Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
We're proud to be associated with GALZ in Zimbabwe.
They are the leading LGBT rights group in Zimbabwe, and are also representative as a member of a coalition of African LGBTI groups launched in 2003 under the title All-Africa Rights Initiative (AARI).
They continue to battle against opposition from the Government in their right to exist, amid laws that include sodomy and even one that makes "physical contact between males that would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act" a criminal offence.
There are also acts passed that provides that no person shall import, print, publish, distribute, or keep for sale any publication which is undesirable. A publication is undesirable if it is "indecent or obscene or is offensive or harmful to public morals or is likely to be contrary to public health."
GALZ work extrodinary hard against this, to campaign, provide support and enable other LGBT persons within Zimbabwe to recognise that there are others like them.
We asked Keith Goddard - Director of GALZ to provide some information on their aims and successes so far.
Current aims and objectives of your organisation
The vision of GALZ is the normalization of LGBTI people in society. Its mission is to build a democratic and accountable organisation and to strive for the attainment of full, equal rights and the removal of all forms of discrimination in all aspects of life for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender men and women in Zimbabwe and to inform, educate, counsel and support such people in matters relative to their health and well-being. The association was founded in 1990 and rose to prominence in 1995 when it attempted to participate in the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. It has since been involved in a number of high profile campaigns. Today, GALZ provides a number of services to its members in relation to health and general empowerment.
Current campaigns you are working on
The major campaign of GALZ for 2007 is Unspoken Facts which involves the publication of a plain-English version of the book by Marc Epprecht entitled Hungochani. The book successfully debunks the myth that same-sex sexual activity is unAfrican. It also makes links between homophobia and the spread of HIV.
The publication forms part of a larger media and general awareness campaign. During the year, GALZ will put together between four and five CD Roms of printable information, radio interviews and video clips which it will distribute widely but also target law enforcement agents and NGOs in the field of human rights, gender and health. One CD will be a toolkit for members to help them defend themselves from harassment by state and non-state actors.
GALZ is involved in the national campaign for access to affordable treatment for all people living with HIV/AIDS and its Positive Image Programme ensures that all HIV positive members of GALZ receive comprehensive health care including access to ARVs as and when prescribed by a medical practitioner.
Since 2002, and with the launch of its Gender Office, GALZ has been embedding itself within the women's movement in Zimbabwe and the association is now active during annual campaigns such as 16 Days of Activism.
On the regional and international front, GALZ is member of a coalition of African LGBTI groups launched in 2003 under the title All-Africa Rights Initiative (AARI). Through AARI, GALZ has started work around the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. In 2006, GALZ applied for observer status at the UN through ECOSOC and its application is up for review in May 2007.
Your past achievements
GALZ rose to prominence in 1995 when it attempted to participate in the Zimbabwe International Book Fair which had as its theme that year 'Human Rights and Justice'. Although GALZ was barred by government, the following year GALZ challenged another ban and won its right in the High Court to participate in all future ZIBF events.
In 1998, GALZ applied to participate at the 8th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches which took place in Harare. Although unable to obtain an endorsement from a local church, the process of applying led to months of discussion in the media about the issue of homosexuality and the church. GALZ was finally able to participate under the umbrella of a coalition of human rights organisations which had come together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the UNDHR.
In 1999, GALZ was involved in two parallel processes for the drafting of a new homegrown constitution. Again this generated much publicity and although the words sexual orientation did not appear in either draft, the phrase "natural state or condition" was widely interpreted to include LGBTI people. The government-led draft was rejected in a referendum in 2000. The version of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has, so far, been rejected by government.
Although there is still a long way to go, GALZ has, over the years, made inroads into challenging homophobic attitudes and there is now growing tolerance of LGBTI, at least amongst younger people in urban areas who have grown up with the knowledge that gay and lesbian people exist within their midst. GALZ is well embedded in the HIV/AIDS and human rights movements and is a member of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and the Zimbabwe NGO Human Rights Forum.
For more information, visit their website
www.galz.co.zw/
www.icon.co.za/stobbs/galz.htm .
