Africa-Press – Mozambique. In commemoration of this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) under the theme “No One Left Behind: Equality, Freedom and Justice for all,” LAMBDA, in collaboration with diplomatic missions in Maputo, held a flag raising ceremony and panel discussion on Friday 17th May, from 8:30-12:30 at Orange Corners, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Maputo. The event aims to spotlight LGBTQI+ rights as fundamental human rights in Mozambique.
Mozambique is one of a number of African countries providing elements of anti-discrimination protection for LGBTQI+ individuals: consensual relationships between adults of the same sex are not criminalized under the Penal Code (since 2015), discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is also prohibited in the national strategic plan for the response to HIV/AIDS (PEN V). These are significant steps for LGBTQI+ rights on the continent. Despite these advancements, challenges persist due to the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks and harmful stereotypes.
The diplomatic community supports national communities’ efforts to advance LGBTQI+ rights, combat prejudices and facilitate inclusion. This support extends to supporting civil society efforts to promote LGBTQI+ populations’ integration into all aspects of public and political life, ensuring access to safe healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
“All over the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people face discrimination and violence. But everyone should be able and free to be themselves, no matter who they are and who they love. This is why the Netherlands promotes equal rights for LGBTQI+ people worldwide. Orange is in every rainbow.” – Elsbeth Akkerman, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Mozambique
The Flag Raising Ceremony and Panel Discussion was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Mozambican government, United Nations officials, and civil society members, for meaningful dialogue and collaboration to advance the rights and well-being of LGBTQI+ individuals in Mozambique.
About IDAHOBIT:
May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia and was created to draw attention to the violence and discrimination suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. On this date, both in Mozambique and the rest of the world, various public visibility and reflection initiatives are carried out with the aim of raising public awareness of the rights of LGBTIQA+ people. The date was chosen to commemorate the removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1990.
About LAMBDA:
Associação Moçambicana de Defesa das Minorias Sexuais (LAMBDA) is a nationwide organization founded in 2006, whose vision is a society where the rights of LGBTQIA+ citizens are respected by citizens, guaranteed by law and guaranteed by the state, and whose mission is to lead the LGBTQIA+ movement and mobilize society to promote the economic, political and social rights of LGBTQIA+ citizens. Although Mozambique is one of the friendliest African countries to LGBTQI+ people, LAMBDA, the largest and oldest LGBTQI+ organization in the country still does not have its legal registration. This indicates that discrimination is still present in the daily lives of LGBTQI+ people in Mozambique.
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