Equality Rights Africa Organization
Transgender and Gender Dynamic Programs
ERAO PROGRAMING SERVICES
- Mental Wellness Services
- Transgender specific Health Services
- Transgender Friendly Lifeline
- Civic Rights Promotion and Training
- Legal reform and Gender Recognition Programming
- Transgender Liberation Advocacy Mission Campaigns
- Social Justice Advocacy Programs
- Emergency Response Program
- Transgender Safety and Security Programs
- Economic Empowerment Program
- Skill Innovation & Training
- Woman Social Development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- UN -Human Rights Tracking Program
HUMAN RIGHT ACTION PLAN
DEMANDING RIGHTS DECRIMINALIZATION
A) RIGHTS OF LGBTIQ+ AT RISK IN AFRICA
Although lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are referred to as a group (LGBTI), the experiences of discrimination and exclusions that individuals suffer can differ significantly within and between these various groups, including on the basis of additional and intersecting factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, indigenous status, disability, etc.
In too many countries, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are among the poorest, most marginalized members of society… Studies show that gay and lesbian people suffer disproportionate discrimination and abuse. They are rejected by their families… kicked out of their homes… and pushed out of school. Too many of our LGBT brothers and sisters are jobless, homeless and struggling to survive. The situation of transgender people is even worse overall. They have higher rates of homelessness, poverty and hunger. For individuals and their families, this is a personal tragedy. And for society, it is a shameful waste of human talent, ingenuity and economic potential.
United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, remarks at the High Level LGBT Core Group Event, “Leaving No- One Behind: Equality & Inclusion in the Post-2015 Development Agenda,” New York 29 September 2015
Homophobia and other forms of stigma, violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people contribute significantly to their exclusion from society, limit their access to health and social services and hinder social and economic development. Although many important gains have been made, thanks in large part to the efforts of LGBTI activists, organizations and their allies, no country in Africa has successfully eliminated all forms of discrimination against and exclusion of LGBTI people. Homophobic and transphobic attitudes, often combined with punitive laws and/or lack of effective legal protection against discrimination, continue to expose many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Africa to serious violations of their human rights. Currently, about 53 countries and territories in Africa still criminalize same-sex acts between consenting adults and eight countries punish such acts with a death sentence. Very few countries legally recognize the gender identity of transgender people, and only two countries provide legislation aimed at protecting the rights of intersex people. In many places in Africa, being an LGBTI can lead to exclusion, discrimination, violence and even death. Even in countries where punitive laws have been repealed and social attitudes are changing, LGBTI people continue to be excluded from many spheres of life and continue to experience stigma, discrimination and violence.
It’s against that back ground as the Equality Right Africa Organization to outlook at practical intervention needed to address the above problem faced by LGBTI in Africa.
To further address the Problem of experienced discrimination and exclusion against LGBTI rights in Africa lay in the context of reclaiming Inclusivity rights and stretching civic Justices education at large outreach to sensitize policy maker and parliamentarian, justice ministers and legal institution in Africa. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is charged with ensuring that African Union member states protect the rights of all. The Commission has several instruments that set out to ensure this happens.
Frameworks include key terms such as “all” and “everyone”, among others, and reflect the commitment to “leaving no one behind” as espoused in the Sustainable Development Agendas. We need to advocate for law that fully promote equal fundamentals human rights of all African community inclusive of LGBTI as its stated in the African charter, Article 2; Stating that “Every individual shall be entitled to the rights and freedom recognised and guaranteed in the charter without any distinction of any kind.
B) What can be done ?
In order to realize that we’re full armed walking the journey to defend the rights of LGBTI at risk in Africa we need to establish practical long-term goals that will help lead us through the most transpired effective approach in the implementation of the following goal:
- To promote social equal justice for all African community inclusive of LGBTI.
- To advocate for the implementation of the Yogyakarta principles on the elimination of all form of discrimination against sogiecs rights and their existence in Africa.
- To mobilize and provide civic training about the rights of LGBTI and sexual orientation to the community who lack legal knowledge of about diverse human rights.
The above goal will be achieved with the purpose to fulfill the UN-Universal Declaration of Human rights and to uphold the African State actors accountable now for ensuring that all LGBTI individual members of Africa live in the full protection environment by law.
C) Human Rights civic Training and Research.
Advance human rights civic training and research help to inform and educate community about the importance of different human rights instrument and empower community to full take action to eliminate all form of human rights violation against woman’s, youth and LGBTI in Africa. To realize our goals and objectives we need to focus on the specific activities to take place.
The objective of civic human rights training service aims to adopt the states call of action to respond to the UNDP and UN -SG which is to accommodate all marginalized group in the Africa development agenda, which this include youth, women’s and LGBTI.
Training and Research will serve in the seriousness respond for action to these Human rights short term objectives frame work.
- Empowering community through Civic human Rights training in Urban and Rural settlement.
- Conducting annual public debate programs on Concerned human rights issue.
- Engaging all public and private stake holder in the movement of promoting equality and inclusivity among diverse African community.
D) Project Indicators
| Activities | Action Taken | Strategy |
| 1. Civic education service | Conducting human rights training workshop | Technical Training |
| 2. Research | Conducting field work research | Community engagement |
| 3. Write 4 rights activist | Mobilization | Campaigning |
| 4. Standup4Human rights | Protesting | Awareness |
| 5. I stories | Interviewing | OneOne1 conversation |
| 6. Advocacy | Media outreach | Media Coverage |
| 7. Awarding Human Rights defenders | Call for Nomination | Electronical selection |
| 8. Civil society engagement | Networking opportunity | Networking |
Equality Rights Africa Organization 