On Tuesday, 24 March 2020, Iranti will be launching the findings of a desktop study on Data Collection and Reporting on Violence Perpetrated Against LGBTQI Persons in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Uganda. 

We will be discussing the experiences of collection data on the violence perpetrated against LGBTQI persons and the impacts in terms of context, opportunities and threats of Decriminalisation on Violence against LGBTQI persons  together with Erica Sambisa from the Nyasa Rainbow Alliance, Lieketseng Mohlokoana-Motopi, Frans Viljoen, Centre for Human Rights, Pretoria), and Mathlogonolo Samsam (LEGABIBO, Botswana). 

The report is based on a desktop study commissioned by the Arcus Foundation to assess the data collection and reporting mechanisms of violence perpetrated against LGBTQI persons set in place by civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and government institutions in the five countries.

Gender- based violence is the umbrella term that describes violence that occurs as a result of the unequal power relationships and the normative role expectations associated with each gender in a specific society. The term gender-based violence is often understood as something that happens to predominantly cis-heterosexual women, excluding LGBTQI persons and effectively disallowing systematic interventions to address violence perpetrated against LGBTQI persons. There is an opportunity to position LGBTQI persons in relation to discourses of GBV and to improve pre-existing methods of collecting data and improving reporting on reporting mechanisms.

There is a need to specifically define the violence suffered by LGBTQI persons in a way that underscores the nuances of LGBTQI experiences of violence. Thus, this report relies on the concept of violence based on prejudice as this better encapsulates the underlying cultural and political motivations of violence against LGBTQI persons.  

According to Iranti Director, Jabu Pereira, there is a lack of systems in place to sufficiently document crimes committed against LGBTIQ persons globally. Evidence of violations is the only way in which our governments can believe, respond and plan for better interventions. Hate and violence exists because of systemic failures to adequately protect persons on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.

RSVP by emailing sihle@iranti.org.za

For media inquiries email rumana@iranti.org.za