IGLHRC – Statement on Nigeria’s Pending Anti Gay Legislation
For Immediate Release
Statement on Nigeria’s Pending Anti Gay Legislation
by Jabulani Chen Pereira, IGLHRC Africa Program Coordinator
Media Contact:
Roberta Sklar, Press Secretary, IGLHRC
+1-917-704-6358; rsklar@iglhrc.org
(United Nations, New York, Dec 9) We urge the President of Nigeria to lead his government in a manner that clearly abides with the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The impact of the decision by the Nigerian Senate to pass this Bill, know as the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill, 2011 has placed Gays, Lesbians, Gender Variant and Gender non-conforming citizens in great fear for their safety and well-being. The Bill reaches far beyond the issue of the right to marry. It not only bans same sex marriage, it criminalizes witnessing of such marriages, affection expressed publicly between members of the same sex, and a ban on the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations. As the Bill is now before the Nigerian House of Representatives for a vote and the President for his signature, we call on all United Nations Member States to denounce the Bill. We urge the Government of Nigeria to permanently withdraw this Bill from Nigerian politics.
Nigeria is currently ranked 156 of 187 on the United Nations Development Index (HDI). Within Nigeria there are overwhelming challenges regarding poverty eradication, access to basic health, and the right of all citizens to enjoy education. The question: Why is the Government of Nigeria targeting same sex relationships as its area of focus? This is counter-productive and merely shifts attention from its State priorities in attaining the challenges set out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is the states responsibility to ensure that its citizens have access and enjoy all the rights set as out in the United Nation Declaration of Human Rights.
This Bill is in serious breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Nigeria’s constitution that affords citizens the right to live in human dignity.
The specific restrictions of this bill and the banning of civil society organizations is a major step backwards in building an active, vibrant and tolerant society.
Canela Foundation – our new corporate partner
Canela Foundation is a team of independent entrepreneurs based out of Holland and USA.
We are in the process of creating an application (LGBTsupports) for smart/androids phone and type of tables such as the i-Phone, i-Pad for fundraising for LGBT community.
The aim is to throughout real stories / pictures and short video clip, raise awareness on several issues that the LGBT is facing today.
Such subjects can be educating to acceptance and tolerance in order to eradicate bullying of young homosexuals in schools, promote equal opportunities in the working environment, discrimination etc.
Also, We aim to increase the cooperation between different foundations and NGOs working on same subjects around the globe.
We firmly believe that a mobile application is the way to go as it will bring your causes to a worldwide audience of over 900 millions smartphones and tablets users and will be of great help to the fundraising efforts. This can be achieved with extremely low efforts on your side and almost no cost. Nothing to compare with the huge costs any NGO faces if employing the traditional fundraising channels and methods.
The application was officially launched at the end of September during the LGBT Forum in J’burg- South Africa.
Canela believes we can’t go around measuring our goodness by what we don’t do, what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and whom we exclude.
We have to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create, and whom we include.
SAfaIDS and CALBiA Foundation signed the agreement for partnership
Established in 1994, Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) is a regional non-profit organisation based in Pretoria, South Africa with four other country offices in Manzini, Swaziland; Maputo, Mozambique; Lusaka, Zambia and Harare, Zimbabwe. With support from local partners, SAfAIDS currently implements its programmes in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. SAfAIDS’ core activities include capacity development for other HIV and AIDS Intermediary Organisations (IOs), information production, collection and dissemination, networking and building partnerships and leadership in promoting dialogue on cutting- edge issues related to HIV and AIDS. http://www.safaids.net/
CALBiA has became a partner of ILGA
CALBiA and ILGA-PAI are working together for equal rights of LGBTI community in Africa. We are honored to be a partner of ILGA in common efforts to change to better the situation of lesbian women and transgender persons through advancement and support for their entrepreneurship. CALBiA is listed from now at in the ILGA’s World Directory of LGBTI organizations.
About ILGA – The only worldwide federation campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex rights. Since 1978. For more information about the important work of ILGA please refer to the website http://ilga.org/
President of Trans-Fuzja – Ania Grodzka elected to Polish parliament
Trans-Fuzja is a partner organization of CALBiA and it’s president Ania Grodzka the member of the CALBiA Decision Board. We applaude Ania to her success during the last election for Polish Parliament where she received 19 451 votes. It is an excellent result in conservative Krakow, where Ania was representing Ruch Palikota – a liberal party that put a number of LGBTI candidates on it list. So Robert Biedron – an openly gay LGBTI activist was elected with 14 330 votes to parliament also.
Ania Grodzka asked about CALBiA answered:
”CALBiA Foundation is an innovative concept for lesbian and trans persons as it includes an important aspect of financial independence. These people are discriminated at the workplace in most of countries. Professional and financial support of CALBiA allow transgender persons to start up their business idea in the atmosphere of understanding and mutual respect. Achieving financial independece means to become more selfconfident. Persons with different as majority sexual orientation, being successful entrepreneurs get more respect and acceptance at the society. Such initiatives as CALBiA are need all other the world.” Anna Grodzka.
