Uganda's Anti-LGBTQ Laws Intensify Digital Harassment and Abuse, Report Reveals
Uganda's Anti-LGBTQ Laws Intensify Digital Harassment and Abuse, Report Reveals
Increase in Digital Attacks on LGBTQ Community
According to a new report by Amnesty International, Uganda's LGBTQ community faces heightened digital harassment and violence due to the country's sweeping laws that criminalize same-sex relations and gender non-conformity. The report, titled "Everybody Here Is Having Two Lives or Phones", exposes how these laws, notably the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), have contributed to a hostile online environment marked by technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV). This legislative shift has also reinforced offline prejudices, reflecting the ongoing battle for LGBTQ rights in Uganda.
If you're interested in understanding the challenges faced by LGBTQ communities globally, you might want to explore the history of LGBTQ rights movements, which sheds light on ongoing struggles for equality.
The Chilling Effect of the Anti-Homosexuality Act
The enactment of the AHA in 2023 has fostered a climate of impunity for perpetrators of violence against LGBTQ individuals, Amnesty International suggests. The legislation has forced many LGBTQ individuals and organizations to change their online presence and activities drastically. Amnesty’s Gender Researcher and Advisor, Shreshtha Das, remarked, "LGBTQ activists continue to use digital platforms amid intense hostility, yet the offline stigma and violence are now amplified online."
The report highlights how online targeting often translates to real-world consequences, including arbitrary arrests, evictions, job loss, and increased mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
Widespread Inaction and Persecution by Authorities
Amnesty International conducted research in six Ugandan cities and nearby areas, interviewing 64 individuals and organizations. The study uncovered a pervasive pattern of TfGBV, not only condoned but also actively perpetuated by state authorities. It details how police frequently seize devices or data from LGBTQ people through intimidation and how both law enforcement and civilians use social media to identify and blackmail LGBTQ individuals.
For more information about how LGBTQ individuals navigate online spaces amid such challenges, read about the impact of digital spaces on LGBTQ communities, which offers insights into how the internet shapes the fight for equality.
Read also : Activists Oppose World Bank’s Possible Loan Resumption to Uganda
Online Platforms Are Unsafe for LGBTQ Communities
For many LGBTQ Ugandans, digital spaces serve as critical lifelines to their communities and essential services, such as sexual health resources. However, the surge in TfGBV has severely hindered these interactions. Activists and organizations are compelled to limit their online outreach to avoid being accused of promoting homosexuality, which could lead to their registration being revoked.
Despite policies by social media companies to curb abuse, reporting TfGBV remains difficult due to language barriers and inadequate content moderation efforts. Amnesty International reached out to Ugandan authorities, social media platforms like Meta and TikTok, and other stakeholders with its findings. Among them, only Meta and TikTok responded.
To better understand the cultural aspects impacting the LGBTQ community, you can explore the art and culture of the LGBTQ community, which delves into how creativity plays a role in representation and activism.
Calls for Repeal and Independent Investigations
Amnesty International called on the Ugandan government to repeal the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act and other similar laws that disproportionately target LGBTQ individuals. Shreshtha Das urged authorities to establish an independent body to investigate allegations of TfGBV and human rights abuses against LGBTQ people.
For a deeper look into global efforts for equality, check out the evolution of LGBTQ rights in different parts of the world and ongoing challenges in nations like Uganda and beyond.
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