ISHTAR: 2011 Successes and Plans for 2012

Published: 2/20/2012

HIV and AIDS continue to impact men who have sex with men (MSM) despairingly in Kenya. However there have been minimal prevention interventions targeting this group. In response to this challenging environment from 2010 to 2011 ISHTAR MSM with the support from East African Sexual Health Rights Initiative (EASHRI) launched the Link Project that established an independent condom and lubricant distribution system and strengthened Ishtar’s outreach program for the MSM and MSW in Nairobi. Through East African Sexual Health Rights Initiative (EASHRI)'s support for the Link Project, ISHTAR managed to purchase strawberry flavoured water based lubricants that were packaged in 5ml sachet. These were distributed on site at the ISHTAR office and through different events and places visited by MSM. Notably, the distribution was accompanied by safer sex awareness through both outdoor and indoor activities.

In addition in 2011 with funding from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)...

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GALZ and CEDAW

Published: 2/16/2012

The Gender Office of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe took advantage of CEDAW review to highlight challenges experienced by lesbians, bisexual women and transgender persons due to State sanctioned discrimination. The Gender Office’s rationale is that Lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) people living in Zimbabwe are confronted by systemic discrimination on a daily basis by the patriarchal hegemony that prevails within communities and primarily instituted by the State.

This degree of State power creates a culture of fear, hatred and exclusion. The consequences for LGBT communities are multiple and severe. Some of these consequences include extreme forms of poverty, denial of access to government services such as health and safety. The continued attacks on the bodies of Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transwomen and Transmen are experienced as a daily struggle for survival. There is limited space to exercise any form of expression pertaining to sexuality. Our desire to...

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