We are thrilled to announce that Gabriel Schirvar (they/them), a distinguished non-binary policy analyst, researcher, and educator, will be returning to the North American Refugee Health Conference (NARHC) for its 2025 session in Niagara Falls this September.
Gabriel has dedicated their career to advancing international LGBTIQ+ and migrant rights, health, and well-being. In their role as an LGBTIQ+ Focal Point for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), they have been instrumental in developing and leading both in-person and online trainings for more than 1,000 humanitarian professionals worldwide, addressing a wide range of anti-oppression issues impacting migrants.
Notably, Gabriel co-authored the foundational training package, “Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) and Migration,” in collaboration with experts from IOM and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). To date, this training has reached over 1,500 individuals across more than 30 countries and remains one of the few comprehensive trainings on LGBTIQ+ considerations in the humanitarian field.
The training has been successful in equipping individuals to assist LGBTIQ+ refugees across a range of cultural contexts, due to its focus on concrete actions and behaviors rather than mere “sensitization”.
– Schirvar
Beyond their work with IOM, Gabriel has contributed significantly to the United Nations system-wide Task Team on LGBTIQ+ considerations and has served on the UN-GLOBE board, advocating for the equality and non-discrimination of LGBTIQ+ personnel within the UN system and its peacekeeping operations.
Gabriel holds a master’s degree in Global Public Health from the George Washington University, further underscoring their commitment to health equity and social justice.
A frequent contributor at NARHC, Gabriel will be sharing their extensive knowledge and experience on the intersections of LGBTIQ+ identities and migration, providing valuable insights into creating inclusive and supportive environments for all individuals in 2025. On the importance of sharing their work at the conference, they said:
NARHC has been an excellent opportunity to connect with refugee health professionals from a variety of different disciplines, each truly dedicated to the health and well-being of refugees and interested in expanding their capacity to serve this vulnerable population.
– Schirvar
For more information about the conference and to register, please visit the official NARHC 2025 website.
We look forward to Gabriel’s contributions and the impactful discussions their expertise will inspire at NARHC 2025.