By Melanie Nathan, JANUARY 23, 2023 Let us start with a BIG THANK YOU to our major Corporate Donor, EVERLAND, for the generous donation that has made this program possible. I am so proud of our terrific African Human Rights Coalition TEAM accomplishment, and all the groups and leaders who answered the call to take … More New AHRC Kakuma LGBTQI Food Program Great Start to Year
UNHCR Briefing Note – LGBTIQ+ Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in Kenya, dated October 2022, dispels lies circulating on social media. Note AHRC Commentary at end. This briefing note provides an overview of UNHCR Kenya’s efforts to improve the overall protection environment for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) refugees in Kenya, including how we … More UNHCR Briefing Note LGBTQI+ Refugees in Kenya, Oct 2022
THE KENYAN CYBER-LAW ACT – prohibits LIES, SLANDER, HATE-SPEECH all of which are criminal and punishable offenses. This applies to individuals in Kenya! Kenya is in an election year and the country is facing election uprisings that will spells danger for many, and especially the most vulnerable, to include refugees, and more especially the unwelcome … More Kenya Orders Facebook to Tackle Hate Speech or Face Suspension-
Yesterday news came down of an ultimatum given to UNHCR by the Kenyan Government, declaring the imminent closures of Dadaab and Kakuma Camps, Kenya. The Statement can be read HERE.This statement has occurred in the context of life for LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers seeking protection and resettlement from Kenya. The Kenyan Government has maintained … More Statement on LGBTQI Refugees in Kakuma, Kenya
EMERGENCY FUNDING: LGBTQI people are criminalized in over 70 countries around the world, of which over 30 are in Africa. This has resulted in persecution, ostracization and physical attacks by governments, community, and even family and friends. Resulting in the need to exile from one’s own country to seek safety. The stories are many and overwhelmingly … More Emergency Funding for LGBTQI Refugees and Asylum Seekers
UNHCR urges dialogue and peaceful coexistence among refugees in Kakuma refugee camp UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, called today for enhanced dialogue among refugee communities living in Kakuma to help reduce the tensions which have emerged in a specific area of the refugee camp. In recent weeks, UNHCR has received conflicting reports from different communities … More UNHCR Statement on Conflict in Kakuma Refugee Camp Kenya
Any activists providing funding that has served to assist refugees to leave Kakuma Camp, need to be aware that they are aiding and abetting in the commission of crime that could subject the refugee to detrimental repercussions that negatively impact chances of resettlement. Refugees in host country Kenya are asked not to break the law. It … More UNHCR Reminds about the Importance of respecting Kenyan Law
This short video message, produced by African HRC (AHRC)and written and filmed by LGBTQI refugees in Kakuma can be seen HERE now. Please share this important message. The African HRC Video will also be shown on the main stage of DIGITAL GLOBAL PRIDE 2020 scheduled for June 27th. Many thanks for your participation, support. Please consider making a gift … More Kakuma Pride Video Message
Yesterday we reported and on the group of some 50-60 LGBTI refugees who had left their community shelters at Kakuma Camp in Kenya for the UNHCR Compound at the Camp, staging a protest and asserting security concerns, with demands to leave the camp, which is not possible under encampment laws and COVID-19 new rules. The … More Police at Kakuma Send LGBTI Protesters back to Shelters under COVID-19 Health Concerns
“African HRC urges potential protesters to consider the good of all and refrain at this time from this sit-in, which could have a detrimental impact to one’s resettlement later on, as any arrests under COVID-19 will likely be recorded on people’s portfolios which the foreign embassies examine when selecting candidates for resettlement.” African HRC (AHRC) … More Citing COVID-19 AHRC Urges Kakuma Participants of LGBTI Sit-In to Return to Shelters
And calls on the international community to continue its valuable support to refugees, asylum-seekers and host communities during this unprecedented situation. As the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, notes the increasing challenges faced by refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable populations, and calls for continued solidarity. UNHCR appreciates the … More UNHCR Response to COVID-19 urging International Community support for refugees
ALL Out, African Human Rights Coalition and RefCEA Partner for COVID-19 Pandemic – DONATE HERE. My name is Geofrey and I’m one of the many LGBT+ refugees living in Kenya’s Kakuma camp, the largest refugee settlement in the world. I’m here because I had to flee my home country, Uganda. I would have been severely … More Emergency Funds Sought by ALLOUT African HRC for RefCEA and Kakuma LGBTI Refugees
Among the most predictably vulnerable during the Corona Virus pandemic is clearly the world’s refugee and migration population and the most vulnerable of all refugees are LGBTQI refugees, worldwide. Over 70 countries criminalize LGBTI people for their sexuality and gender identity. Many have compromised immune systems, major trauma, and underlying medical conditions, all an added … More LGBTI and All Refugees in grave danger during COVID-19 Pandemic
With a Focus on Kenya In a recent advisory written for African Human Rights Coalition it is noted that leadership has a heightened responsibility when staging protests, especially under circumstances that have wide far reaching impacts on entire LGBTQI refugee resettlement and protection programs. There has been widespread appreciation by those impacted, who have expressed … More Funding of Protests: Responsible Donors and Funders Context Africa LGBTQI
As Executive Director for African Human Rights Coalition, and as a follow up to the articles that have appeared on this BLOG reporting on the complex and disturbing situation involving LGBTQI refugees in Kenya, and more specifically Kakuma Camp, African HRC has issued 2 advisories on its website. Here is a snippet plus links to … More African HRC Issues Advisory to LGBTQI Refugees, Activists and Advocates
7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 02 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! For the past ten years I have been working with LGBTQ individuals and communities in several African Countries in the global attempt to thwart homophobia and deal with … More MASK 02: Desperation for Sick LGBTQI Refugee
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African HRC and other advocates have been requesting UNHCR plan for the safe protection and humane living conditions for LGBTQ refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp for several years, with only slight ad hoc and ultimately ineffective results. The harsh conditions and insecurities led to a protest this week and an attack by Kenyan police on … More UNHCR Calls out the Violent Kenyan Police Attack on LGBT Refugees
Kenya is a hostile host to LGBTI refugees:– Thirty LGBTI Refugees in Kakuma Camp, Kenya, mostly Ugandans participating in an approved peaceful demonstration, tried to deliver a document to UNHCR, but after being refused entry into the compound were viciously attacked by police. I have reached out to UNHCR for comment and will update accordingly. The conditions … More LGBT Refugee Peaceful Protest Turns Violent at UNHCR Compound in Kenya
Call Outs on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights SOUTH AFRICA: On this the day we celebrate the 70th year of the #UDHR South Africa should take a hard look at its deplorable treatment of African asylum seekers and #refugees from Northern countries. People, including mothers with babies on their backs, are … More 70th UDHR Anniversary and Deplorable Treatment of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Africa
The Government of Kenya has announced that it intends to close all refugee camps in the country, and while UNHCR implores Kenya to reverse this decision, we await information as to how they plan to deal with what could be a severe crisis. LGBT refugees, after seeing the headlines, are now extremely stressed and uncertain … More LGBT Refugees Panic as Kenyan Government Announces Closure of Refugee Camps
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