We!: Authorised to Organise: Queer, Young Women Activists in Francophone West Africa

Source: mass emailing
 

		an Isis International e-newsletter, offers news, information and commentary on women’s activism and rights around the globe
Visit the Isis International website for more news
	Authorised to Organise: Queer, Young Women Activists in Francophone West Africa This week, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, released preliminary findings on the situation of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Cameroon. They found that LGBTI activists are facing targeted harassment and violence and are unable to turn to the authorities who are unwilling to help or may even be involved. In Cameroon, perpetrators of crimes against LGBTI activists have impunity, while the authorities prosecute, sentence and imprison persons for “consensual sexual relations with a person of the same sex” (Article 347bis of the Penal Code). The situation is grave and it is not much better for LGBTI throughout West Africa. In the majority of countries in the sub-region, laws neither prohibit nor protect LGBTI people but the ambiguous legal reality allows interpretations by conservative religious and traditional groups who define what are morally acceptable identities and sexual relations between adults. These same groups shape conservative social roles, according to patriarchal values, for women regardless of sexual orientation. In Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Senegal, women are fighting for full freedom of bodily autonomy, movement, legal redress, and access and control over resources, besides their right to explore and express their authentic sexual identities. So while LGBTI people face shared challenges in their quest for a more dignified socio-cultural and political environment, lesbian, bisexual and women who have sex with women (LBWSW) in West Africa and Cameroon additionally suffer under social and cultural practices that suppress any alternative expression of sexual and gender identities that do not fit into traditional expressions of femininity. LBWSW, particularly those with masculine appearance, face humiliations, harassment, abuses, discrimination and violence at multiple levels. Faced with stigma in their neighborhoods and rejection by family members, many are forced into marriage or pushed into bearing children to 'prove' they are not lesbians. To fully experience their sexuality, they become vulnerable to arbitrary abuse and eviction by their landlords, and risk losing their jobs. Faced then with a homophobic environment riddled with insecurity and outright hostility, how can queer, young women in West Africa dare to stand up for their rights, when they can't turn to the authorities? Fighting for personal rights, let alone the rights of others, is a courageous and dangerous act. How do they organize and mobilise when for so many the act of coming out is rife with risks? They began by coming together. Isis International partnered with the Queer African Youth Networking Center (QAYN)  to develop the Activist School for Young, Queer Women, the first of its kind in the sub-region. The first Activist School was conducted in September 2012. Entitled 'Gender, Sexuality and Communications: Towards Strengthening Leadership of Queer, Young Women in Francophone West Africa', the Activist School focused on movement building and leadership. At the end of the five day workshop, the eight young, queer women activists from four West African countries resolved to build a regional network to develop a long-term cohesive political agenda to realize their social justice goals. They developed a collective action plan, and over the next 6 months they implemented that plan, creating safe spaces that facilitated the gathering of LBWSW in the region. The second phase for this network begins next week (10-14 February 2014). Isis International and QAYN will conduct a follow up Activist School, this time with 18 young, queer women activists from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Togo. The workshop, 'Building Ourselves, Building Community', will strengthen the activists capacities in community organising at the local level through an awareness of facilitative leadership and media for community building. They will develop techniques to strengthen their inner resourcefulness to be able to withstand whatever society metes out; skills that are essential for their safety, wellbeing and sustainability as activists. This will inform the development of their next action plan. These young, queer women will continue to organise and mobilize at the ground level, because of and in spite of the challenges. They have the authority.     The Activist School for Young, Queer Women in Francophone Africa is a partnership project of:                               The Isis International Activist School is supported by:

.