A United States of America based sexuality activism organisation, Synergía – Initiatives for Human Rights, together with other Western-funded organisations, Alternative Côte d’Ivoire and Human Rights First Rwanda were recently denied observer status by the African Union (AU), through the the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights, in a move that was applauded across the continent and beyond. Headquartered in Banjul, The Gambia, the Commission was formed in 1987 in Addis Ababa to be Africa’s continental human rights watchdog.
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The reasons given for blocking these organisations were that they did not fully explain how they fight for rights of gays and lesbians and other groups that they categorised as vulnerable. The Commission further clearly stated that sexual orientation is not a right in the African Human Rights Charter and that promoting gayism and lesbianism is against African values.
Consistently, in 2018, the Commission withdrew the Council of African Lesbians’ observer status for the same reasons.
The AU is not alone in this fight, there are many other organisations and institutions in the West and East that are:
- Defending proper education and socialisation and fighting against negative radical gender ideology.
- Protecting the natural family as the foundation for a prosperous society.
- Challenging the West for its imperialistic view of human rights.
- Defending children and society against the so called ‘gender choice’ where children are told they are born genderless.
Those who are bringing the activism to Africa want Africa to believe that the West is fully for gayism and lesbianism, but that is not the case. There is opposition is the West to these kinds of rights.
What are the Implications for Social Work?
The message from the AU is clear, Africa should defend its philosophies and values. In that respect, social work in Africa should be framed along African values. There are organisations working for human rights in Africa and they are doing commendable work, however, there are others that are more focused on attracting funding from the West, that they are able to do anything.
What else is the AU doing that African social work should be teaching, researching or supporting?
- Agenda 2063 and other development frameworks.
- Africa Day, Day of the African Child, Maathai Environment Day and other commemorative holidays
- Regional economic communities (RECs):
- Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
- Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD)
- East African Community (EAC)
- Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
- Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
- Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC).
- Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
- AU departments
- Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)
- Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETTIM)
- Education, Science, Technology & Innovation (ESTI)
- Infrastructure and Energy
- Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS)
- Health, Humanitarian Affairs & Social Development (HHS)
- Women, Gender and Youth
- Civil Society and Diaspora
- Policies or treaties
- Constitutive Act, Charters, Privileges & Immunities
- Treaties on Peace & Security
- Energy & Infrastructure Treaties
- Agriculture & Environmental Management Treaties
- Treaties on Trade, Economic Integration & Development
- Treaties on Refugees, Migration, Labour & Employment
- Governance Treaties
- Human Rights Treaties
- Health & Social Welfare Treaties
- Treaties on Sports, Arts & Culture
- Treaties on Education, Science & Technology
- Treaties on Youth Development
- Treaties on Civil Society & Diaspora
- Treaties on Women & Gender Issues
Social work teaching, training and practice should use content and guidance from the AU while researchers would explore the work of the AU more to identify strengths and gaps. This was, social work becomes grounded in its social, cultural, structural, economic, spiritual and environmental situations.
Hi,
Am Razaq by name presently base in England United Kingdom,am a Social worker from Nigeria ,West Africa but resident Permit of UK .
I specialized in Child developmental Psychology and other .
I will like to work with African Union if am opportune .
Thank you in anticipation
Razaq Balogun.