The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria is an internationally recognised university-based institution that combines academic excellence and effective activism to advance human rights in Africa. The Centre aims to contribute to advancing human rights, through education, research and advocacy.
At the time of writing this report, over seventy thousand confirmed cases, over two thousand deaths, and over twenty thousand recoveries — from/of the coronavirus — have been recorded across the African continent. This outbreak, as several reports have shown, has put the lives and livelihood of several vulnerable people — LGBTQ+ persons — at risk.
A recent report by The Centre for Human Rights focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ persons in Africa. What are the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people in Africa? Why are LGBTQ+ people the vulnerable population? How can this problem be solved?
According to the report, “it is important that civil society and governments across Africa – both in criminalised and decriminalised contexts – recognise the increased vulnerability of LGBTIQ+ persons in the course of the pandemic and its aftermath and take steps to prevent or mitigate the potential impacts. It is equally important that, in accordance with Resolution 275 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, governments in Africa should take steps to ‘end all acts of violence and abuse … including by enacting and effectively applying appropriate laws, prohibiting and punishing all forms of violence including those targeting persons on the basis of their imputed or real sexual orientation or gender identities, ensuring proper investigation and diligent prosecution of perpetrators, and establishing judicial procedures responsive to the needs of victims.”
The report explained in detail, specific challenges that LGBTQ+ persons are facing as a result of the pandemic. These challenges range from restricted access to shelters and community centres, restricted access to health services, threats from hostile/homophobic lockdown environments, increased mental health problems, social discrimination and attacks, and misuse of power by state actors.
The report also highlighted possible solutions to the problems. Some of these solutions include supporting local community-based organisations in Africa, reporting any incidents of intimate partner violence or any physical violence attributed to homophobic, transphobic or biphobic attitudes to national human rights institutions, and calling on African states to implement measures that ensure that LGBTIQ+ persons and other vulnerable persons do not fear victimisation or retribution in accessing health services.
The Center will be holding a webinar later today to celebrate the 2020 edition of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia. The webinar, in line with the global IDAHOBIT 2020 conversation, is themed Breaking The Silence. It will hold between 3:00 – 4:30 South African time, and the speakers are Rudo Chigudu, Lara Oriye, and Sylvester Kazibwe
Click here to register for the webinar.
An email with a link to the Zoom meeting and a password will be sent to the email address you provide.
