National Gender Diversity Coalition Press Statement

As the National Gender Diversity Coalition in South Africa, we are calling upon the South African Government to show up as a leader in the fight for human rights for ALL people; and denounce the inhumane anti-LGBTQI+ law passed by the Ugandan Parliament.

Date: 28 March 2023

To: The President and Government of the Republic of South Africa

1. We are currently watching how the Ugandan Government is stripping away the human dignity, sense of safety and security, right to freedom and right to life from its own people right in front of us.
2. As a National Coalition of LGBTQI+ organisations, collectives and allied groups, we are alarmed and deeply disappointed and concerned by the silence of the South African Government on the abhorrent anti-LGBTQI+ and anti-human rights Bill that has been passed by the Ugandan Parliament on the 23rd of March 2023.
3. We recognise that each country has the right to sovereignty but also that States must hold each other accountable from time-to-time, especially when we see rollback of human rights. We thus strongly call upon the President and the South African Government to be bold at a time where peoples’ lives are endangered by the very Government that is tasked with protecting them.
4. We highlight that this legislative move in Uganda stands in stark contradiction with Uganda’s Constitutional and international human rights obligations. Furthermore, it also undermines Resolution 275 by the African Commission that seek to eliminate all forms of violence against LGBTQI+ persons. In addition, the Bill also undermines the HIV response and right to care for LGBTQI+ persons as people will once more be forced underground and avoid seeking access to health services. Legislative moves like these can set us back in the fight against HIV and other health responses.
5. We note the recent bilateral agreement signed between South Africa and Uganda to tie political and economic relations between the two countries. We highlight that the late President Nelson Mandela asserted that under an ANC government, South African foreign policy would be based on “our belief that human rights should be the core concern of international relations”. We thus strongly call upon President Ramaphosa, to uphold such unwavering commitment by speaking out against what is happening in Uganda in order for South Africa to fulfil its promise as a bastion for human rights on the world stage.
6. Our African pre-colonial gendered and sexualities histories, that remains ignored by our African governments, tells a story of how gender and sexually diverse persons co- existed with others in communities. As the continent continue to engage in the decolonisation project, we must remember how anti-LGBTQI+ colonial laws destroyed inclusive African societies that existed before. It is therefore disgusting to see how countries such as Uganda seek to further entrench draconian anti-LGBTQI+ colonial laws through these legislative processes, as opposed to undoing them.

In light of the above, we call upon the South African government to:

1. Condemn the criminalisation of LGBTIQA+ persons, and their family members, friends and community members in Uganda.
2. Appeal to the human conscience of President Yoweri Museveni to be bold and not sign the Bill into law.
3. Urge the Ugandan Parliament to reconsider and choose a different path that uphold human rights principles in compliance with its own Constitution and its international obligations.

The Gender Diversity Coalition stand in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ people (and their allies and loved once) and human rights defenders of Uganda; and call on the South African government to do the same.

For more information contact:
Belinda Qaqamba: Legal & Policy Advocacy Coordinator, Gender DynamiX

(+27) 67 213 9758

Katlego Sepotokele: Legal Advocacy Officer, Triangle Projects

(+27) 68 199 3490

Ntuthuzo Ndzomo: Advocacy Officer, Iranti

(+27) 62 093 1314

Muyenga Mugerwa-Sekawabe: Candidate Attorney, Legal Resource Centre

(+27) 73 517 8987