GALZ joins the rest of the world to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia, Bi-phobia and Transphobia- IDAHOT under the theme Justice and Protection for All.
17 May is set aside to draw the attention of Political leaders, public, media and policy makers to the alarming human rights situation faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community the world over.
In line with the theme “Justice and Protection For All,” GALZ continues to document and highlight the injustices that affect the LGBTI people in Zimbabwe on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression that include disownment of families, dismissal from employment, blackmail, exhortation, invasion of privacy, arbitrary arrests, denial of human dignity, coerced into arranged marriages among others.
GALZ laments the continued existence of archaic and colonial in-human laws that criminalizes same sex conduct. Such laws have no place in democratic societies and should be repealed.
GALZ applauds the efforts of state and non-state actors who have worked and still work towards provision and ensuring Justice and Protection for All citizens including LGBTI persons. We are encouraged by the efforts of the Zimbabwe Government’s positive attitude to reviewing policies that can enable access to health for LGBTI people.
GALZ calls on Zimbabwe’s government to ensure that the criminal justice system is not used to target or harass LGBTI people, organisations, their staff, families, lawyers, organisations and individuals who represent and support them, and that these organisations, can carry out their work in defense of human rights without fear of reprisal or intimidation.
We further hope that the Government will ensure that LGBTI people in Zimbabwe do not continue to suffer the basic humiliations of oppressive laws, social stigma and propaganda spewed out by our national and regional leaders. We urge our Government to take all necessary measures to guarantee that the rights and freedoms of all LGBTI people are respected.
Source: GALZ