Audio: Droits des homosexuels en Afrique: où en est-on ?

Source: RFI

Droits des homosexuels en Afrique: où en est-on ?

(19:30)

Annotated transcript of a debate 17 May on RFI about the rights of homosexuals in Africa between Charles Gueboguo sociologist, Cameroon, Halexander Jann, director and singer Franco-Gabonese, President of the Cultural Committee of Tjenbé Rèd Prevention and Alice Nkom, Cameroon lawyer, founder of the Adéfho -- Google translation of transcript to English

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Heterosexual Africa? Notes from the struggle for sexual rights

Image via Wikipedia

Source: Royal Africa Society

By Marc Epprecht

Not every story out of Africa is doom and gloom, even on topics like “the rise of homophobia.” To be sure, there have been some recent shocking cases of violence and hate-mongering against gays, lesbians, and trans people around the continent. Governments in many countries are meanwhile proposing to reform laws inherited from former colonial rulers, moving toward greater repression and in divergence from major international bodies and public health initiatives. Were Uganda to enact and enforce its proposed Anti-Homosexuality bill, to give one of the most notorious examples, it would be required to withdraw from the United Nations and African Union, sever links with all its major donors, and arrest a large proportion of the heterosexual population for knowing (but not reporting to the police) suspected homosexuals or human rights and sexual health advocates.

Another side of this story, however, does not get as much attention. This is the story of the emergence of a vibrant lgbti (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex) network across the continent, of creative and courageous challenges to homophobia, of sensitive and insightful new research into “sexual secrets,” and of political and religious leaders who are resisting the demagogic tide. How many people are aware that six African nations endorsed the recent UN General Assembly resolution to include sexual orientation in the universal declaration of human rights?

Alright, the Central African Republic and Gabon are not among the heavy weight or vanguardist states in Africa. One is probably justified to suspect neo-colonial arm-twisting upon them by their major donor (and the resolution’s sponsor - France). Nonetheless, a precedent has been set. It is not politically impossible for African governments to support an inclusive definition of sexual rights as understood by liberals in the West. Sexual rights activists in Africa, with international solidarity, are actively pursuing those rights through a range of strategies and fora, including through the mass media, the courts and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

This is not going to be an easy struggle. It is not just that overt homophobes seem to be proliferating in the context of intense rivalry between evangelist Christian and Muslim faiths and opportunistic (mostly American) missionaries. There is also a profound, ongoing economic and health crisis across much of the continent. This makes it extremely difficult for sexual rights and sexual health advocates to make their case in the public eye. How to convince unemployed youth, landless peasants, and women trapped in abusive marriages or survival sex work, that freedom for men to have consensual sex will improve their lives? This is particularly challenging given the widespread stereotype in Africa that gays and lesbians are economically privileged and well-connected to opportunities in the West.

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Wikileaks, Uganda, the gays and the US State Department

The Obamas + Muscevenis

Source: El Pais

By Luis Doncel

[Google translation]

"It is true that I said we would have to cut the head of all homosexuals. But finally I cut one?" I've arrested someone for being gay? No. Senegal it does and get the support of the Millennium Development Goals. I know there are homosexuals in my country. But I am content to live in secret. As are private does not matter. But if you're talking about to be married, that will never happen. We will never accept the gay."
 

These words came from the mouth of the president of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, in February last year. He spoke with U.S. Ambassador, who had come to deal with the president of this tiny West African country on the thorny issue of sexual freedom. "I want your government knows I'm not the monster they think I am," he said. It is true that Jammeh's speech is more aggressive than is customary among some African leaders. But, as shown by dozens of cables sent to Washington by diplomats on the continent, not far from an exception. Homophobia is rampant in the streets and government offices in Africa. And worse, it seems to be more.

The killing last week of David Kato, an activist for the rights of sexual minorities in Uganda, was the last episode of the battle that erupted in 2009 when a group of parliamentarians tried to pass a law condemning to death or life imprisonment for homosexual "repeat offenders". Finally, the rule did not go ahead, thanks largely to pressure from Western governments. But the lock does not mean that the situation now is idyllic: sexual deviance in Uganda is punishable with 14 years in prison. Four countries in Africa, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria and Mauritania, including the death penalty for men who have sex with men, according to the International Association ILGA. In total, 38 African States have laws against homosexuality.
 
A dozen confidential letters sent to Washington between November 2009 and February 2010 have to detail how U.S. diplomats sought to convince President Yoweri Museveni that paralyzed the processing of the law. Even the Catholic Church stepped in to show their opposition to using the Criminal Code against homosexuals, although, he said a cable sent from the Vatican views these actions as a "mortal sin." In addition, documents obtained by Wikileaks, which the country has had access, are the U.S. fear that other governments harden their legislation soon.

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SAfrica: Rights of women, gays raised at international union congress

DURBAN, South Africa (AFP) - The rights of women and homosexuals were highlighted Wednesday, the third day of a week-long congress in South Africa of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions [now the the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) ].

ICFTU, which represents 125 million workers from 145 countries, spoke out for the first time against the discrimination of homosexuals, to the discomfort of several delegates, notably those from Africa and Asia.

In a report presented to the 1,200 delegates meeting in this east coast city, ICFTU condemned discrimination against gay men and women and said it would work to identify and expose homophobia in the workplace.

An ICFTU study obtained by AFP showed that homosexuality is illegal in 86 countries and carries the death penalty in Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan.

Homosexuals suffer harassment at work, with about one-fourth saying they had been fired because of their sexual orientation, according to the study.

Some unions from Africa and Asia rejected the criticisms.

"We don't have this problem because nobody is homosexual in our country," said secretary general of Mali's UNTM, Siaka Diakite.

Roger Tapsoba from Burkina Faso's CSB said "we should start to talk about" this issue, but added that in his country "homosexuality is considered an abomination."

A delegate from Gabon insisted that Christianity, his country's religion, did not allow homosexuality.

Another from Taiwan said his union was against homosexuals but was fighting sexual harassment.

Other countries, including South Africa and Zimbabwe, said their unions were working with gay rights groups to lobby pharmaceutical companies for cheap drugs to treat HIV/AIDS-related diseases.

The rights of women were also raised at the congress Wednesday. About 2,000 people, mostly women, marched to the venue of the meeting to protest poverty and violence against women.

"Trade unions fight poverty and violence against women!" read placards displayed at the march in English, French, Spanish and Zulu.

The march was part of the World March of Women, which will see similar marches across the globe until October.

"Women make up 70 percent of the world's 855 million illiterate adults, more than half of those infected with the HIV/AIDS virus in the age bracket 15-24," organisers said in a statement.

A memorandum was handed to ICFTU leaders calling for protection against all forms of violence, equal rights for women in the workplace and an end to cutbacks in social budgets and public services.

It also demanded the cancellation of the debt of all Third World countries and treatment and protection for people with HIV/AIDS.

Women make up 39 percent of the members of the ICFTU, which includes 215 unions.

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