A total of 20 LGBTQ women have just completed capacity-building training on techniques for monitoring, reporting and publishing actions against hate crimes and other homophone violence of which they are victims in the city of Bukavu, in the province of South Kivu.
This training organized by the Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko organization with the financial support of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) was held for 4 days, from July 4 to 7, 2023.
According to the organization Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko, the general objective of this training was to provide these women with the necessary knowledge and techniques for monitoring, documenting and disseminating reliable information established on the basis of real facts in order to constitute an effective militant tool for prevention and protection against violence, hateful acts against sexual orientation and gender identity.
At the end of this four (4) day training workshop, a formative evaluation was made among the beneficiaries.
Having taken part in this training, the participants recognized the very beneficial interplay of this session with regard to the violence and homophobic hate crimes of which they are victims and witnesses on a daily basis.
They praised the material learned not just as peer educators receiving the training, but as people empowered with the knowledge, techniques and tools needed to effectively carry out the work of monitoring, documenting and publishing the action alerts for sustained advocacy.
It must be said that the speed with which homophobia and anti-LBTQ hate crimes are spreading in the Province of South Kivu in general and in the City of Bukavu in particular has demonstrated the urgency of reporting and recording them. with care and diligence.
Monitoring, documenting and disseminating information about hate crimes is a good way for LBTQ women to alert public authorities, human rights organizations and the media.