Country Reports

Political analysis and commentary from Africa (2010).

Over the past couple of years, there has not been a shortage of examples of human rights violations of LGBTI persons throughout the continent. The violations have been perpetrated by both state and non-state actors. The violations vary from the denial of basic rights to, in some extreme cases, physical violence against LGBTI people and sometimes even death. Some states have taken efforts to strengthen criminal laws by increasing penalties or broadening the list of offences that LGBTI people can be charged under.

Current and former heads of state continue to make statements condemning same sex relations. Various religious formations have also taken the opportunity to oppose same sex relationships. There are currently 38 countries on the continent that actively criminalise same sex intimacy and, while not expressly criminalised in other countries, other laws, like vagrancy or public nuisance laws, can be used to prosecute and persecute LGBTI individuals and groups.

In 6 articles, this publication covers different aspects of LGBTI activism in Africa, including experiences from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The message is that despite the myriad of challenges and hostile environment there is an ongoing engagement and growing movement towards equality for LGBTI people throughout the continent.

2014, 103 pages

Pathologizing Identities, Paralyzing Bodies: Human Rights Violations against Lesbian, Gay and Transgender People in Iran is an outcome of a two year research project that includes several field trips to Turkey and 13 other countries, as well as the in-depth interviews with more than 80 individuals from Iran’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. This report is launched in Istanbul, Turkey, where large numbers of Iranian LGBT asylum seekers are based.

Pambazuka News offers news, analyses and debate on LGBTI issues in Africa. Produced by a pan-African community of academics, policy makers, social activists, commentators and others, it is an influential web forum for social justice in Africa. Pambazuka News also publishes podcasts, videocasts and books.

2015, 31 pages

This report by the East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative maps the political, social, legal and organisational landscape of sex workers and LGBT people in Ethiopia. It further describes the lived realities of these people and offers recommendations on the way forward to strengthening the human rights situation in the country for the sex workers and LGBTI communities.

2017, 35 pages