"Rainbow Railroad's mission to help LGBTQI+ individuals escape persecution and violence resonates strongly with Scotiabank's values and inclusive culture," says Sandra Odendahl, Vice President of Social Impact & Sustainability at Scotiabank. "Scotiabank is proud to help individuals overcome obstacles rooted in homophobia to create a more inclusive world for those who need it most." Currently, there are approximately 70 countries that have laws criminalizing same-sex activities and in many others, LGBTQI+ people face physical attacks and abuse in their communities, at their workplace and even in their own homes. Often their only option is to flee. Further exacerbating the problem is the Global Refugee Crisis, which has resulted in more than 80 million displaced people around the world—the greatest number since the Second World War.