In Bulawayo, campaigners from Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe marked IDAHOT with alongside local health organisations and communities. The event was reported to have attracted around 200 members of the community, including many LGBTI individuals.

To coincide with the commemorations, GALZ also released a report: “Assessment of the impact of state sanctioned and unsanctioned raids on GALZ premises and gatherings”. The report focused on documenting state sanctioned and non-state attacks on the charity, which included raids and arrests in 2015 and 2014. Despite legal persecution and threats of violence the group have stated they will continue to operate in whatever capacity they can.

Due to security and legal concerns within Zimbabwe details of events are not publicly available. If you are an activist or community member in Zimbabwe and would like to tell us about your event please get in touch directly.

To coincide with the commemorations, GALZ has released a report: “Assessment of the impact of state sanctioned and unsanctioned raids on GALZ premises and gatherings”. The assessment focused on documenting the nature and extent of state sanctioned and unsanctioned raids on GALZ .It demonstrates the precarious environment that GALZ operates in.

Due to security and legal concerns within Zimbabwe details of this event are not publicly available. Updates will be shared when possible in our upcoming annual report.

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Zimbabwe was one of various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where the IDAHOT 2014 provided an entry point for encouraging discussion around sexual rights, with religious and political leaders, and on the part of the general public.

Communities gathered at the Dutch embassy in the capital Harare, where Richman Rangwani, a leading councillor with the country’s ruling Zanu-PF party, spoke out in defence of LGBTI rights.

During the event, Dutch ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Gera Sneller implored President Robert Mugabe’s government to “move with the times” through allowing the community to enjoy its full rights – reports New Zimbabwe.

Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, which organised the events in the capital, also released a statement on IDAHOT 2014, underscoring the Zimbabwean Constitution’s guarantees as to “rights to privacy, expression, assembly, association and conscience in the Bill of Rights”. The statement can be read in full here.

GALZ tweet ahead of IDAHOT 2014

For more information please see:

• Free Speech Radio News: Zimbabwe: Gay rights advocates mark Int’l Day Against Homophobia in hiding
• Bulawayo 24: Zanu-PF councilor backs gay rights
• Gay Star News: Zimbabwe ruling party politicians backs gay rights

The called on the government to ensure that the criminal justice system was not used to target or harass LGBTI organizations, their staff, families, lawyers, organisations and individuals who represent and support them, and that these organizations, their staff, and lawyers were able to carry out their work without fear of reprisal or intimidation.

They also called on Zimbabweans to shun and condemn all forms of violence and discrimination relating to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

More information at http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxM…