All Africa Rights Initiative Explained

All Africa Rights Initiative (or AARI) is a coalition of LGBT community organizations in Africa founded in 2004.[1] The coalition advocates against homophobia and for LGBT rights in Africa.[2] [3] [4]

History

The initiative emerged from a conference in Johannesburg in February 2004, organized by GALZ (originally "Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe") and a poverty-relief organization from Uganda,[5] and was linked to Human Rights Watch.[6] The conference consisted of over 55 representatives[7] from 22 LGBT movements groups originating in 17 African countries. The conference was initially convened to address HIV/AIDS education in Africa.[8] The initiative has been described as an attempt to "respond to human rights crises in Africa with a unified voice, and to share experiences that could lead to greater self-confidence and reduced dependence upon Western gay rights associations and other foreign donors."[9]

Due to the nature of homophobia across the continent, the conference did little to publicize its meeting at the time, and attendees refused to have their pictures taken.[5] At the end of the conference, the organization issued a statement challenging the locally popular idea that homosexuality is a Western notion, alien to Africa: "We have and have always had a place in Africa. [African traditional culture] is based on principles of welcoming and belonging."[10]

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Epprecht . Marc . Gerstner . David A. . All Africa Rights Initiative . Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture . 1 . 36 . . English . 2006 . 9780415306515 . 2022-07-17.
  2. Book: Lind , Amy . Development, Sexual Rights and Global Governance . . 2010 . English . 9781135244590 . 2022-07-17.
  3. Book: Martel , Frédéric . Frédéric Martel

    . Frédéric Martel . Patsy . Baudoin . Global Gay: How Gay Culture Is Changing the World . . 2018 . 139 . English . 9780262537056 . 2022-07-17.

  4. Book: Clark , Howard . People Power: Unarmed Resistance and Global Solidarity . . 2009 . 173, 175 . English . 9780745329024 . 2022-07-17.
  5. Book: Richardson , Eric M. . Sears . James Thomas . Youth, Education, and Sexualities: An International Encyclopedia . Africa, LGBT Youth and Issues in . . 1 . 2005 . 29–30 . English . 9780313327544 . 2022-07-17.
  6. Book: Harcourt , Wendy . Body Politics in Development: Critical Debates in Gender and Development . . 2013 . English . 9781848136182 . 2022-07-17.
  7. Sources variously report the number as 55 or 65.
  8. Book: Epprecht , Marc . Hungochani: The History of a Dissident Sexuality in Southern Africa . . Politics . 2 . 2013 . 219 . English . 9780773588783 . 2022-07-17.
  9. Book: Fadaee . Simin . Thomann . Matthew . Currier . Ashley . Understanding Southern Social Movements . Gender and sexual diversity organizing in Africa . . 2016 . English . 9781317484080 . 2022-07-17.
  10. News: Goering . Laurie . Africa's gays persecuted as cause of ills . . English . 2004-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116124934/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-06-09-0406090188-story.html . 2018-11-16. 2022-07-17.

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