msemakweli
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 20, 2014
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Gay rights activists gained new ground in their bid to get African governments to recognise homosexuality after a coalition of lesbian non-governmental organisations got observer status at the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.
During its sitting in Banjul, Gambia, the 56th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, on April 25 agreed to grant observer status to the Coalition of African Lesbians (Cal).
Cal has 30 NGOs registered in 19 African countries including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.
Many African countries remain opposed to homosexuality. Some like Uganda have enacted harsh laws against homosexuality, making it difficult for the countrys representative at the Commission to support the topic as he is also accountable to the Ugandan parliament.
Nigeria has also passed a prohibitive law, while the presidents of Zimbabwe and Gambia have condemned and sometimes jailed homosexuals.
Cal believes that the tide will now change in their favour, as the organisation has a chance to influence decisions at the African Union level.
The granting of observer status also signals the critical role of asserting our entitlements, rights and claims and of sustaining resistance to anything and anyone who refuses to recognise our humanity, sexuality and gender, the coalition said in statement.
Cal first applied for observer status in 2008. This petition was postponed several times until it was rejected in October 2010.
ACHPR argued at the time, that Cal didnt promote or protect any of the rights enshrined in the African Charter. Cal then lobbied other NGOs and supported general resolutions, including one to end violence against women and another supporting the fight against HIV/Aids, a process that has favoured the organisation.
While other applications for observer status were disposed of within a few minutes and without controversy, the mention of the lesbian body not only caused a stir, but led to a spirited discussion that took up the better part of the morning.
Vice president of the ACHPR Bechir Khalfallah from Tunisia described lesbianism as a new virus that had been imported to create divisions within Africa.
Faith Tlakula, a commissioner from South Africa was offended by the use of the word virus, arguing that it had the same effect as the word cockroach that was used to describe sections of the Rwandan population in the 1994 genocide.
Ms Tlakula argued in favour of respecting all people citing articles of the African Charter on non-discrimination, equal protection as well as integrity of life. All these rights apply to everyone regardless of race, colour, creed or sex, she said.
Pacifique Manirakiza, a commissioner from Burundi, urged members to keep up with the times, Homosexuality is a reality in our countries and we cannot set this issue aside, he said
During its sitting in Banjul, Gambia, the 56th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, on April 25 agreed to grant observer status to the Coalition of African Lesbians (Cal).
Cal has 30 NGOs registered in 19 African countries including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.
Many African countries remain opposed to homosexuality. Some like Uganda have enacted harsh laws against homosexuality, making it difficult for the countrys representative at the Commission to support the topic as he is also accountable to the Ugandan parliament.
Nigeria has also passed a prohibitive law, while the presidents of Zimbabwe and Gambia have condemned and sometimes jailed homosexuals.
Cal believes that the tide will now change in their favour, as the organisation has a chance to influence decisions at the African Union level.
The granting of observer status also signals the critical role of asserting our entitlements, rights and claims and of sustaining resistance to anything and anyone who refuses to recognise our humanity, sexuality and gender, the coalition said in statement.
Cal first applied for observer status in 2008. This petition was postponed several times until it was rejected in October 2010.
ACHPR argued at the time, that Cal didnt promote or protect any of the rights enshrined in the African Charter. Cal then lobbied other NGOs and supported general resolutions, including one to end violence against women and another supporting the fight against HIV/Aids, a process that has favoured the organisation.
While other applications for observer status were disposed of within a few minutes and without controversy, the mention of the lesbian body not only caused a stir, but led to a spirited discussion that took up the better part of the morning.
Vice president of the ACHPR Bechir Khalfallah from Tunisia described lesbianism as a new virus that had been imported to create divisions within Africa.
Faith Tlakula, a commissioner from South Africa was offended by the use of the word virus, arguing that it had the same effect as the word cockroach that was used to describe sections of the Rwandan population in the 1994 genocide.
Ms Tlakula argued in favour of respecting all people citing articles of the African Charter on non-discrimination, equal protection as well as integrity of life. All these rights apply to everyone regardless of race, colour, creed or sex, she said.
Pacifique Manirakiza, a commissioner from Burundi, urged members to keep up with the times, Homosexuality is a reality in our countries and we cannot set this issue aside, he said
