RMT To Protest Against Violation Of LGBT Rights By Zimbabwean Government

The RMT is to hold a demonstration outside the Zimbabwean Embassy on Sunday 7th of October in response to ongoing violation of LGBt rights by the Zimbabwean government. We will also be handing in a protest letter which has been signed by General Secretary Bob Crow and 43 other RMT members.

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The protest letter, below, was written by the RMT's London Transport Region LGBT Officer.

Violation Of Rights Of LGBT Zimbabweans

The Zimbabwean government continues to violate the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Zimbabweans and the Zimbabwean authorities continue to attack members of the LGBT advocacy group Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), including intimidation, arbitrary arrests and beatings.
In attacking GALZ, Zimbabwe contravenes obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to non-discrimination, liberty and security of the person and privacy, freedom of expression and thought, and association and peaceful assembly. Government attacks against GALZ are also contrary to basic rights in both Zimbabwe’s existing constitution and the draft constitution under review.

President Robert Mugabe continues to denigrate and spearhead attacks on gay and lesbian Zimbabweans and vows not to allow the inclusion of LGBT rights in Zimbabwe’s new constitution.

On 11 August police raided the Harare office of GALZ without a warrant after the group issued its 2011 LGBT Rights Violations Report and a briefing on the draft constitution. Forty-four members were brutally beaten with batons and fists. Many required medical treatment. Nine days later, police officers returned, occupied the offices for six hours, and confiscating computers, documents, and advocacy materials.
We, the undersigned members of the RMT Union, call on President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to stop attacks on LGBT Zimbabweans; honor Zimbabwe’s human rights obligations; and include equality and human rights for all people in Zimbabwe’s new constitution, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.