Never before has the anti homosexuality climate on the continent of Africa been at such a heightened fervor as it has been in 2023.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, a predominantly Christian country in East Africa, has lashed out against the gays by saying he is abhorred by the idea of same-sex marriage and that all homosexuals should be put in a stadium and stoned by the people. Ndayishimiye a Catholic, also suggested that African Nations rather lose aid from Western countries than risk same-sex marriage. This vicious rant by Ndayishimiye, who took office in 2020, comes on the heels of the Pope’s new stance on same-sex marriage and Uganda’s President calling for gay genocide.
AHRC IN BURUNDI
African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) is providing safe housing, food, medicine and advocacy in refugee and protection environments for a large group Francophone refugees, who are further marginalized and often excluded from services in English speaking protection environment. Many LGBTQI+ people have fled Burundi for other countries, some of which also criminalize LGBT people, indicating the ongoing lack of swift and safe protection paths for LGBT Burundians and other Africans escaping similar oppressive regimes.
Unfortunately there are Ugandans who have crossed the Burundian border seeking UNHCR protection in Burundi, with no other protection routes seemingly available to them. So Ugandans face yet another hostile host venue which is proving very difficult for LGBTI refugees. African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) is providing financial aid to several refugees in Burundi as UNHCR has been unable to provide the accommodations and support needed in such hostile an environment. We have no grants for this.
AHRC IN UGANDA
Uganda has probably received the most attention with the new Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, “KILL THE GAYS BILL”, currently being challenged by Ugandan activists in the courts, and all the abhorrent hunting and brutal attacks on LGBTQI+ community.
It is apparent now that the President of Burundi has joined in the quest for the genocide of LGBT people, as incited very specifically by President Museveni of Uganda, when after attesting to Uganda’s new Kill the Gays Bill, called for African leaders to help ‘rid the world of homosexuality.’ Kenya, Namibia, Ghana, Niger and other countries are seeking harsher laws.
Uganda’s human rights law clinic HRAPF has consistently reported the monthly heightened anti LGBT attacks to include evictions, assaults. At African Human Rights Coalition we have handled over 75 verified case reports of evictions, assaults, gang rapes, firings and banishments, where we have provided emergency support for medical treatments and relocations, to include extrications out of the country with thanks to one generous supporter’s donation we have been able to extricate and relocate over 30 Ugandans.
Many of our cases have not reported to HRAPF or other Ugandan human rights groups out of fear for anything local being compromised by government spies.
THIS ABUSE OF LGBTQI+ PEOPLE IS HAPPENING IN ALL AFRICAN COUNTRIES THAT CRIMINALIZE AND MOST COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT OVERTLY CRIMINALIZE
Despite the fervent promise by Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament’s to pass the new “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill,” a name that smacks American Evangelical, the bill was not yet passed.
That does not mitigate the harsh anti LGBT climate in Ghana due to much publicity and attention around the new law, exacerbated by the usual flow of rhetoric such as delivered by Ghana’s former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo: “Don’t shove homosexuality into my face” in her latest anti-gay remarks, noting that that LGBTQ “goes against our cultural norms.” She said more! This is the second time former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo has publicly made anti-LGBTQ Bill comments this year. It is likely that the Bill will pass next year after the committee and amendment phase is complete.
Across Africa in general: While the Pope’s announcement calls for Catholic priests to provide non sacrament blessings to same-sex couples, one cannot underestimate the backlash that will be experienced in African countries, as already evidenced by Zimbabwean and Zambian Bishops refusing to abide. After all how can one expect Clergy to break the laws of countries where aligning with gays in any form, even couched in religious freedom, could be interpreted as breaking law. (please note this general statement as all countries are different, albeit similar) ….
PLEASE FOLLOW OUR NEWS PAGE WWW.AFRICANHRC/NEWS
As African Human Rights Coalition receives reports in real time, with our community directly impacted and the stellar courageous work of our Ambassadors, we ask you to please follow our news page for updates.
The NEWS PAGES of African Human Rights Coalition from Ghana, Uganda, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya and more countries… all explicitly lays out the rough year for Africa’s LGBTQI+ community.
With this tip of the iceberg reflection, we cannot ignore the elephant in the room for Africa’s LGBTQI+ communities:
- WE NEED ROBUST LGBTQI+ SPECIFIC PROTECTION AND PATHWAYS
- WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR EMERGENCIES, IMMEDIATE TRIAGE ONGOING SAFE SHELTER SUPPORT
- AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION IS THE ONLY LGBTQI+ ORGANIZATION SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON AFRICA’S LGBTQI+ COMMUNITY FOR HUMANITARIAN AND ADVOCACY NEEDS AT ALL PHASES OF THE DISPLACEMENT CYCLE
At African Human Rights Coalition we continue to work with persecuted and violated LGBTQI+ individuals in and from African countries, at all phases of the displacement cycle, to include protection and resettlement pathways, provide guidance, emergency relocations and extrications, safe shelter, food, medical emergencies, ad hoc case and general advocacy, legal service referrals and resources, country conditions expert testimony, as and when funds are available.
DONATIONS
MUCH NEEDED
GO DIRECTLY TO PROGRAMS
To conclude on a good note and for which we thank our donors and supporters and courageous ambassadors:-
- AHRC ADDED THREE NEW SAFE SHELTERS
- AHRC PARTICIPATED IN RESETTLEMENT AND PROTECTION ADVOCACY IMPACTING HUNDREDS OF LGBTQI+ RECIPIENTS
AHRC PROVIDED: - SHELTER TO OVER 100 RECIPIENTS
- CASE MANAGEMENT TO 75 RECIPIENTS
- FOOD TO OVER 700 RECIPIENTS
- RELOCATION OR EXTRICATION TO OVER 35 PEOPLE
- MEDICAL SUPORT TO OVER LGBTQI+ PEOPLE ILL OR INJURED
- REFUGEE CASES WE ADVOCATED FOR THIS PAST YEAR HAVE BEEN RESETTLED ABROAD
- COUNTRY CONDITIONS EXPERT WITNESS REPORTING FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM 20 DIFFERENT AFRICAN COUNTRIES
- REFERRALS AND RESOURCES TO HUNDREDS
- BRIEFS AND BRIEFINGS FOR SEVERAL COUNTRIES TO VARIOUS SOURCES INCLUDING PRESS, PARLIAMENTARIANS, TRADITIONAL LEADERS, GLOBAL CORPS AND MORE
- REAL TIME NEWS REPORTING
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WITH BEST WISHES FOR A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER 2024
FOR DECRIMINALIZATION OF SEXUALITY
FOR PEACE AND PROTECTION
FOR SAFETY AND PATHWAYS
WITH LOVE
ALUTA CONTINUA
MELANIE NATHAN + TEAM AHRC
commissionermnathan@gmail.com
AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION WEBSITE
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