Standing in solidarity ...

Urgent Action Fund-Africa (UAF-Africa) would like to express outrage and dismay at the re-introduction of the anti homosexuality Bill in the Ugandan parliament.

As an African regional organization that supports women’s human rights, we recognize that sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to discrimination, abuse or murder.

We should not make people live in constant fear of losing their jobs, their families, their livelihoods, their freedom, and their lives because they are seen as different from the rest of us. We are of the opinion that this proposed law is inhumane because it violates every aspect of a human being.

UAF-Africa stands in solidarity with all Africans who stand up, raise their voices, and defend the full equality and human rights of all, including LGBTQI people. We call upon the Ugandan parliament to dismiss the Bill when it comes to the floor of the house for debate. The Ugandan government should be cognizant of its responsibility to promote, protect, and respect the human rights of all citizens including putting measures in place that assure everyone of this protection instead of taking away this fundamental human right.

Over the years, Valentine's Day has become a reminder to demonstrate love for each other through gift giving. However, for others it may mean giving even bigger and more substantial gifts, it can be a timely reminder of what REALLY matters in relationships and can help us refocus on giving gifts that have no price tag but can make or break our relationships; Gifts of tolerance, kindness and understanding- the very characteristics that define our humanity.

This Valentine’s Day, UAF-Africa would like to express our unending and full support to the Ugandan LGBTQI community as they go through this trying period and urge all people of the world who support the principles of constitutionalism, human rights for all, inclusivity, and democratic governance to put pressure on the Ugandan parliament to drop this Bill.

Why the Anti Homosexuality Bill of Uganda is so deadly!

On 7 February 2012, Uganda’s Parliament re-tabled the anti-homosexuality bill, which had been dubbed, “Kill the Gays Bill.” Although the clauses on death sentences have been removed, the Bill promises problems. This brief quickly reflects on why this Bill, if given the binding force of law, will be a deadly blow to human rights and democracy.

1. Tone of the Bill. The tone of anger and intolerance that characterises the whole Bill is startling. It paints homosexuality as a grievous crime of choice and focuses on inflicting strenuous forms of punishment possible on homosexual “offenders.”

Problematic – Uganda law enforcement arm has an extensive reach and is not unfamiliar with excessive use of force in their exercise of power. The tone of the Bill could promote hate crimes against persons in same sex relations and indicates that the law will offer no protection from violation for them. Furthermore, they are likely to face abuse at the hands of law enforcement officers and unlikely to experience fairness in the legal system.

2. Criminalization. The Bill outlaws 2 things – (i) same-sex relations; and (ii) promoting or recognizing same sex relations. The Bill claims to do so in the interests of protecting the traditional heterosexual family values.
Problematic – This Bill leaves no room for discussion on homosexuality, or for any alternative views. It speaks of homosexuality as a crime, the same way you would speak of robbery with violence, murder or manslaughter and adds the crime of aggravated homosexuality. This is akin to taking an attribute of a particular group of people such as skin colour, accent, ethnic identity, and making that attribute a crime. It is a deadly form of discrimination.

3. Stripping away rights. Where a person is arrested for aggravated homosexuality, they will be subjected to a HIV test and their consent is not required. The Bill defines aggravated homosexuality as sexual acts with a minor, a person with disability, or if the “offender” has HIV, or was previously convicted of homosexuality.
Problematic – The language of the law makes having HIV a crime if you are a homosexual person, and allows for compulsory testing of a person. Furthermore, it disregards consent in sexual acts between adults and creates stereotypes of victimisation (disabled persons cannot be homosexuals; they are only “victims” of homosexuality. The Bill is blind to the fact that homosexual persons are part of every group in society.

4. Silencing alternative views and voices. Beyond criminalizing homosexuality, the Bill makes it a crime to support, speak out for, fund or publish materials on homosexuality.
Problematic – This could easily be the first step towards using legislation to silence civil society groups, dissenting voices and alternative opinions. Not only does the law seek to make homosexuality an offence, but speaking out in support of it in any way about it is also an offence punishable by prison time, a significant fine or both. What is to prevent the government from introducing similar clauses in other laws to silence the voices of dissent? Where is the protection for minority groups?

5. A law unto itself. The Bill goes on to nullify any other international treaty that Uganda has signed which recognizes the rights of individuals based on their sexual orientation. This law is a law unto itself. It extends its reach to Ugandan citizens or permanent residents who are outside the country.
 

Problematic – It challenges rights guaranteed to every human being by virtue of the fact that they are human and suggests that the purpose of this law is greater than the sanctity of human rights. This sets another bad precedent, allowing the government to enact laws that strip away international standards of protection of rights.

