rights

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex (LGBTI) in Uganda is still considered a western concept, however, non-governmental organisations are working to educate the public on homosexual issues.

Non-governmental organisations working in Mzimba have been blamed for showing no interest to work with people with disabilities in the district.

Director for Chimwemwe Persons with Disabilities who is also chairperson of Federation of People with Disabilities in the district (FEDOMA) Francis Jere, said during a Memorandum of Understanding with Limbikira Foundation to strengthen working relationship.
 
He said most of the NGOs working in the district shun to work with people with disability for reasons best known to themselves.

A Botswana coalition of civil society organisations has condemned police brutality in Zimbabwe and urged President Ian Khama, the Southern African Development Community chairperson, to intervene.

In a press statement, the coalition, the Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe, is concerned about the police brutality, in response to the ongoing civil protests in Zimbabwe.

Various nonprofits organisations have added their voices calling for the inclusion of minority groups in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Director of the social, health and empowerment part of the African Trans Women, Leigh Ann van der Merwe, says transgender women continue to be stigmatised by some health workers.

Former Dean of Law Faculty and former Director of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, Professor Christof Heyns, has been elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Heyns, who previously served as United Nations Special Rapporteur, was nominated by the South African government.

Meanwhile, Heyns states that he appreciates and values the support that the university has given him while serving as the UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial summary and arbitrary executions over the past six years.

Right2Know (R2K) has handed over a memorandum to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) asking for the public broadcaster to end its self-censorship.

Micah Reddy‚ the media freedom organiser from R2K‚ says the SABC had gone from being a proud public broadcaster to a public relations machine for Luthuli House‚ the headquarters of the African National Congress.

Asylum seekers The Citizen spoke to say it seems to be up to your luck if you get asked to go to the ‘deportation room’.

According to two Malawian brothers who have been living in South Africa for more than 10 years, the Department of Home Affairs is ‘randomly deporting’ Malawians and Zimbabweans, and perhaps people of other nationalities too.

Andy (not his real name), a qualified electrical technician, who  is now living in South Africa as an undocumented migrant, says he will rather take his chances with getting arrested.