Thanks for joining our e-discussion. Let's get to know each other by answering these three short questions:

  1. Who are you? (The contributors)
  2. What is your motivation to be part of this e-discussion?
  3. What are your expectations about the outcome of this e-discussion and its impact on your work on the SDGs and/or LGBTI+ issues?

? Return to the main group page for background information or go directly in Room 1: The work, the gaps, and the lessons learnt, or Room 2: The actions we can take and the ways forward.

? This platform has a translation function. Click on "Select your language" in the top right corner of your screen and choose the language of your choice. Also feel free to comment in languages other than English. And if you prefer to make a contribution anonymously, select the checkbox next to the comment box "Comment anonymously".

Comments (12)

Anthony Oluoch
Anthony Oluoch

Hello everyone, 

My name is Anthony Oluoch. I am one of the moderators of the e-discussion. I am a consultant with UNDP working with the #WeBelongAfrica team. 

My motivation is two-fold. To learn from all the contributors about the work they do around SDGs and how to ensure inclusion of LGBTI+ people, and to facilitate the conversation around these issues knowing that the SDGs and targets are important, often overlooked entry points to achieving equality and understanding the intersectionality of our struggles. 

I expect rich, deep, and insightful conversations that will not only tell me what I need to do in my work around SDGs and LGBTI+ inclusion but will also show me what I should not do, what lessons I should take and how to make it work in the various contexts I am in. 

Boyan Konstantinov
Boyan Konstantinov

Thank you very much, Anthony. I am Boyan Konstantinov, Policy Specialist on LGBTI rights and inclusive development with UNDP, currently based in New York. We may have been in touch about the LGBTI Inclusion Index work, as well as LGBTI+ work during global fora such as the HLPF, UNGA, CSW, work with the UN LGBTI Core Group, the Equal Rights Coalition, Global Equality Caucus and other. Looking forward to a productive e-discussion!

Jeffrey O'Malley
Jeffrey O'Malley

Hi folks

I'm Jeff O'Malley, Senior Advisor, LBGTI Inclusion, Africa - working with UNDP's regional HIV, health and development team out of UNDP's South Africa country office.  Over my career, I've worked mostly on HIV and other public health issues, but I now focus on the intersecting but distinct field of LGBTI inclusion and rights.

This e-discussion is obviously directly relevant to my current responsibilities at UNDP, and I'm motivated to participate to hear and learn from a range of stakeholders about progress and challenges in "leaving no one behind" in Africa's SDG efforts.  I'm hoping that the discussion not only leads to insights from activists involved in this work but also to a larger and more motivated team of UNDP and UN colleagues paying attention to the intersection of LGBTI+ issues and development.

Senelisiwe Ntshangase
Senelisiwe Ntshangase

Hi everyone,

I am Sneli Ntshangase Programme Specialists with The WeBelong Africa Programme UNDP HHD Team based in Pretoria, South Africa. I am also part of the team that’s managing sparkblue, the online platform. Since this is our first online e-discussion, I am interested in the users’ experience, please do share how you have found navigating through this online platform, was it easily accessible, informative, interactive enough for you etc. I am also looking forward to the discussions and contributions, especially from young LGBTI + persons and Key populations from the continent on how they have used SDGs to influence policies in the various sectors.    

Note: This platform also has a translation function click on "select your language" and choose the language of your choice.. 

Ian Mungall
Ian Mungall

Hi everyone, I'm Ian Mungall, a Programme Analyst with UNDP. I work primarily on communications and knowledge management, and support the #WeBelongAfrica programme in these areas. Along with Sneli and Anthony, I am helping to manage this #WeBelongAfrica Online Community Hub and this initial e-discussion on the new platform. Looking forward to an active and engaging discussion over the next few weeks! 

Paul Bennett
Paul Bennett

Hi everyone,

Paul Bennett is my name and I am currently the Executive Director of The Rainbow Alive Hub Initiative; an LGBTQI-led organisation in Nigeria.

My interest in this conference is born out of the need to share our unique effort in confronting some of the challenges confronting our people in my country Nigeria. And also, to learn from the unique work of others in other climes. 

Prince Frimpong
Prince Frimpong

Hello everyone,

I am Prince Frimpong, an advocate and admin for Youth Alliance for Equality Foundation in Ghana. I worked recently on an SDGs spotlight report on Ghana with ILGA world, identifying and addressing how queer people in Ghana have been left behind, thus not meeting the 2030 agenda on sustainable development in Ghana. 

