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Success stories: Capacity-building programme for LGBTI defenders facing homophobic violence in the DRC

LGBTI DRC

Thanks to this programme, our two organisations have strengthened their capacity in terms of risk management, preventive security and digital security; techniques for monitoring, reporting and issuing action alerts in relation to hate crimes and other homophobic violence – Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko

A training program implemented by Protection International within ProtectDefenders.eu put in place protection mechanisms so that LGBTI people can live and continue their work in increased safety and dignity in the face of the countless human rights violations to which they are victims and witnesses. In view of the critical situations that the LGBTI community has been going through in the last two years in DRC, with repressive policies, the prevalence of discrimination, and anti-LGBTI hate crimes, this project represented a timely and important approach.

The objectives were to be achieved through capacity-building activities for LGBTI people on techniques of monitoring, reporting, and publishing action alerts in relation to hate crimes and on risk management, as well as preventive security and digital security measures for LGBTI human rights defenders. Three training sessions enabled members of two organizations to acquire the necessary knowledge on human rights, monitoring, reporting, and publishing action alerts in relation to hate crimes and other homophobic violence to which they are victims and witnesses. In addition, seven educational talks were organized with the support of lawyers.

Members of two organizations, RSM and ALCIS, were given interactive tools on legal instruments and international and national standards for the promotion and defense of human rights. Through these information and education sessions on fundamental human rights, LGBTI defenders were encouraged to become aware that they have the opportunities and means to address the abuses and violations of their human rights that they experience, capitalizing on individual and collective mobilization and commitment