Who are we?
RCL is a non-governmental organization founded on November 24, 2009 by a group of homosexuals in Burundi. Rainbow Candle Light is an LGBTI led-organization working on sensitize community members and help change attitude and practice to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Since the creation of the association, the group of homosexuals were aware that a large majority of the people of Burundi and homosexuals in particular, are not aware of their rights and that culture, religions, public and private institutions are in origin of homophobic practices and behaviors, especially for transgender people.
Since the adoption of the anti-gay law in the revised penal code in April 2009, gross violations of human rights arising therefore, guide the missions of RCL to the extension of the various pieces of legislation, including those related to human rights and freedoms, and also to promote the rights and duties of citizens, with a particular instance of gays rights.
As defined in its statutes and received by its members, the missions of the Association are:
- Fighting for respect of human rights, including rights of access to medical care, information, training and education of vulnerable people and victims of discrimination based on sexual orientation;
- Represent the discriminated categories of people effectively and educate the public on issues relating to their conditions;
- Encourage various civil, social, sporting, economic, health, educational or cultural activities on the benefit of these classes of persons;
- Collect information and documents on issues relating to categories of people involved and make them available to all;
- Gather all people of good will, regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation and ethnicity, to find solutions to vulnerable people and victims of all forms of discrimination;
- Helping people excluded to reintegrate an emotional and / or a professional environment, and contribute to their rehabilitation.
To achieve its missions, RCL simply:
- Be guided in its activities by the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
- Spread among its members, professional, urban and rural communities, the knowledge of these principles;
- Promote legal sciences in homosexuals and make them available to the right up through various means (awareness sessions, trainings, dissemination of legislations, etc.);
- Fight for Human Rights and in particular the rights of homosexuals;
- Work to ensure that all careers are open to homosexuals without discrimination.
Activities already undertaken:
- Training of 13 pair educators, their activities are to sensitize on prevention of HIV infection among Men who have Sex with other Men in urban area;
- Capacity building on (Individual and Organizational security plan, Information and Communication technics, sexuality and rights of LGBTI persons, comminatory activities, meeting on working group with civil society organizations supporting LGTI issues, Identification of LGBTI needs in rural area, sensitization on gender and sexuality issues to civil society organizations, social support to members of RCL recently jailed or excluded from their home because of their sexual orientation and nutritional support to homosexuals living with HIV).
Our perspectives in the near future:
- Development and reinforcement of advocacy and research;
- Promoting sexual health of LGBTI persons already identified by RCL;
- Answering to LGBTI needs in rural area;
- Promoting social and economics living conditions of LGBTI persons;
Who are we?
RCL is a non-governmental organization founded on November 24, 2009 by a group of homosexuals in Burundi. Rainbow Candle Light is an LGBTI led-organization working on sensitize community members and help change attitude and practice to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Since the creation of the association, the group of homosexuals were aware that a large majority of the people of Burundi and homosexuals in particular, are not aware of their rights and that culture, religions, public and private institutions are in origin of homophobic practices and behaviors, especially for transgender people.
Since the adoption of the anti-gay law in the revised penal code in April 2009, gross violations of human rights arising therefore, guide the missions of RCL to the extension of the various pieces of legislation, including those related to human rights and freedoms, and also to promote the rights and duties of citizens, with a particular instance of gays rights.
As defined in its statutes and received by its members, the missions of the Association are:
- Fighting for respect of human rights, including rights of access to medical care, information, training and education of vulnerable people and victims of discrimination based on sexual orientation;
- Represent the discriminated categories of people effectively and educate the public on issues relating to their conditions;
- Encourage various civil, social, sporting, economic, health, educational or cultural activities on the benefit of these classes of persons;
- Collect information and documents on issues relating to categories of people involved and make them available to all;
- Gather all people of good will, regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation and ethnicity, to find solutions to vulnerable people and victims of all forms of discrimination;
- Helping people excluded to reintegrate an emotional and / or a professional environment, and contribute to their rehabilitation.
To achieve its missions, RCL simply:
- Be guided in its activities by the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
- Spread among its members, professional, urban and rural communities, the knowledge of these principles;
- Promote legal sciences in homosexuals and make them available to the right up through various means (awareness sessions, trainings, dissemination of legislations, etc.);
- Fight for Human Rights and in particular the rights of homosexuals;
- Work to ensure that all careers are open to homosexuals without discrimination.
Activities already undertaken:
- Training of 13 pair educators, their activities are to sensitize on prevention of HIV infection among Men who have Sex with other Men in urban area;
- Capacity building on (Individual and Organizational security plan, Information and Communication technics, sexuality and rights of LGBTI persons, comminatory activities, meeting on working group with civil society organizations supporting LGTI issues, Identification of LGBTI needs in rural area, sensitization on gender and sexuality issues to civil society organizations, social support to members of RCL recently jailed or excluded from their home because of their sexual orientation and nutritional support to homosexuals living with HIV).
Our perspectives in the near future:
- Development and reinforcement of advocacy and research;
- Promoting sexual health of LGBTI persons already identified by RCL;
- Answering to LGBTI needs in rural area;
- Promoting social and economics living conditions of LGBTI persons;