Nairobi, Kenya – A new report jointly released by Amnesty International and the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) has shed light on the dire situation faced by LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya. The report, published on Friday, highlights a distressing pattern of human rights abuses, including rape and extreme discrimination, experienced by hundreds of gay individuals residing in the Kakuma camp in north-western Kenya.
The study, conducted between 2018 and February 2023, involved interviews with 41 individuals who shared their harrowing experiences of facing hate crimes, violence, and other severe human rights violations. The findings paint a disturbing picture of widespread discrimination and violence perpetrated against LGBTQ individuals within the camp.
Perpetrators of these crimes often act with impunity, taking advantage of the inadequate response from law enforcement authorities, as highlighted in the joint statement by Amnesty International and NGLHRC. The lack of protection and support for LGBTQ individuals in the face of such abuse compounds the already challenging circumstances faced by refugees and asylum seekers.
Most of the interviewees recounted multiple instances of assaults, threats, and intimidation directly linked to their sexual orientation. Such systematic targeting of LGBTQ individuals has created an atmosphere of fear and vulnerability within the Kakuma camp.
The report unequivocally states that the Kakuma refugee camp complex is not a safe environment for LGBTQ asylum seekers and refugees. Amnesty International and NGLHRC are urging the Kenyan government to fulfill its obligations to protect the rights to life, freedom from inhuman treatment, and freedom from discrimination for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
In response to the findings, the organizations are calling for urgent action to address the ongoing human rights abuses and ensure the safety and well-being of LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya. They emphasize the need for comprehensive measures to combat discrimination and violence, along with the implementation of robust reporting mechanisms and support services within the camp.
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