PROMISE OF HOPE 4 AFRICAN TRANS

PARTNER ORGANISATION: SAVIE ASBL , Democratic Republic of Congo, with the support of Transgender Victoria

Trans sex workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) live in extreme poverty, without a place in local communities, at high risk of violence, discrimination and various forms of extortion, and with little recognition of their rights. While there are no specific laws regarding homosexuality or gender diversity and expression in DRC, LGBTQI+ people more broadly face arbitrary arrest for illegitimate offences, rejection from family members and society, discrimination in employment and education, inadequate healthcare, rape and sexual assault, and other forms of violence. Savie ASBL is an organisation of rural LGBTQI+ internally displaced people, refugees and street sex workers, based in the south of the country in Bukavu, and with the Mission to “accelerate reproductive health rights of sexual minority groups and to demand equal social and economic inclusion for LGBTIQ people locally, by leveraging the collective advocacy campaigns and empowering businesses to support inclusion of LGBTIQ  groups in local community, and to support the integration of LGBTIQ refugees and migrants”.

Promise of Hope 4 African Trans, our initial partnership project, financially supported by Transgender Victoria, is targeting more than 5700 trans sex workers in three major towns, providing online peer support and a printed media campaign to create safe spaces for peer-to-peer learning and connection. It will utilise and build connections between leading trans groups across DRC and with local communities. Peer-led workshops will be further enhanced through the participation of local organisations that provide legal assistance and healthcare to communities. Funding will support internet access for participants and the cost of printing materials.