My keen interest in this e-discussion is to acquire much knowledge on SDGs in relating to LGBTQ+ issues around the word, hence "leaving no one behind". and I expect to learn from everyone here on their experiences in working around SDGs in order to evolve and implement those experience to my work.

Sofonie Dala
Sofonie Dala

Hello!
My name is Sofonie Dala, I'm a researcher-digital entrepreneur and the founder of the startup Multi Talents.https://talentosmultiplus.blogspot.com/

I am one of the most powerful young people who have been implementing practical activities aimed at reaching the SDGs worldwide.

I am a gender specialist passionate about the education of women and girls.
Click here to visit my virtual environment that promotes sdgs 4 & 5.

https://she-leads.blogspot.com/

Najeeb Ahmad Fokeerbux
Najeeb Ahmad Fokeerbux

Hello everyone.

I am the founder and president of the Young Queer Alliance in Mauritius and a Board Member of Association VISA-G, a trans-led organisation in Mauritius. I also serves as a Board of Directors at MPact – Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights (formerly MSMGF) and since 2019, and am a member of the Community, Rights and Gender Advisory Group if the Global Fund against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

 

My motivation by being part of this e-discussion is to contribute towards sharing my experiences as a queer person in Mauritius and to learn about the challenges being faced by LGBTQ persons in Africa.

 

My expectations are for the different ideas and narratives which would be generated to ensure that no one is left behind in the SDG discussions and that different UN agencies take up our concerns, our challenges and our aspirations to stir the dialogues in different regions and countries of Africa so that the SDGs are a reality for LGBTQ people.

Learnmore Chikwewo
Learnmore Chikwewo

Hi my name is Learnmore Chikwewo Director Youth Gate Zimbabwe Trust an organisation for and by Key and vulnerable young people in Zimbabwe.

 

Our mandate is to strengethen the capacities of our fellow young Sexual and gender minority groups including young key and vulnerable populations to become changemakers In our communities .

 

My motivation as a Queer young person is to network and be able to learn and contribute meaningfully in inclusive governance and share ideas that will see LGBTIQ people in my country and  Africa included in decisions that concern our lives.

Adé Olaiya
Adé Olaiya

Allo,

I am Adé Olaiya, M.A. Besides being a member of the International Civil Society Working Group for the recently launched United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, I am also a UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab Expert and Moderator of the People of African Descent & the SDGs E-Team.

 

I am passionate about access to universal human rights in accordance with the Vienna Declaration 1993 and the Durban Declaration and Plan of Action 2001. In addition, I believe it imperative that UN member states implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should "leave no one behind".

 

Unfortunately Africans and Afrodescendants universal human rights continue to be breached and violated because of sexual orientation and/or gender identity in Africa and globally. With this in mind, I have joined the discussion with the aim of contributing to inclusion of intersectional LGBTQI+ Afrodescendants and Africans in sustainable development policies and policymaking. Implementation of SDG 16 Targets to foster inclusion of marginalised individuals and communities is imperative for peace and good governance. Moreover I advocate multilevel multistakeholder implementation of SDG Target 17.18 to monitor marginalisation and exclusion of the aforementioned intersectional individuals and communities from universal human rights.

Sofonie Dala
Sofonie Dala

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the latest webisode of our show!

 

Our campaign ''Pride - Embrancing diversity-LGBTQ in Angola'' came to an end!

Click here: https://wegotthisangola.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-grand-finale-we-are-celebrating.html

The analysis focused on whether people around Angola think that homosexuality should be accepted by society or not. The full question wording was, “Angola has decriminalized homosexuality. What's your opinion? 

Today we have a very special guest, she/he belongs to the LGBTQ community in Angola.

lgbt in angola

https://youtu.be/hG9THF0OUUs

We interviewed several people of different genders and ages, and carefully analyzed each one's point of view. Very few people say that society should accept homosexuality; specifically 98% of them categorically do not accept homosexuality, other 2% who support the inclusion of the LGBTQ community in society are people who apparently are not rigorous practitioners of religion.

Despite major changes in laws and norms surrounding the issue of same-sex marriage and the rights of LGBT people around the world, public opinion on the acceptance of homosexuality in society remains sharply divided by country, region and economic development.

 

 

Our campaign came to an end, collecting very important interviews. The end of the program is not the end of the movement, thanks to all who believes and supports our initiative.

 

Please click the links below to watch all the webisodes.

 

1. kickoff event - Embracing diversity. LGBTQ in Angola. day 1 

 

2. Embracing diversity. LGBTQ in Angola. day 2

 

3. Embracing diversity. LGBTQ in Angola. day 3

 

4. Embracing diversity. LGBTQ in Angola. day 4