Uphold sexual minority rights in the great lakes

Human Rights First Rwanda Association organized a series of seminar’s  with transgender persons. The training centred on the importance of role modelling the use of non-discriminatory language and behaviour, builds knowledge on LGBTIQ+ inclusive policies, state legislation and facilitating a safe space where Rwanda Gender Pride could seek support, information and referral. Sexual Minorities often face harassment, detention, torture, defamation, suspension from their employment, denial of freedom of movement, freedom of association and difficulty in obtaining legal recognition for their associations. In some countries they are killed, abducted or & disappear. These c hallenges require Sexual minorities to adopt comprehensive and dynamic security strategies in their day- to- day work, adopting well-meant advice or recommending that they “take care” is not enough. The trainings were designed to offer tailor-made solutions ready to be applied to any scenario.  The seminars did try to provide a set of strategies aimed at improving LGBTI/Q’s security management. 

The seminars did raise the level of the Transgender community awareness on the importance of personal security and that the main risk for sexual minorities is that threats often materialize into actual attacks. Aggressors have the will, the means and the impunity to put

Globally, gay men and other men who have sex with men are 24 times more likely to acquire HIV than adults in the general population. Stigma, discrimination, violence and the criminalization of same-sex sexual practices makes it more difficult for these men to access HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.

Human Rights First Rwanda Association has for the last three months been   undertaking an evidence-informed advocacy in bringing these issues to the lime light and showing the impact that human rights violations can have on HIV responses, especially on services targeting key populations

Although there is still a lot of silence around issues surrounding sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity, there is hope that in the near future a  greater pool of sexual minority  communities will be standing up for their rights and demanding access to services and a rights-based approach to service delivery..