GEC to convene political leaders in Johannesburg for Southern Africa LGBT+ summit
More than 60 leaders from African parliaments, civil society organisations and businesses are set to agree a common platform for equal rights at a dedicated convening event in Johannesburg.
The day-long event, ‘African Legislators for Equality’ (30 November 2023), will welcome 20 parliamentarians from 11 African countries, as well as leading representatives from regional civil society groups, multilateral organisations, inclusive businesses, diplomats and government officials.
The programme – which features a mixture of keynote speeches, policy dialogues and topical panel discussions – will examine examples of inclusive legislation in areas such as health, employment and criminal justice, focusing on how parliamentarians can work with key stakeholders to sustain momentum towards inclusive change.
In Southern Africa particularly there has been notable progress, including the decriminalisation of same-sex relations – most recently in Mauritius in October 2023 – as well as anti-discrimination laws, recognition of trans people, and improved services for people living with HIV.
However the passage of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act – which imposes strict criminal penalties on LGBT+ people – and the introduction of similar proposals in countries including Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, is a reminder that progress can be fragile with a constant risk of rollback.
The Global Equality Caucus (GEC) has sought to safeguard and build on this progress by working with elected representatives in the region, connecting them across borders and with civil society experts to facilitate knowledge-sharing on key strategies and policies.
‘African Legislators for Equality’, which has been organised by GEC with civil society partner The Other Foundation and is to be hosted by Nedbank at their headquarters in Johannesburg, is an important milestone in this work to link up legislators.
Significantly, the forum will invite attending parliamentarians to identify their priorities for inclusive reform and produce a common workplan as a result, with GEC creating a formal regional chapter to support legislators in carrying this agenda forward over the next several years.
Tshepo Kgositau, Regional Manager for GEC, says that formalising a dedicated regional network will help to address some of the problems that have been identified by legislators.
“For the past year we have met with legislators in Southern Africa as part of our initial outreach programme, who have all expressed enthusiasm for a network that offers peer-to-peer support as well as spaces to meet with local experts to improve understanding about LGBT+ issues. The ‘African Legislators for Equality’ event sees the birth of this regional network with member-driven priorities and locally-informed knowledge as core principles, all the while being plugged in to a wider international caucus of like-minded colleagues.”
Neville Gabriel, CEO of The Other Foundation, said: “We are proud to partner with GEC to deliver this event and facilitate important conversations between legislators and civil society experts. If we are to see sustainable progress on human rights in the region it is imperative that elected officials work hand-in-hand with community leaders, ensuring new laws are inclusive of everyone.”
With the formalisation of its regional chapter in Southern Africa, it is expected that GEC will work in-region with parliamentarians and other stakeholders to amplify LGBT-inclusive policy campaigns, as well helping to draft parliamentary bills that affirm anti-discrimination measures and equal rights.