ATTN Cameroon Anglican Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Elango Dibo: Dr. Steave Nemande/Cameroon to receive Human Rights Award for Extrordinary Activism to Decriminalize Homosexuality

Human Rights Award for Extraordinary Activism will be presented to Dr. Steave Nemande, Cameroon

Human Rights Watch will honor six human rights activists this year with the prestigious Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism. Steave Nemande, a medical doctor and president of Alternatives-Cameroon will receive the award in November. Alternatives-Cameroon is an organization that advocates decriminalization of homosexuality in Africa.

 "Cameroon: Decriminalize Homosexuality". HERE

¨Cameroon should decriminalize consensual sexual acts between adults of the same sex, Human Rights Watch and Alternatives-Cameroun said today. The groups urged the government of Cameroon to put into effect immediately the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, made public on July 29, 2010, to bring Cameroon's law into conformity with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Since 2005, Alternatives-Cameroun, Human Rights Watch, and other Cameroonian and international organizations have documented abuses and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Cameroon. Suspected homosexual men have been arrested and beaten on their bodies, heads, and even the soles of their feet while in custody. Women suffer violence in their families if they are suspected of being lesbians. In some cases, they have been forced to leave their homes or their children have been taken away from them.

"Cameroon should guarantee lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people the same rights as every other citizen," said Boris Dittrich, advocacy director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch. "There is no reason why anyone in Cameroon should live in fear of prosecution and abuse because of their sexual orientation or gender identity." HERE

VIOLENCE AND PREJUDICE DIRECTED AGAINST CITIZENS BECAUSE  OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IN CAMEROON 

Anglicans in Cameroon at the West African Province, Anglican Communion,  are concerned about  the ordination of women and gays in North America reports Bishop Elango Dibo

Cameroon Anglican Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Elango Dibo

The Bishop inherited a female deacon in his diocese, but avoids commenting on the issue. In the Anglican Communion, women are ordained within the local ordinary’s discretion. The Synod of Bishops and Laity have only advisory roles. The Bishop alone has supreme powers within his jurisdiction. In other words, he is not answerable to any ecclesial hierarchy. This means even in Cameroon, the Bishop can take decisions that reflect local reality. His position, he says, does not allow him to comment further on the subject. HERE

· Thanks to African Activist, sidebar
· Thanks to Amplifying Africa's LGBTI Voices
· Thanks to Human Rights Watch
· Thanks to Boris Dittrich, Advocacy Director of LGBT Rights
· Thanks to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
· Thanks to Doctor Steave Nemande, President of Alternatives Cameroon
· Thanks to Le Effort Camerounais
· Thanks to The Reverend Wilfred Epie