[Press Release]: Creating allyship with community change actors could put an end to human rights abuses among LGBTQ+ people

Kigali, 25^th August, 2023, Human Rights First Rwanda Association (HRFRA) has concluded a two-day workshop on building ally ship with change actors in defense of LGBTQ+ rights who include Media, Civil society organizations, Legal aid providers and stakeholders from 24th to 25th August 2023 at Urban Park Suits Gisementi Remera.

The main objective of this interactive training workshop was to strengthen the LGBTQ+ rights advocacy through creating a comprehensive spectrum of allies.

“The interactive training sessions aimed at raising awareness for LGBTQ+ inclusion in our Rwandan society and create a visible network of allies to foster a supportive atmosphere for LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.” Says Me. Juvens Kanyarushoki, senior legal officer at Human Rights First Rwanda Association (HRFRA).

According to the observations by Human Rights activists, members of LGBTQ+ communities in Rwanda face higher rates of human rights abuses which include discrimination and violence than the general population. One of the main barriers facing LGBTQ+ individuals is that of stigma and fear of reprisal, even if they want to get help, they may be reluctant to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity to service providers when such disclosure may mean facing future discrimination or denial of services.” Kanyarushoki adds.

Me. Kanyarushoki believes that the common understanding of sexual and gender minorities by the civil society organizations, media and the community will make a strong voice towards conducting effective advocacy.

Current Rwanda’s laws have not yet made it clear that there are other gender identifications besides man and woman and the LGBTQ+ community say it is not clear.

Clarisse, a transgender woman is the Executive Director of Winners Family, a local organization of transgender women who strive for the rights of LGBTQ+ community in Kayonza district, Eastern-Rwanda says that most of the persisting challenges of this community are limited to the culture and religious beliefs.

(She) says that the Government has done a lot to ensure inclusive rights such as access to justice for all but calls for more efforts to curb discrimination of LGBTQ+ community in the community.

“We can see discrimination in the churches, at the workplaces and in job competition as well as in other services,” Clarisse said.

Another transman who did not want to reveal the name defines some barriers to their community, including family exclusion and friends’ misunderstanding.

“Our families exclude us, and we become homeless, we are fired from schools, and we are limited to access other various services while we do have knowledge and skills like other Rwandans. There is need for continuous education of the society about Sexual orientation and gender identities before creating allies, we do not need love, but trust as ourselves did not have a choice of our gender orientation,” he said.

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