The Ugandan government is proposing this law to make homosexuality a crime. Some support it based on religious, moral or other views. They are entitled to their views. However, whatever one’s personal convictions, this law has to be resisted for what it presents: a brazen affront to democracy and human dignity. The government has arrogated to itself the power to sign away the rights of individuals under the guise of protecting values. A government governs on behalf of its people and must do so for all  its people – the majority and the minority. It is a deep betrayal to take individual convictions and use the tool of law to oppress the minority. It is the huge step towards tyranny! 

URGENT CALL TO ACTION

RESIST, REJECT, OPPOSE THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL 2009 CURRENTLY TABLED IN THE UGANDAN PARLIAMENT

The COALITION OF AFRICAN LESBIANS (CAL), a pan African network of lesbian, bisexual and gender non-conforming people, organizations and individuals, calls upon every person who believes in the dignity, equality and freedom of every human being, to take note of and act urgently to halt the Anti-Homosexuality Bill which has just been re - tabled in Uganda.  We look to African human rights activists and defenders, politicians, religious leaders, cultural leaders, scholars, lawyers, medical professionals, educators, parents and all human rights respecting and promoting individuals and institutions, to take such urgent action.

The draconian Bill was re-tabled in the Parliament of Uganda by Member of Parliament, David Bahati, on February 7, 2012. The Bill had its first reading and was referred to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for scrutiny. The Committee is expected to examine it and conduct public hearings, and then it will report back to the House for a formal debate on the Bill.
Background:

 The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 was first introduced in the Parliament of Uganda by Member of Parliament, David Bahati, as a Private Member’s Bill in October, 2009. The Bill proposes severe prison sentences, and in some cases the death penalty. It states that anyone who commits the offence of homosexuality will be liable to life imprisonment as the provisions, according to the Bill, are meant to “protect the traditional family by prohibiting any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex.” The Bill further states that “aggravated homosexuality” will be punished by death as it aims to ban all forms of expression advocating for homosexuality. It would also be an offence for a person who is aware of any violations of the Bill’s provisions not to report them to the authorities within 24 hours. Furthermore, the Bill proposes to criminalize the “promotion of homosexuality” which is a provision targeting civil society and human rights defenders. These and other provisions of the Bill go beyond targeting homosexuals, to affect families, human rights defenders, teachers, neighbors, friends, spiritual leaders, medical professionals, shop owners, to mention but a few.

Stand out and up against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 NOW. We have limited time. Resist this unconstitutional bill and take on one, some or all of the following actions;

1. Pass on this Call to Action to as many concerned Africans as you can and urge them to take action.

2. Write emails to and or call Ugandan Members of Parliament (MPs) urging them to resist and reject the Bill in its entirety because it is anti-human rights and affects every Ugandan in different ways. The full list of all 386 MPs can be found athttp://www.parliament.go.ug/mpdata/mps.hei Click on the MP’s name and you will get their email address and phone number.  The MPs can also be contacted through social media such as Facebook. Just search for their name on Facebook and or Twitter.

3. Write to the President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and urge him to reject this draconian proposed Bill in its entirety. Urge him to discourage further debate and consideration of the Bill by Parliament and to decline to sign this unconstitutional Bils into law.
 

4. Write, call or fax the Inspector General of Police in Uganda, Major General Kale Kaihura, and urge him to ensure the protection of the human rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Uganda and those who defend LGBT people. This includes protection from both state and non-state actors who have started to take the law in their hands by harassing and violating LGBT Ugandans.

5. Write, fax and or call the Minister of Justice in Uganda, Hon. Major General Kahinda Otafire,   and the State Minister of Justice Hon. Fred Ruhindi and urge them to speak out against the unconstitutionality of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 and to discourage any further debate on the Bill.

 6. Write to the Minister of Health in Uganda, Hon. Dr. Christine Ondoa and bring to her attention the implications of this Bill on the fight against HIV/AIDS and on access to medical services by LGBT citizens.

7. Write to the Cardinal of Uganda, His Eminence Emmanuel Wamala, and the Arch Bishop of the Church of Uganda , The Most Revd Henry Luke Orombi and urge them to stand out and up and oppose the Bill in its entirety. Tell them that homosexuals need their protection. Point out, to the Cardinal of the Catholic Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church which says in Article 6, 2358: The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. They are called to protect and not to remain silent amidst injustice and discrimination.

8.Write, call, fax your Minister of Foreign Affairs and urge him/her to put pressure on the Government of Uganda against the further debating of the unconstitutional Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009.
 
  

NGOs Around The World Condemn Persistent Crackdowns On Egyptian Civil Society And Reject Disabling Draft NGO Law
 

 "Amid rising tension in Cairo, Egypt, violence against peaceful protestors is being intensified and non-governmental organisations are being openly attacked. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Arab NGO Network for Development and the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness condemn persistent and brutal crackdowns by Egyptian security forces and the attempt to control civil society activity through a draft Law on Associations and Foundations.

