Sourire De Femme

OUR ORIGIN

Sourire de Femme was founded in 2010, in Senegal, by a group of LBQWSW friends (Lesbians, Bisexual, Queer and Women who have Sex with women) to provide a meeting and support space for women who identify as such.

Sourire de Femme originates from a religious and political environment in which same-sex relationships are deemed unnatural and are punishable by imprisonment and a fine. In addition, lesbians are further discriminated against because they do not have spaces to meet and exchange, are not taken into consideration in general programs for LGBTQ people in Senegal, and most importantly, are excluded by women’s rights organizations.

To this day, Sourire de Femme is the only LBQWSW organization in Senegal and is present in every region of the country.

A ce jour, Sourire de Femme est la seule association identitaire de femmes LBQFSF au Sénégal et présente dans toutes les régions du Sénégal.

OUR VISION

We want a world where human rights are respected without if or but.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is based on a commitment to feminism, social change, and fight against all forms of discrimination and exploitation of the LBQWSW community.

OUR CHALLENGES

  • Improve the level and quality of education of LBTQI populations
  • Decrease gender-based violence (GBV) at the community, family, academic and organizational level
  • Documents the lives of LBT women in Senegal
  • Maintain a database on violence and rights violations as related to OSIG

 

OUR MAIN ACTIVITIES

Since its creation in 2010, Sourire de Femme is involved in the following activities:

Health and wellbeing of LGBTQ populations

  • Referral and psychological counseling
  • Themed dialogues with LBQWSW groups
  • Specialized medical consultations
  • Raising awareness on preventable diseases
  • Distribution of condoms, femidoms, lubes and instruction manuals
  • Visits in freedom-restricted areas
  • Legal support
  • Academic support
  • Recreational outings and soccer games
  • Emergency intervention in case of arrest of LGBTQI people in Senegal and The Gambia

Human Rights

  • Advocate in favor of LBTQI people in spaces of dialogue with social justice actors
  • Compile and update the database with cases of violence and human rights violation in order to support our advocacy
  • Train lawyers, paralegals, religious and traditional chiefs as well as LBTQI people on the human rights of LGBTQ people in Senegal

Communication & Visibility

  • Participate in radio shows to talk about LGBTQ issues in Senegal
  • Articles on LGBTQ issues published in the local press
  • Participate in local feminist marches

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

After several years of existence, the few achievements we have made have consolidated our vision and mission to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQ people, particularly LBTWSW in Senegal. Among those, we have:

  • Mobilization of LBTQWSW communities in Senegal
  • A more visible involvement of young LBQWSW in our organization
  • Partnerships with local media with regards to LGBTQ issues in Senegal
  • Supporting the implementation of other LGBTQ organizations in Senegal
  • Partnerships with religious and traditional leaders as well as judges who are knowledgeable about the human rights of LGBTQ people

OUR PERSPECTIVES

Since we are becoming increasingly visible, we think there is an urgent need to support the leadership of young LBT individuals.

We want to commit to improve access to healthcare adapted to LBQWSW, family planning and abortion services.

We also want to be more involved in political dynamics in order to influence actions.

OUR STRUCTURE

Sourire de Femme operates under three bodies:

  • The general assembly comprised of all the members of the organization, as well as its supporters and allies
  • The board of directors which is the decision-making body and the political structure that leads the programming of activities
  • The executive secretary is the body in charge of the implementation of activities.

OUR PARTNERS

CLF, Paris City Hal, ASTRAEA Lesbian Foundation, AMSHeR, RENAPOC, PAC/DH, HCDH West Africa, CSDH, COC-Netherlands, CNLS, FCIL, LBTQDI friendly embassies and diplomats, African LGBTI organizations, Senegalese Networks of LGBTQI/PS individuals, Queer African Youth Network (QAYN), Platforme RHRN Sénégal.

CONTACT US :

Tél: +221776322852

Email: soudefem@gmail.com