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
Yes, you may have a sneak preview – though official launch is 11 am PST tomorrow at the event LGBTQ Pride and Migration 2020 tomorrow June 20th for World refugee Day. This Saturday we invite you to join African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) as we celebrate World Refugee Day with PRIDE, honoring the brave and … More African HRC Launches Video Pride Message from LGBTQI Refugees in Kakuma Camp
Since Trump began his 2016 presidential campaign he jhas made a concerted effort to attack immigrants. For almost 4 years, we have lived through constant attacks – most especially on asylum seekers, refugees, Muslims and People of Color, hardest hit by Trump’s xenophobic racist overt trajectory toward hateful policies. The 2020 elections are approaching and … More VOTE for Welcome – Campaigning for Candidates who will stand up for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
LGBTQ DIGITAL PRIDE AND MIGRATION 2020 will commemorate the struggles of displaced people and LGBTQ Refugees and is scheduled this year for World Refugee Day, which is celebrated annually on June 20th. World Refugee Day commemorates the struggles of millions of displaced people. The significant population of displaced people who identify as LGBTQI underscores the importance of celebrating … More LGBTQI Pride on World Refugee Day
African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) Statement on how the Murder of George Floyd Denotes America Unsafe for Refugees and Asylum Seekers from African Countries at this time: African Human Rights Coalition expressed its condolences and outrage on social media the moment we saw the video evidencing the cold blooded murder of George Floyd, a black … More George Floyd’s Murder Reflects on an America that is Unsafe for African Refugees and Asylum Seekers
You can Help by taking action together: Right now, Members of Congress are again discussing legislation to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. We must make sure that refugees are included in receiving that support. Ask your senator to include refugees in COVID-19 relief legislation. The economic effects of this crisis are disproportionate, and refugees … More Please Take Action: U.S. Congress Must Help Refugees in COVID-19 Planning
IDAHOT – International Day Against Transphobia and Homophobia, IDAHOT: 2020 Theme BREAK THE SILENCE Today, May 17th is the day millions of people around the world commemorate IDAHOT, a special day, to raise awareness and commit further to impact the right to liberty, equality, justice and happiness for LGBTI people around the globe. However violence … More IDAHOT 2020 LGBTI Refugees and UNHCR Breaking the Silence
Here is the current posting from African Human Rights Coalition website, with thanks for COVID-19 RESPONSE: African Human Rights Coalition (African HRC – AHRC) would like to thank all partners, donors and refugees involved in the various COVID-19 emergency related food and sanitization distributions at Kakuma Camp during April and May. DONATIONS TO ALLOUT FOR COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE … More COVID-19 Emergency Response by ALLOUT, African HRC, REFCEA to LGBTI Refugees in Kakuma Camp
African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) is pleased to partner with our friends at ALIGHT for the ongoing OUR KITCHEN TABLE initiative. Together with the LGBTI community in Kenya, we are collaborating through this programming in our joint quest to mitigate the hardships that the COVID-19 Pandemic is bringing to LGBTI refugees in Kenya, to support safe shelter, food and hygiene needs … More Fun-Filled Event at the Heart of Alight, AHRC and Refugee LGBTI Community Alliance in COVID-19 Response
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
FORMAL COMMENT TO GOVERNMENT PORTAL OBJECTING TO CDC RULE IN LETTER BELOW Melanie Nathan: “African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC- African HRC) has submitted the following comment and objection to the CDC Rule change that is harming all asylum seekers, especially the most marginalized who make their way to the Southern Borders of the United States. … More Fighting for Asylum Seeker Rights Against the Order – See letter to CDC’s Kyle McGowan
The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) at Hastings in San Francisco has compiled a bilingual (English/Spanish) COVID-19 resource guide for immigrant communities, advocates, and allies. Protecting the health of our most vulnerable community members during the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing to fight for their rights. On this page HERE is a list of … More Important COVID-19 Virus Pandemic Resources for Immigrants, Advocates and Allies
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
