In Africa, as in other continents, homophobia is a political problem. Thus it is incumbent on governments there to curb the hatred that often gives rise to violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.
Governments should abolish anti-homosexual legislation and thus deprive homophobia of its legal basis. Comprehensive state measures and intersectional programmes are needed to take preventive counter-action against acts of homophobic violence and to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice. International human rights standards and the African Union’s (AU) Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, signed or ratified by governments, form the basis for urgently required action against homophobia and protection of people of different sexual orientation/gender identity. The signatory states of the human rights charter are obliged to do this.

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Hard-copies of the study are available. Please contact: caroline.lemmer [at] fes.de (caroline.lemmer(at)fes.de)