Sonal Giani

Senior Advisor - Gender and Inclusion

International Planned Parenthood Federation

Sonal Giani, a Delhi-based LGBTQ+ activist and filmmaker, serves as a Senior Advisor for Gender and Inclusion at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). With over a decade of experience in promoting diversity and LGBTQIA+ rights, she leads IPPF’s Sexual and Gender Diversity working group and global SRHR initiatives. Her impactful work has earned her accolades, such as the Diversity Leadership Award and the Queero Award, while being featured on influential lists like ‘Inspiring Indian LGBT Individuals’ and ‘Rainbow list of LGBT Role Models’. Committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive world, Sonal brings invaluable expertise to her role.

Event Schedule

DAY 1

20 July 2023

Start Time	End Time	Session	Description	Action
10:30 am EEST	12:00 pm EEST	Breaking the Binary: Strengthening sexual and gender minority inclusion in SRH Concurrent Room MH 3-2	Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people continue to be overlooked and underserved in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research, programs, and services. Our Read More Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people continue to be overlooked and underserved in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research, programs, and services. Our experiences, needs, and priorities must be addressed and can vary from those of cisgender, heterosexual people. Ongoing invisibilization and exclusion reinforce and exacerbate health disparities in SRH and other areas based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sex characteristics. This session will explore the current state of SGM inclusion in SRH research, programs, and services, focusing on low- and middle-income countries, and share tools and practices for strengthening inclusion across diverse country contexts. Session format: Skills building Organized by Agency for All (represented by the Center on Gender Equity and Health at the University of California at San Diego & International Planned Parenthood Federation); Breakthrough ACTION (represented by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs); and Health Development Initiative Rwanda Read Less Speakers Annet Mwizerwa SRHR Advisor at Health Development Initiative Health Development Initiative (Rwanda) Sonal Giani Senior Advisor - Gender and Inclusion International Planned Parenthood Federation Danette Wilkins Program Officer Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, Breakthrough ACTION Courtney McLarnon MEL Advisor Center on Gender Equity and Health, UCSD