Passover is the Jewish people’s original story of becoming strangers in a strange land. It is the story that reminds us that we, too, have stood in the shoes of refugees and asylum seekers in search of safety and liberty. The HIAS Haggadah, available to all for free at HIAS.org (or in paperback from Amazon), … More Prepare for Passover With The HIAS Haggadah
CAUTION: Please refrain from portraying certain situations inaccurately. We would advise you to be cautious and to verify information and facts prior to circulating unconfirmed COVID-19-related information further. This can cause an enormous amount of harm to everyone. Be sure of your facts before you post them on Social Media. We caution anyone spreading any information to sure off the … More UNHCR and African HRC COVID-19 Corona Virus Advisories for Refugees in Kenya
As the world struggles, clinging to every speckle of humanity, Donald Trump chose to slam the door on the most vulnerable. Asylum seekers at our border, who have a right to show up for safety as they exile persecution, violence and possibly death will be turned away without due process. The once greatest nation on … More NO DONALD TRUMP – YOU DO NOT SLAM THE DOOR ON ASYLUM SEEKERS -Not even in a Pandemic
African Human Rights Coalition – COVID-19 Advisory- HERE PLEASE KEEP VISITING KENYAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH FOR UPDATES: The new Coronavirus – called COVID-19 virus causes fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. There is no need to panic. It is VERY IMPORTANT at this time for community to work cooperatively and in unity. It … More Corona Virus – AHRC Kenyan Refugee and U.S. Embassy Advisory
The Refugee Coalition of East Africa,(RefCEA) a strong body of refugees representing LGBTQI refuges in Kenya, is proving how dialogue and compromise can lead to solutions, through a series of meetings in Kenya. These meetings are undoubtedly serving the best interests of the tenuous LGBTQI refugee program’s ability to survive its stress and tests in … More LGBTI Refugees in Kenya Dialogue for Financial Solutions
RefCEA Responds to Cessation of Funding with a call for a Community Planning Session: First Reported at AFRICAN HRC HERE. Tuesday 10 March 2020, NAIROBI, KENYA – In recent weeks, HIAS (the Refugee Trust of Kenya) announced the cessation of funding for urban refugees located in greater Nairobi. These LGBTQI refugees were transplanted from the … More LGBTQI Refugee Coalition in Kenya Calls for Dialogue Not Protest
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners are urgently appealing for US$621 million to support refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who have sought safety in neighboring countries as well as to assist hosting communities. The DRC Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) 2020-2021 launched today by UNHCR and its partners covers … More Urgent Appeal by UNHCR in DRC
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
As we close out the 2019 year, a choice of PHOTOS through this decade all depicting me – Melanie Nathan: My criteria – I am in each photo, reflecting on my personal experiences in the world of LGBTQI activism and advocacy for the past decade. A select few…. and there are so many more… Thank … More Mel’s Activism Through this 2010-2020 Decade
Queer Asylum in Germany: Better visibility and access to legal and social support needed for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in Germany Human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity are grounds for seeking asylum in Europe. However, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people claiming asylum face particular legal and social … More Queer Asylum in Germany: More Needed for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in Germany
Catching up on the world. There is a lot going on – and here is a start: The Queer Displacements: Sexuality, Migration and Exile 2019 conference (Queer Displacements) was organised by two queer refugee women, emerging academics and activists Renee Dixson and Tina Dixson. Queer Displacements took place on the Traditional lands of the Ngunnawal … More Queer Displacements Conference: Refugees and Ongoing Hardship in Australia
LGBTQI Asylum Seekers and Refugees – At Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the honor to work hand in hand with some of the most courageous people on the Planet- Dear Friends, THANK YOU – Let us talk gratitude! Thank you for your ongoing support of African Human Rights Coalition: At African HRC we provide humanitarian services, resources, … More Hand in Hand the most Courageous People on the Planet
Today HIAS, Church World Service (CWS), and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), took Donald Trump to court over his recent executive order giving state and local officials authority to block refugee resettlement in their jurisdictions. These agencies are suing the administration because it is attempting to enact a state-by-state, city-by-city refugee ban. “It was not … More Refugee Agencies Sue Trump Over Executive Order
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