SOUTH KIVU, IN THE DRC, BECOMES A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR LGBT+
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Although the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) doesn’t criminalize homosexuality or trans-identity, the LGBT+ community still faces serious human rights issues.
A recently social media video shows a man being attacked with a machete (panga) in Bukavu. It’s the story of a young gay man, Eustache, who was victim to a horrible ambush on March 6 around 8:00 p.m., while leaving a store in Bukavu after buying candles, due to the power cuts.
Young people from his neighborhood, who had insulted him and already threatened to act, began the attack. Under the pretense they would change his sexual orientation, Eustache was beaten many times with the machete on his thigh and face. The victim was taken to hospital, but he is left with numerous scars from this attack and his face was completely swollen and bleeding.
On Wednesday, April 5, a lesbian was found hanged at her home after being raped on Sunday, April 2.
Members of her family had forced her to marry a man. And, her brothers had pressured her into sex with men in order to discover “heterosexual pleasure.”
In fact, her family ordered this “corrective rape.” One of her family members has been arrested, because the victim was able to report the actions of her relatives before committing suicide.
Finally, upcoming presidential and legislative elections are expected in DRC by the end of the year. The registration process for future electors already began in March.
Serious irregularities were noted in the locality of Baraka on March 26, particularly with regard to 3 transgender women and 2 lesbian activists who wanted to register. The agents in charge of registering the future electors accuse them of attempting to promote homosexuality and going against traditions and customs. These women will, therefore, not be able to take part in the elections and will be illegally denied their legal rights.
Two days later, the neighborhood leader together with two policemen and local gang members, forced them to flee. All three transgender women were molested, while the lesbian couple next door was raped. All their belongings were looted, before their home was burnt to ashes.
Today, the three trans women have taken refuge in Bukavu, awaiting a possible evacuation to Burundi.
- Establish legal instruments, mechanisms and tools for the full recognition of the rights to privacy, access to information, free speech, association and assembly as fundamental rights available to LGBT+ persons,
- Implement procedures to counter harassment, threats, intimidation, and abuse of LGBT+ people
- Set penalties for LGBT+ rights violators
As it is one of the Police's responsibilities to ensure the security of citizens and their property:
- We ask the Congolese National Police Inspector of South Kivu to severely punish the Baraka police station chiefs and the locality chiefs for allowing and practicing these vandalism acts that infringe on people's private life
- That these perpetrators will be punished in accordance with the law
- Provide assistance to victims when needed
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