Centre for Human Rights presents its annual short course on the human rights of sexual and gender minorities in Africa

Posted on March 07, 2018

The Centre for Human Rights hosted the annual Advanced Human Rights Course on Sexual Minorities in Africa from 26 February 2018 to 2 March 2018 at the University of Pretoria, Hatfield campus. This course, which is sponsored by the Flemish Government, was attended by 61 participants from 17 African countries, as well as participants representing the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Participants included LLM/MPhil students, lawyers, magistrates, members of the civil society and staff from State departments.

The purpose of the course is to advance the human rights of sexual minorities in Africa. The course addressed themes such as: introduction to sexualities, identities and the lived experiences of sexual and gender minorities; faith sexuality and gender - challenges and opportunities; sexual and gender non-conformity, hetero-normativity and patriarchy; African-ness: what queerness brings to the debates; reframing normality: trends in depathologisation of sexual and gender identities; sexual orientation, gender identity, regional and international human rights law; litigation and sexual minority rights- country perspectives; sexual orientation and gender identity as a basis for asylum and refugee status; litigation and advocacy on sexual and gender minority rights.

The Centre also had an opportunity to host Counsellor and General Representative of the Government of Flanders who delivered general remarks during the short course.

The course presented multi-disciplinary lectures and discussions which covered theoretical as well as practical work to engage the participants in country specific projects that will be reported on occasionally. Presentations were made on the lived experiences of sexual and gender minorities from several walks of life sharing their personal stories and challenges faced owing to personal and public interactions with their identity.

The course included a movie screening and panel discussion on Thursday 1 March 2018, open to the general public, on the theme of sexual orientation and gender identity as a basis for asylum and refugee status. This event had experts in the field of refugee and asylum seeker rights. There was also a panel discussion by persons who have gone through the process of seeking refugee and asylum status in South Africa.

The course came to an end on Friday 2 March with presentations and discussions made by participants on group work, course evaluations and presentation of certificates of participation to participants. In conclusion, the participants were tasked with the duty of ensuring that they become advocates for social change in their different countries. Majority of LGBTI persons still face discrimination and violence. This course will help have more advocates who will advance the rights and freedoms of the sexual minorities in Africa.

- Author The Centre for Human Rights

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