LGBT Ugandans tell us how to be helpful advocates for them

[undeterred]

Five leading Ugandan LGBT advocates have released a document, in which they outline the most helpful way for western leaders to advocate for LGBT equality in Uganda. Jeffrey Ogwaro, Clare Byarugaba, Kasha Jacqueline, Frank Mugisha, and Pep Julian Onziema are working together under the umbrella of the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law. They release the document through their web site. The advocates thank global leaders for their advocacy efforts against Uganda's draconian bill that will impose life sentences in prison on LGBT people. The leaders then outline 20 tangible steps that everyday activists, corporations, faith leaders, and government leaders can take.

Here is the list of action steps offered by the advocates (full document is here). - googledoc: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7vff5WFzdl5cmhDYXFGLUxtbThTOTJvcVpRR3hneUM4Z1A0/edit

1. Speaking out: It is very critical that we continue to speak out against the law and its implications in terms of security of the LGBTI community, their allies, and the general implications of the Act on the work around public health and human rights in general. Important to Note: In all communication about the impact of the law, please refer to the shrinking and deteriorating policy space that civil society is experiencing; not only about this human rights issue, but about "mainstream" human rights as well: Uganda's track record is bad, and is getting worse, and these issues are related.

In this regard please also be aware of the Anti-Pornography Act and the Public Order Management Act when discussing the situation of civil society activists in Uganda.

2. World Wide demonstrations. We call upon all partners, friends and allies to organize demonstrations in different cities around the world now as this Act is set to have detrimental effects for all of us. We all MUST continue to speak out. These could include demonstrations at the Ugandan embassy in our country, or asking your place of worship to organize a vigil.

3. Call on Multinational companies that have businesses in Uganda to go public about their concerns on the Act and their future economic engagements in Uganda. For example Heneiken, KLM, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Barclays Bank, and other companies with important interests in Uganda and that already respect and value LGBT rights in their own internal policies, should note the risk that these laws pose for the safety of their own employees, as well as the impact on their brand image of continuing to do business in Uganda.

- See more at: http://sdgln.com/news/2014/03/17/lgbt-ugandans-tell-us-how-be-helpful-advocates-them#sthash.M1P7Zk2P.dpuf

[sheshe2]

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