

Governments in CEECA countries will create policies to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination and violence.

Recognition of national experts on LGBTQ+ rights and health at the governmental level.

Rules and Documents

The Associations objective is to create favourable conditions in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region to ensure that gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender people have access to services in the field of sexual and reproductive health, including in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and treatment, and those services are evidence- based and the human rights oriented.

In order to achieve the objective, the Association will perform following activities

Advancing Sexual Health

Will contribute to mobilization of resources from governments, donor organizations, business sector, communities and civil society in general to elaborate and implement effective measures for sexual health improvement including HIV prevention, treatment and care among gay men and other MSM and transgender people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Building Capacity

Will support the capacity building of programs targeting at sexual health including HIV prevention and treatment, among gay men and other MSM, and transgender people, as well as promote effective and science-based working methods, building on the human rights compliance in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Breaking Barriers to HIV Care Access

Will support and implement advocacy of evidence-based programs aiming to reduce social, legal and institutional barriers to the access to HIV prevention and treatment for gay men, other MSM and transgender people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.