We're proud to be associated with GALZ in Zimbabwe.
They are the leading LGBT rights group in Zimbabwe, and are also representative as a member of a coalition of African LGBTI groups launched in 2003 under the title All-Africa Rights Initiative (AARI).
They continue to battle against opposition from the Government in their right to exist, amid laws that include sodomy and even one that makes "physical contact between males that would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act" a criminal offence.
There are also acts passed that provides that no person shall import, print, publish, distribute, or keep for sale any publication which is undesirable. A publication is undesirable if it is "indecent or obscene or is offensive or harmful to public morals or is likely to be contrary to public health."
GALZ work extrodinary hard against this, to campaign, provide support and enable other LGBT persons within Zimbabwe to recognise that there are others like them.
We asked Keith Goddard - Director of GALZ to provide some information on their aims and successes so far.
Current aims and objectives of your organisation
The vision of GALZ is the normalization of LGBTI people in society. Its mission is to build a democratic and accountable organisation and to strive for the attainment of full, equal rights and the removal of all forms of discrimination in all aspects of life for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender men and women in Zimbabwe and to inform, educate, counsel and support such people in matters relative to their health and well-being. The association was founded in 1990 and rose to prominence in 1995 when it attempted to participate in the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. It has since been involved in a number of high profile campaigns. Today, GALZ provides a number of services to its members in relation to health and general empowerment.
Current campaigns you are working on
The major campaign of GALZ for 2007 is Unspoken Facts which involves the publication of a plain-English version of the book by Marc Epprecht entitled Hungochani. The book successfully debunks the myth that same-sex sexual activity is unAfrican. It also makes links between homophobia and the spread of HIV.
The publication forms part of a larger media and general awareness campaign. During the year, GALZ will put together between four and five CD Roms of printable information, radio interviews and video clips which it will distribute widely but also target law enforcement agents and NGOs in the field of human rights, gender and health. One CD will be a toolkit for members to help them defend themselves from harassment by state and non-state actors.
GALZ is involved in the national campaign for access to affordable treatment for all people living with HIV/AIDS and its Positive Image Programme ensures that all HIV positive members of GALZ receive comprehensive health care including access to ARVs as and when prescribed by a medical practitioner.
Since 2002, and with the launch of its Gender Office, GALZ has been embedding itself within the women's movement in Zimbabwe and the association is now active during annual campaigns such as 16 Days of Activism.
On the regional and international front, GALZ is member of a coalition of African LGBTI groups launched in 2003 under the title All-Africa Rights Initiative (AARI). Through AARI, GALZ has started work around the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. In 2006, GALZ applied for observer status at the UN through ECOSOC and its application is up for review in May 2007.
Your past achievements
GALZ rose to prominence in 1995 when it attempted to participate in the Zimbabwe International Book Fair which had as its theme that year 'Human Rights and Justice'. Although GALZ was barred by government, the following year GALZ challenged another ban and won its right in the High Court to participate in all future ZIBF events.
In 1998, GALZ applied to participate at the 8th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches which took place in Harare. Although unable to obtain an endorsement from a local church, the process of applying led to months of discussion in the media about the issue of homosexuality and the church. GALZ was finally able to participate under the umbrella of a coalition of human rights organisations which had come together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the UNDHR.
In 1999, GALZ was involved in two parallel processes for the drafting of a new homegrown constitution. Again this generated much publicity and although the words sexual orientation did not appear in either draft, the phrase "natural state or condition" was widely interpreted to include LGBTI people. The government-led draft was rejected in a referendum in 2000. The version of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has, so far, been rejected by government.
Although there is still a long way to go, GALZ has, over the years, made inroads into challenging homophobic attitudes and there is now growing tolerance of LGBTI, at least amongst younger people in urban areas who have grown up with the knowledge that gay and lesbian people exist within their midst. GALZ is well embedded in the HIV/AIDS and human rights movements and is a member of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and the Zimbabwe NGO Human Rights Forum.
For more information, visit their website
www.galz.co.zw/
www.icon.co.za/stobbs/galz.htm .
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]