One Mission. Multiple Identities.
Syrian Founded. Canadian Based. Globally Active.
GEM works in Canada on intersectional issues affecting LGBTQIA+, newcomer, marginalized, and underrepresented communities, as well as human rights defenders. Our work spans advocacy, human rights, democracy, refugee and newcomer inclusion, community building, partnerships, and changemaking.
While GEM was founded in Syria and worked for years across the region, Canada has long been part of our journey. GEM engaged with Canadian foreign policy and institutions before eventually becoming a Canadian-registered organization. Our founder, several team members, community members, and stakeholders have also been connected to Canada through the Human Rights Defenders resettlement pathway, following persecution and displacement throughout their journeys in exile.
Over the past three years, GEM has become increasingly active at the domestic level in Canada, working both on issues affecting people living and resettling in Canada and on Canadian foreign policy toward LGBTQIA+, marginalized, and underrepresented communities globally.
While GEM maintains specific areas of focus, we strongly believe in intersectionality. LGBTQIA+ rights cannot be separated from human rights, democracy, climate justice, pluralism, economic equality, peace, security, and the broader struggle for inclusive societies.
1. Newcomer Human Rights Defenders
Support newcomer human rights defenders from diverse movements and backgrounds—including LGBTQIA+ rights, environmental and climate activism, democracy, feminism, and other human rights movements.
Our approach includes trauma-sensitive support and services, network and community building, learning and fellowships, integration into Canada’s technology and AI ecosystem, digital security, professional opportunities and work experience, advocacy, policy change, and accountability.
The goal is not simply to welcome human rights defenders to Canada, but to help ensure that their knowledge, experience, networks, and leadership can continue to grow after resettlement.
2. Dialogue & Pluralism
Create spaces for dialogue around issues that bring marginalized and underrepresented communities together, as well as difficult issues that may divide them.
Through dialogue, we aim to strengthen tolerance, pluralism, understanding, and collaboration between movements and communities across Canada.
3. Community-Led Support
Support communities through diverse, community-led initiatives ranging from services and capacity building to community engagement, policy, advocacy, and partnerships.
4. Advocacy & Policy
Advance advocacy and policy work to strengthen the rights, representation, and inclusion of LGBTQIA+, marginalized, and underrepresented communities living in Canada.
GEM also engages on Canadian foreign policy, advocating for stronger inclusion and protection of LGBTQIA+ and underrepresented communities within Canada’s international engagement.
GEM recognizes that rapid global and domestic changes can directly affect the communities we serve.
Our approach is therefore designed to be adaptive, resilient, and forward-looking. We continuously reassess needs, emerging risks, opportunities, and changing social and political landscapes and adapt our programs accordingly.
Rather than only reacting to change after it happens, GEM seeks to anticipate change, strengthen community resilience, and develop approaches that remain relevant as the world around us evolves.