We wish Ania much success, endurance and many supporters in her new role as a politician fighting for equality and respect for LGBTI people. She is actually worldwide the only trans person represented at country parliaments.
CALBiA at J’burg Pride
CALBiA was present at the 1st African LGBT Business and Human Rights Forum and at the J’burg Pride. We received a fantastic feedback to our activities and presented the new approach of empowering lesbian & transgender women in Africa at the Forum. Our first project of Green Tart Designs was present at CALBiA stand with their wonderful products. Junie and Seja – a new entrepreneurs enjoyed the high interest and interaction with customers. They are our best ambassadors for new members and future applicants willing to partner with CALBiA Foundation.
ILGA Survey on Lesbians’ Health
Dear members of Coalition for Advancement of Lesbian Business in Africa,
In June 2010 ILGA collected the results of an internet survey sent to over 800 of its members and allies. The aim of the survey was to assess the outcomes of the ILGA women’s project, a project funded by Oxfam-Novib which lasted seven years. We wanted to understand which were the areas that ILGA should focus in the coming years in relation to women issues. One of the outcomes of the survey indicated that members and allies would like ILGA to continue working on lesbian’s health. That is why ILGA decided to undertake this project “Lesbian Health: Myths and Realities”.
Most of the time lesbians’ issues are either placed into the general “Homosexual” category, that is to say masculine, or in the general “Woman” category, that is to say heterosexual. This is also the case for health. Studies and statistics on women’s health, although numerous, are rarely broken down by specific groups. In addition, research on gay health is still very much concentrated on HIV/AIDS amongst gay men.
Given the general lack of focus on lesbian health issues, ILGA decided to design a project that raises awareness of some misconceptions on lesbian’s health and sexual behaviour that could have life-threatening consequences.
Three double-sided sheets, that can also be used individually, focus on the “myths and realities” surrounding lesbian’s health and are available in French, Dutch, English and soon also in Spanish.
Organisations are encouraged to use the sheets and translate them to their local language, provided that credit is given to ILGA. Interested? Please send a message to women@ilga.org
The themes tackled are Breast and Cervical cancers, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Well-Being. The illustrations at the back of each sheet will help to easily understand what are the “myths” and the “realities” of lesbians’ health on each of the topics.
We have also prepared a quiz on myths related to lesbians’ health. It will give you the opportunity to test your knowledge. The quiz can also be used in raising awareness trainings and workshops.
Read and Download “Lesbian Health: Myths and Realities”:
Français English Nederlands
This project is financially supported by the Belgian Foundation against Cancer which also approved the texts. ILGA thanks the Women’s Secretariat, Minority Women in Action.
The initial project in French and Dutch was coordinated by ILGA with the help of the following Belgian associations:
Green Tart Designs
We are happy to introduce Green Tart Designs company developed by Junie and Seja with CALBiA support.
It is a first CALBiA’s project implemented for advancement of lesbian business in Africa. We are excited about this creative and innovative business idea. Together with young entrepreneurs we are looking forwards to its positive development. CALBiA will accompany Green Tart Designs over 1 year from now.
Following CALBiA’s motto: Your Business Idea – Your Dedication – Your RESPECT both ladies have taken responsibility for their future and are creating it on their own.
We applaude Junie and Seja to their courage, dedication and positive attitude which allowed them to become business women.
Please join us in common efforts to become Green Tart Designs a successful LGBT company through buying the Stud Nation labeled products and sharing the word of mouth around your friends. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117336301656969
Green Tart Designs – Junie’s & Seja’s new company developed with CALBiA support
Green Tart Designs introduces the label Stud Nation. A label created to cater to all butches, tomboy’s and women that want masculine clothing that are made for women.
We now have clothing that are exclusively made for us, the woman with a different taste in clothes. To introduce the label we are bringing out our line of t-shirts and caps that have custom made designs to suit different looks. The designs come in different colour t-shirts mainly golf and crew neck t’s. Please feel view our designs on our Facebook group – Stud Nation. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117336301656969
Welcome to the Stud Nation Revolution
Want it – Wear it – Love it
Sign a petition against Uganda’s ”Kill-the-Gays” Bill
Uganda is set to pass the Kill-the-Gays Bill within two weeks!
The Ugandan parliament is set to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, under the sponsorship of MP
David Bahati.
If this Bills passes it will register that Ugandans are ascribing to the view that “homosexuality
is not a human right.” (Quote David Bahati to Melanie Nathan)
The Bill may be passed within a fortnight, surreptitiously; but that cannot silence the World.
For the petition and the whole article please refer to:
http://www.change.org/petitions/uganda-is-set-to-pass-the-kill-the-gays-bill-within-two-weeks
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