On 25 January 2012, thousands of members of Egyptian civil society flooded Tahrir Square to mark the first anniversary of the people's revolution and also to register their protest at the present turn of events. "What promised to be an uprising to end oppression in Egypt one year ago has been manipulated by the military to reinforce its control and severely repress legitimate civil society activities" said Ingrid Srinath, Secretary-General of CIVICUS. On 17 January 2012 the Ministry of Social Affairs announced that it has completed a draft 'Law on Associations and Foundations' to replace existing Egyptian NGO Law 84 (2002), also known as the NGO Law. The existing NGO Law contains a number of restrictive elements including a requirement on civil society organisations to obtain a permit in order to operate. It also sets out complex legal regulations that were often selectively applied to prevent registration and arbitrarily shut down organisations that criticise the government's human rights record.

Under former President Mubarak's regime, many independent NGOs working on rights issues circumvented these restrictions by registering as 'civil companies', in order to work freely away from the repressive practices of the Ministry of Social Affairs and to be able to obtain funding from international sources. The proposed Law on Associations and Foundations will require NGOs to register as either a foundation or association, providing an opportunity for security and intelligence bodies to use their discretion to deny registration and impose criminal penalties on individuals that establish unregistered groups. Far from easing the existing restrictions, the proposed Law on Associations and Foundations further limits access to foreign funds for NGOs and requires official approval for maintaining affiliations with international organisations.

"This draft bill should be seen in light of a flow of legislation passed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the current government that further restricts and prohibits freedom of association, expression, assembly, right to strike, and social and economic rights," said Ziad Abdel Tawab, Deputy Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS). "It's an attempt by remnants of the previous regime to take revenge on any and all voices that dared fight for democracy before, during, and after the revolution."

The proposed restrictions on NGOs come after months of increasing harassment of NGOs. On 29 December 2011, security forces raided 17 offices of local and foreign human rights organisations, locking staff members into offices and confiscating computers and documents. Targeted organisations included the National Democratic Institute, Freedom House, Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung and Egyptian NGOs the Budgetary and Human Rights Observatory and Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Professions. The public prosecutor has claimed the search is part of an investigation into foreign funding of Egyptian civil society groups, but this unprecedented crackdown is yet another concerted attempt to silence civil society and maintain control of the government.
On 27 January 2012, the security forces furthered their mission to stifle civil society by imposing a travel ban on at least 10 US and European pro-democracy workers whose offices had been raided in December.  On 5 February 2012 Egyptian officials announced that 43 NGO workers - including American citizens and other foreigners - have been referred to trial for alleged involvement in banned activity and for illegally receiving foreign funding.
These unlawful and repressive measures towards civil society in Egypt come only months after the world's governments agreed to "enable CSOs to exercise their roles as independent development actors, with a particular focus on an enabling environment, consistent with agreed international rights" at the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, South Korea.

CIVICUS, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Arab NGO Network for Development and the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness urge the Egyptian Government to ensure an immediate end to the use of violence against peaceful protestors and take immediate steps to guarantee people's constitutional rights to freely express, associate and assemble. The Egyptian government and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces must guarantee an enabling environment for civil society and citizen participation in accordance with the Egyptian Constitution and state obligations under international law, guaranteed under the International Bill of Rights."

 Source: CIVICUS

Learning Visit to UAF-Africa by directors of newly formed Women's Fund Tanzania on 1st and 2nd November, 2011

  From left: Marie te Riele (The Netherlands) and Mary J. Rusimbi (Tanzania)

 Marie and Mary are both directors of Women's Fund Tanzania. The two shared their thoughts on the newly established fund, the issues they support, their target groups, focus areas and the  modalities of funding. 

 The fund was recently established by women who have been active in the  women's movement in Tanzania and beyond. WFT focuses on the empowerment of women and  building a strong women's movement in Tanzania through strengthening capacity, building strategic alliances, mobilising resources and making grants.

September 21^st is the International Day of Peace

Often as targets of extreme forms of violence, African women experience the full impact of  conflict as civilians or combatants, but are generally excluded from the decision-making processes that ignite wars or put an end to hostilities. However, they have been important agents for creating peace and stability in the lives of their families and in promoting reconciliation and peace even under very difficult and traumatic situations.

As the world marks the International Day of Peace, Urgent Action Fund-Africa takes this opportunity to acknowledge hundreds of women who have emerged from conflict and war situations as engaged citizens, with a consciousness and power to transform their communities.

 We share with you Standing Tall: Women’s Agency in conflict, a book that speaks to women as powerful actors who have time and again exercised their power to alter the course of conflicts; be a part of peace talks and transitional justice efforts; engaged warring factions demanding that they resolve the conflict for the sake of the nation.