We Must Prevent a Modern Day Holocaust

Authors Navin Vasudev and Neal McKenna, March 12 2014:        Homosexuality is a criminal offence in most African countries where rights-based organisations such as Oxfam, ActionAid and CARE operate. In these countries, the consequences for being a sexual minority (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intersex - LGBTI) range from ridicule and blackmail to jail time without legal recourse, rape, torture and death. Methods of killing run the gamut from beating, stoning and hanging to crushing, decapitation and immolation - being burned alive.

We all, as individuals, should be aware of the recent human rights abuses targeting sexual minorities occurring in Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi  as well as supposedly progressive countries like South Africa. Such injustices can also be found in South Asia, the Arab States and Eastern Europe. Even Western Europe is not exempt, with recent anti-LGBTI outbursts happening in France. The erosion of LGBTI rights, the recent criminalisation trends, and increased persecution by state authorities are indicators of poor governance and of political campaigning using discriminatory legislation as a vote-winner.

The role of civil society is to be accountable and not to pick and choose which human rights battles to fight. Let us all remind ourselves – human rights are everybody’s rights. The trend of recent anti-gay legislation in countries like Nigeria and Uganda is occurring at a time when there is a decrease in the space of civil society, activists and citizens to challenge government service delivery. This means there is little leverage to hold governments accountable.

Rights-based organisations must be prevailed upon to do the following:
1.    Educate staff about issues pertaining to rights of sexual minorities and why their diversity strategies must continue to include respect for everyone. This can be done in a culturally relevant and context specific way. For example, in Africa’s predominantly Christian countries, statements made by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in favour of protecting sexual minorities’ rights should be incorporated in these strategies to create greater influence.

2.    Review relevant HR (Human Resources) policies to protect Agency staff based in countries that discriminate against sexual minorities.

3.    Consider new funding for LGBTI groups undertaking advocacy and campaigning. This can be done after undertaking a risk assessment of each rights-based agency’s wider programmes in the country. Additionally, tapping into the existing LGBTI networks at country and/or regional levels will avoid duplication of work.

4.    Formulate an advocacy strategy for public campaigning in countries where rights-based organisations currently do not speak out on LGBTI rights. This would be country specific but could also focus upon issues such as access to HIV and AIDS treatment in countries where criminalisation makes it difficult for LGBTI people to access services. Such strategies would have to include ways to position LGBTI rights in the broader rights for that country and observe trends of state repression/marginalisation of specific minorities such as LGBTIs.

5.    Connect with national and international partners and supporters of LGBTI rights to strengthen each rights-based organisation’s voice to existing regional and global campaigns.

6.    Use each Agency’s network of lawyers around the world to support legal activity to challenge discriminatory legislation, monitor homophobic media reporting and provide legal support to LGBTI organisations who risk being shut down.

7.    Call upon the private sector to increase support of the LGBTI community and share best practices in the development of non-discrimination policies which includes sexual orientation.

8.    Support social development programmes aimed to protect and empower sexual minorities.

9.    Lobby progressive governments to review their asylum policies to facilitate and assist people fleeing State sponsored homophobia.

10.    Encourage celebrity ambassadors to voice their concerns against discrimination and violence against sexual minorities.


Together we must end the persecution of sexual minorities. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.

  First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out
– Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out
– Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
                                 Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out
– Because I was not a Jew.
       Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.
– Martin Niemöller
(German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor)

NOW is the time to stop violence and discrimination against sexual minorities.

Navin Vasudev and Neal McKenna are Human Rights campaigners who have recently opened the Call to Action to Stop Persecution of Sexual Minorities Facebook page. For more information, click here.