Welcome to CAL's new bog!
The Coalition of African Lesbians is thrilled to announce the launch of its new blog. The aim of this space is to update member and partner organizations as well as the general public about CAL's advocacy and lobbying work. We hope to make this blog, an engaging space and integral part of our work.
WHO WE ARE
The Coalition of African Lesbians [CAL] is a formation of more than 30 organisations in 19 countries in Africa committed to advancing justice for lesbian and bisexual women and transdiverse people.
We are passionate feminists, activists and human rights defenders.
The Coalition is committed to raising consciousness amongst and strengthening activism and leadership of lesbian and bisexual women and transdiverse people. We believe in the power of collective action. We view ourselves as a part of social movements, including the women’s movement, the sexual and reproductive rights movement, the broader lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex movement and the economic justice movement.
Whilst our direct constituency is lesbian and bisexual women and transdiverse people, we are politically located within the women’s and LGBTI communities and as such, we engage in an ongoing way with the broader struggles and in some of our work, work in a direct way with LGBTI people and with women more broadly.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
The Coalition of African Lesbians is mindful of how oppressive forms of power keep us unfree and unequal and rob us of our dignity. We understand that the oppression we live and experience as lesbian and bisexual women and transdiverse people is created and sustained by patriarchy in the first instance.
Patriarchy, the system of male domination is responsible for the oppression of all women. It also oppresses men who do not conform to patriarchal ideas of what a man is and should be. Patriarchy then contributes in a major way to the deep fear of those of us who do not comply with or fit into the norms that it creates about what it means to be a woman a and what it means to be a man. Homophobia and transphobia result from this process.
We believe that our multiple identities intersect and are linked. Our race, class, gender, sexual orientation, [dis]ability, geographic location and other identities are connected in a web of oppression.
We also believe that even as we are violated and oppressed, we also have individual and collective power as actors and activists with agency and capability to change the way the world works. We work to strengthen this power amongst ourselves as a movement and together with other movements. It is this that gives us the hope to push for the kind of change we want to see in the world.
WHAT WE WANT
The Coalition of African Lesbians [CAL] works to transform Africa into a place where all lesbian and bisexual women and transdiverse people enjoy the full range of human rights, secure in the knowledge that we are recognized as full citizens, with rich and diverse cultures, and a significant and respected presence in all spheres of life, including social, political and economic and through personal and organizational growth.
WHERE WE WILL BE LOBBYING THIS MONTH
Background
The Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) is a network of organisations working to transform Africa into a continent where all lesbians, bisexual and trans-diverse people enjoy a full range of human rights secure in the knowledge that we are recognised as full persons and citizens with rich and diverse cultures and enjoy significant and respected presence in all the spheres of life. Our work is shaped by an African radical feminist understanding, informed by research and strengthened by the claiming of social and economic power.
CAL has conducted advocacy at both the NGO Forum and the African Commission on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) sessions since 2006. In May 2009 CAL participated in a panel discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity in Africa together with activists and human rights defenders from Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon and South Africa. Again in May 2010 CAL convened another panel again to facilitate discussions on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) in Africa and to update partners and allies and the Forum on ongoing actions. In particular to inform the Forum about how the decision by the ACHPR to deny CAL observer status in 2010 on the basis that ‘the activities of the said organisation –CAL do not promote and protect any of the rights enshrined in the African Charter’ has affected the organization’s advocacy and lobbying activities and to engage with allies, partners and member organizations at the forum toward building solidarity around SOGI issues at the AC.
We, Victor Mukasa, Monica Tabengwa and Mariam Armisen will be CAL’s delegation at the upcoming NGO Forum and the 50th Session and also the 30th anniversary of ACHPR. While the mood at the session will no doubt be a celebratory one, the AC is turning 30 and while we plan on joining some of the festivities, our main goal is to keep challenging the ACHPR further to recognise LGBTI rights as human rights and take actions to include, protect and promote these rights. Granting CAL the observer status to fully represent the human rights issues of lesbian, bisexuals and trans-diverse people in Africa would be one step towards recognizing the rights of LGBTI people in Africa.
CAL’s Action Plan and Activism the 50th Session of the ACHPR:
- 1. Submit a follow up letter to the AC, pressing for a formal explanation to why it denied CAL the OS;
- 2. Distribute the follow up letter to allies, partners and members organizations to include in their communication package to the AC;
- 3. Schedule meetings with Commissionaires;
- 4. Strategy with allies, partners and members at both the NGO Forum and the AC around CAL’s application process before re-applying for observer status;
- 5. Organize a side event to build new and strengthen existing relationships as a strategy to further develop solidarity with allies, partners and members organizations;
- 6. Publish a press release in honour of ACHPR’s 30th anniversary.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
- Send us your comments
- Spread the word
- Like us on Facebook, at
- Follow us on twitter, at http://twitter.com/#!/CoalitionCAL
- Connect us to civil society organizations attending the AC
- Link us to your country's Commissionaire at the AC
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE SECRETARIAT AT:
Tel: +27 11 918 2182 / 5507 / 6115
Fax: +27 11 918 5609
Email: info@cal.org.za
URL: www.cal.org.za
This is great! Leaving for the Commission tomorrow. Will be updating from here.
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