Between Us
Since the 1994 ICPD Cairo, there have been significant advancements in recognising and addressing the needs of our diverse communities in Africa in the arena of sexual reproductive health and rights.
Sadly for sexual minorities, an attitude of silence, denial, and even criminalisation has run rampant across our continent, legitimising increased hatred and violence.
Why has this been so?
First, we have not understood why and how some members of our communities are different in how they live and experience their sex and gender. A lack of respect at all levels of our society for people with alternative sexual identities is the result of little quality research enabling a better understanding of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Second, there has been a steady rise in religious fundamentalist leanings in our countries. The continent’s major religions preach peace and love on one hand while continuing to condone hate and violence on the other. Religious fundamentalism has eaten so deeply into our continent that it is now used as the moral standard that dictates African policies, laws and constitutions.
Even though the fight against HIV /AIDS opened an avenue for intervention in the domain of sexuality, it was not until the early 2000s that the discourse of integrated approaches to HIV/AIDS programming provided a platform within the movement for participation of at-risk sexual minorities. Even then, Lesbians, Bisexual women, Queer women and Women who have Sex with Women (LBQWSW) have not been visible despite their vulnerability to curative rapes, hate rapes, and other examples of extreme sexual violence and victimisation.