Gay rights
IGLHRC releases gay activist's guide to human rights

afrol.com, 9 December - On the eve of International Human Rights Day, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) announces the release of the first comprehensive guide to international human rights mechanisms for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people (LGBT). The guinde also has a chapter referring to the African rights situation. 

The guide is titled "Making the Mountain Move: An Activist's Guide to How Human Rights Mechanisms Can Work for You," and contains theoretical as well as practical advice and detailed descriptions about the use of United Nations' mechanisms, as well as those of the Inter-American, European, and African human rights protections systems. 

On the African situation, the guide describes the African human rights charters and also gives tips to gay and lesbian activist. "We recommend that African LGBT activists begin to lobby the [The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights] where possible - doing so respectfully and politely, since these are values to which the Commission attaches great importance." 

- The best way to do this is to meet with Commission members personally, the guide goes on. "If you live in or visit the home country of a Commission member, try to arrange a meeting to discuss your own human-rights work and the situations LGBT people face in Africa."

Further: "African activists can also send the Commission information which will help its members understand LGBT issues. You might offer international precedents from other human rights systems (such as European Court decisions); information on countries such as South Africa, which respect and protect the rights of LGBT people; or information on serious human rights violations, in order to show the abuse and discrimination LGBT people face. Such information will carry particular weight when sent from an African country. But make clear that you are offering this for informative purposes only. You are not asking the Commission to take action." 

Commenting the new guide, Surina Khan, Executive Director of IGLHRC, said: "As we celebrate the fifty-second anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are committed to making the promises in this document come alive by ensuring that everyone can take practical actions to fulfill them." 

- Human rights aren't like a fire extinguisher to be kept under glass in case of emergency, said Scott Long, IGLHRC's Director of Programs and Research and the author of the guide. "Nor are they something to celebrate on one day a year, and forget the rest. They are there for everyone to use, and to defend. This guide is meant to give everyone the means to use them fully. IGLHRC hopes this can make international human rights a little more user-friendly for everybody." 

- Who isn't afraid of unknown acronyms? continued Long. "Who can state the difference between the Human Rights Committee and the Commission on Human Rights?"

With this guide activists will be able to go through the ABC's so that they can focus less on learning the bureaucracy and more on achieving their ultimate goal of living free in dignity and rights, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status. 

The guide is available in English at this link. A Spanish version will be forthcoming, IGLHRC says. 

IGLHRC is a US based non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to protect and advance the human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.

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